Adventures In Freelancing

If you're a freelancer of any kind, chances are you're inquisitive and love to learn.  I certainly do.  And I've got a prize for FOUR lucky readers to help you get a jumjpstart on your intellectual pursuits for the new year.  Ana from Family Eden has generously donated 4 prize packages of e-learning courses.

Family Eden is a fantastic social networking site for families.  Isn't that an awesome concept?  You and your kids can all have accounts and have fun keeping up with each other in a safe, online environment.  Your family and friends from far away can sign up for Family Eden accounts as well, allowing you to share phtos, videos, and other treasures.  There are so many capabilities at this site.  You can shop, create wish lists, and share goals.  Go check it out for yourself.

One of the best features of the site is the learning community.  There are tons of courses available in areas such as computers, business, communication, and health.  Go explore the offerings in the learning center, then come back here and comment about which course you'd choose. Four winners will be able to choose up to $66 worth of coursework for free.  This contest will end Monday, January 19th at noon EST. So choose your classes and leave a comment before then.  Best of luck!

Are you just starting out as a freelance writer or maybe you're simply dreaming about the freelance life?  If either of these statements apply to you, you've come to the right place.  No, not because I'm an expert with tons of knowledge to pass along to you.  That couldn't be farther from the truth.  Actually, I'm quite new to the world of freelancing.  But I've learned quite a bit along my path, and I'm happy to share that knowledge with you.  All I ask is that you share what you know, as well.  I want to make this place a community, not just a platform for my ramblings.

Here's a bit about me and how I've come to begin my life as a freelancer.  I'm a mom to three kids - ages 9, 7, and 8 months.  Yep, there's quite a difference in age between the middle and the last.  I had it all worked out, as we often do in life.  Two kids, a boy and a girl, two years apart in age.  I'd finished my Master's degree in higher education and student affairs and was working in a job I loved as a college academic adviser.  Life was good.

Except I wasn't totally happy.  I ended my marriage, moved with my kids to the town where I worked, and soon after bought a home and got remarried.  To the love of my life, Bill.  Did I mention that Bill is 20 years older than I am?  And did I mention that, although I loved my job and my students, I didn't love my boss or co-workers?  Don't think I mentioned the fact that I was incredibly stressed out about my work environment or the fact that baby #3 was unexpected, to say the least.  Yeah, life happens that way.  But I'm a big believer of the philosophy that "things happen for a reason."

And so they did.  My out of control stress level, raging pregnancy hormones, and intense desire to slow down and enjoy my kids led me to quit that job at the community college a little over a year ago, with the resolve to act on the research I'd done regarding freelance writing.  I knew it could be done, but I didn't realize what it would take to do it.

This blog is a place to discuss just what it takes to make freelancing a reality.  Although it's been a year, I haven't come as far as I'd like.  But I'm well on my way.  Each person does things their own way, at their own pace.  Are you ready to start your journey toward a freelance career?  If so, join me as we begin our "Adventures in Freelancing" together!

By the way, you may want to head over to The Writing Journey to catch up on Bob's "How to Start Your Freelance Writing Business" series for starters.  We'll discuss lots of other great resources along our way.

I've spent the last few weeks brainstorming ideas for this blog and spreading the word to my friends.  I've also contacted some fabulous people, who've donated some amazing prizes to help the newbie freelancer begin or advance their career.  Here's a list of what I will be giving away in the first weeks of the launch of Adventures in Freelancing and a shout out to the wonderful people who donated the prizes.

A copy of The Renegade Writer and Query Letters that Rock from Linda Formichelli, one of the awesome authors of these books.  Check out the Renegade Writer blog for great information and insight.

and

Four copies of The Well-Fed Writer, generously donated by the author, Peter Bowerman.  Peter is the guru of commercial copywriting.  If you're interested in writing for business, corporations, or advertising, check out his site.

Thirty minutes of career counseling from Kristen King, a fantastic freelancer who's achieved success in a relatively short period of time.  You'll definitely benefit from her advice!  Check out her blog, InkThinker.

An e-book package from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, an award-winning author, known to many for her How To Do It Frugally Series.  Check out Carolyn's blog, too!

A copy of The Organized Writer: 30 Days to More Time, More Money, and Less Frustration by Julie Hood.  I will be doing a review of this book in the upcoming weeks.  I can't wait; from what I've seen from Julie's website, I'm going to learn so much!

A three- month subscription to Invotrak.  Invotrak is an incredibly valuable tool for sending and tracking your invoices.  It will save you so much time and headache once you start selling your work!

The e-book Stop Wishing and Start Earning: A Low-Risk Plan to Escape 9-5 and Launch a Profitable Copywriting Business from Ed Gandia of The Profitable Freelancer.

Four winners will receive their choice of online learning courses (up to a $66 value) from FamilyEden.  FamilyEden is a site dedicated to bringing families together.  Their goal is to "provide powerful tools that foster a spirit of Sharing, Encouragement, Learning and Success."  You absolutely must check out this site.

There you have it!  Quite a list, isn't it?  Come back each week for your chance to win one of these incredible prizes.  Thank you for visiting Adventures in Freelancing, and thanks to the generous folks who provided us with these great learning tools!