I'm just going to warn you. I have to. It's happened to me too many times to count, and I have to help new freelancers. That's my charge.

This Thanksgiving, someone's going to ask you what "exacly" you do for a living.  

We've talked about it in terms of cocktail parties and your career. But this is similar. You're just about to tuck into that fried turkey and pecan pie when someone decided they're just too curious to wait. Now, what, exactly, is it you do dear? I'm not sure I understand.

Be ready.

Here's mine: I write and edit for magazines, publishers, websites and individuals. I have a couple regular contracts, and some that hire me for just one project at a time. I work out of my home office, and most of my work is virtual, although I do have a two local clients.

Ok, hilarious title, right? Write or Die is a web ap or software program that I heard about through the podcast I Should Be Writing. It helps you to keep writing by offering consequences when you stop typing. Some of the consequences mentioned include emitting a loud, annoying sound until you start again, or deleting your words one by one, until you start again (!!!). Fun stuff.

Of course, if you have the opposite problem- too much writing- be sure to read my article on 5 Ways to Reduce Your Word Count.

Demand Studios has posted their new health insurance plan on their site, and sent a mass email out to (I suppose) anyone who is or has signed up as a provider. If you didn't get that mass email, the info is available to the general public without a sign in at Demand Studios Health Insurance.

I'm not a health insurance expert, but coverage and payouts look similar to other freelance offerings such as those available through memberships with the Editorial Freelancers Association or MediaBistro's freelance health insurance plans.

Demand Studios' costs range from approximately $50 to $400 per month. To be eligible, writers must write 30 articles per month, and copyeditors must review 200 articles per month.  

Don't miss my multiple articles with more information on how to manage health insurance as a freelance writer.

We all have wisdom to share-- whether we've been writing 10 years or 10 months. That's why I put together this gallery of freelance writer profiles. Take a look at the trials and successes of these four freelance writers, whose experience ranges from 10+ years and rubbing elbows with Helen Steiner Rice to just months. 

Are there any freelance writers with interesting careers that you'd like to see join the series? If so, leave their name in the comments and I may contact them for the next set. The freelance writer series will be added to, and is arranged by experience level, so check back often!

It is beautiful here in Michigan, and I'm about to go rake up some leaves. But it's all a ruse--the holidays are coming whether I like it or not.

So, I thought I'd remind you to forward my list of 15 Gifts for Writers and Readers to your family members, and to Prepare Your Writing for the Holidays. Last, but not least, have you considered sending holiday cards to your clients? It can be a good business practice.

Ok, bring on the snow.

Part of the draw in freelancing is setting your own schedule. I try to use Fridays for something a little out of the ordinary. Now, I work maybe about 60% time- 6ish hours per day, so I really can't tank Fridays entirely. However, I do try these shake ups:

1. Go to the bookstore in order to feel and smell the final print that you're aiming for. If you are a writer, you know what I'm talking about-- that contact high you get when you walk into a stack of books or a nice, new, clean, inky rack of magazines? Come on...don't leave me hangin' here! I love bookstores. I love to touch magazines and open books. I love to go to the writing section and see who's there! Spending part of my Friday at a bookstore infuses me with possibility.
2. Get out into nature. I'm not giving you the same old "go for a walk" spiel. I'm talking about fresh, windy, earthy nature. I live in a beautiful town that is blessed with sandstone rock formations--kind of a big deal for the flat midwest. In 7th grade, I took a writers field trip to these same ledges that are now 3 blocks from my home. It is so inspiring to go back there and imagine 12 year old me sitting cross legged and writing in this exact same spot. It's my job to honor the writer that she thought she could be.
3. Get into your niche. What do you write about? Dogs? Children? Fortune 500 companies? You need a fresh dose of whatever that is. Volunteer in a school, spend a couple minutes shooting the breeze with the groomers at PetCo, or have lunch with a friend who does the 9-5. There you go, fresh material.

So, what are you going to do today? Same old, same old? Or, are you going to step out into the world and find that new impetus and motivation that writers so desperately need?

Thought so. 

There are only five things (other than my laptop) that I use every single day in my writing business. Only five items! Find out what they are: five essential tools for writers.

Just a quick share. Over the last week or so I've been addicted to Rachel Kaufman's Media Jobs Daily and wanted to suggest that freelancers and aspiring freelancers take a look at her feeds.

While I am grateful that she linked to my income disclosure, it's more than that. Kaufman shares freelance industry news that is infomative and interesting. She keeps readers updated on job markets, and her blogs about authors and writers really help to feed the writing spirit.

MediaJobsDaily is hosted at MediaBistro.com, which is a great source for classes and job listings.

When I wrote my article about the Top 15 Gifts for Writers and Readers, I didn't realize that suggesting an action figure of the writer's favorite author would indirectly feed into some odd behaviors. It seems that Scott William Carter, an author with an interesting blog and several books, actually speaks to his Poe figure. And then blogs those conversations. Funny! Although, since I regularly talk to my dog, Jack, throughout the lonely writing day, I guess I don't have a leg to stand on!

What do you do to combat the long writing hours? Anyone like to write at Starbucks?

I recently read about project creep- and then it happened to me!

Project creep- or "scope creep" - is when a project grows from its original parameters into something more. For example, you agree to write two articles, but are asked later to also market those articles through social media outlets- with no mention of adjusting fees.

Scope Creep is defined here at About.com Consulting.  About.com's management page has an interesting example of scope creep here, and desktop publishing talks about preventing scope creep.  So, knowing what it is-- have you ever experienced it?