As a student in my creative writing class I was given many rules to abide by if I wanted to be published. After all editors and agents don’t like rule breakers which is true and false. Most of them have strict rules about what they want, some too strict.

Seriously, I've landed projects from referrals, from answering online ads, even from participating in a focus group. That's right. A few years ago, when business was slow, I attended a focus group for people who had recently bought a new TV online (I qualified thanks to my then boyfriend prodding me to upgrade on Black Friday). If I remember correctly, we were paid with $25 cash and a nice spread of snacks.

You know that “you have to be in the make money online niche in order to make money online” stereotype? While some stereotypes are true, this one is total crapola.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve made a point of friending the editors of publications I’d like to write for on Twitter. I’ve landed several assignments through Twitter, including a few where the editor sought me out, rather than the other way around. That’s because Twitter is an ideal tool for building connections: when an editor sees your updates day in and day out, she’ll start to feel like she knows you to some extent.

Do you remember your first time? (No, not what you are thinking.  Much, much better than that.  I’m talking about your first job as a freelance!)

I’ll never forget mine!  It was the 19th April 2010.

I feel as if this week was a perfect example of how much I was missing when I was playing recluse for the past year. (The positively balmy weather didn’t hurt.)

On Tuesday, I went to the #nyblogout — a happy hour for NYC dating b

I feel as if this week was a perfect example of how much I was missing when I was playing recluse for the past year. (The positively balmy weather didn’t hurt.)

On Tuesday, I went to the #nyblogout — a happy hour for NYC dating b

Last week I was quoted in TIME Magazine’s article, “Working For Free” by Eve Tahmincioglu and I wanted to share some thoughts on this new intern/free labor drama. Here’s a snippet:

Guest Post by Melissa Breau from the blog Jargon Writer

Great news! The latest edition of FiND iT FREDERiCK Magazine is out, and one of my articles is featured in it.Click on the name above for the online edition. Or, if you happen to live in or near Frederick, Maryland, pick up a hard copy of it today! Give support to this excellent publication, and the good people who work there.

A few weeks ago, one of my YourTango co-workers got a (totally deserved because she’s awesome) promotion.

It got me thinking: What’s the next step for me at this company? And do I even have a f

A few weeks ago, one of my YourTango co-workers got a (totally deserved because she’s awesome) promotion.

It got me thinking: What’s the next step for me at this company? And do I even have a f

I think I’m a little bit of a narcissist. Maybe everyone with a blog is. But as much as I enjoy writing about my life and having comments that make me feel like the popular kid I never was in high school, I want this blog to be something more.

By now, Mr. Muse and most people in my immediate circle know better than to ask questions of the "why haven't you published any books yet?" and "when are you getting a real job?" variety. But these types of questions come up frequently when I meet people who aren't as familiar with the concept of freelancing.

This is a Guest Post from Danielle Bullen – for more about Danielle see below or check out her site.