End of the first month

Well, 'tis the end of the first month as a freelancer. It was a good one, but I need to do better! I picked up a bit this past week, so I hope this continues. Today I wrote two articles for RS and one for Pacific Coast Journal. I also did a little bit of research for another.

Today's Earnings: $155
This Month's Earnings: $3,012
Payments Received: $2,629
Articles written: 78
Queries sent: 5

Assignment update:
2 for Demand Studios (9/6): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): done
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
6 for Horseman's News (9/14): 3 done, research started on 2
10 for RS (9/3): 6 done
1 for LEG (9/5): need info
10 for CH (9/6): not started. Greg may help.
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started, received 3 back
more queries! five sent this month

How am I doing?

This week was a good week (particularly for payments!), the best I've had so far; although, I still did not meet my goal.

Week of Aug 24-30:

Earnings: $845
Payments: $1280

Total for the month so far:

Earnings: $2,857
Payments: $2,629

I have one more day in the month. I should be able to make enough tomorrow to bring me over $3k, which will replace the take-home pay from my last job. I just need to make more than that for little things like health insurance, taxes, etc etc etc....

Very good day!

I was very productive today! I wrote two articles for RS, one for Pacific Coast Journal, and three for Demand Studios. I also obtained a new assignment from CH. I even had time to sleep in and visit my horse and take a nice long bath...and I'm going to get off the computer in a minute and read a bit and get to bed before midnight!

Earnings: $200

Assignment update:
2 for Demand Studios (9/4): done
1 for Demand Studios (9/5): done
1 for Demand Studios (9/6): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): 4 done, Greg did 2 and started the other
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
6 for Horseman's News (9/14): 2 done, research started on 2
10 for RS (9/3): 4 done
1 for LEG (9/5): need info
10 for CH (9/6): not started. Greg may help.
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started, received 3 back
more queries! five sent this month

Good day

Well, I took the morning off to see The Dark Night. It was scary. Because of that, I skipped my visit to my horse and worked. I spent a lot of time on pulling together results for my horse show articles and made a couple of phone calls for those, and I should be able to write them fairly quickly this weekend. I started a new assignment for RS and started the research and wrote two articles for him and two for Demand Studios.

Earnings: $110

Payments: $760

Assignment update:
4 for Demand Studios (9/3): done
2 for Demand Studios (9/4): not started
1 for Demand Studios (9/5): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): 4 done, Greg did 2 and plans to do the other
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
6 for Horseman's News (9/14): 1 done, research started on 2
5 for Hills & Lagoons (really soon): done
10 for RS (9/3): 2 done
1 for LEG (9/5): need info
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started, received 3 back
more queries! five sent this month

What day is it?? Oh yeah...Thursday

Boy, the days really run together when you work for yourself! Today I took half the day off, even though I shouldn't have, to go letterboxing with my darling husband and puppy and had lunch, and tonight I went to my darling daughter's back to school night. Despite that, I wrote one article for Pacific Coast Journal, did a little research on a couple others, wrote the last restaurant review I owe Hills & Lagoons, and wrote two for Demand Studios. Forgot to mention I pitched an idea to H&L and sent a query to a magazine yesterday...and I pitched an idea to HN today.

Earnings: $105

Payments: $20

Assignment update:
2 press releases for PB (soon): done. may have more to do but removing it for now.
4 for Demand Studios (9/3): 2 done
2 for Demand Studios (9/4): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): 4 done, Greg did 2 and plans to do the other
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
6 for Horseman's News (9/14): research started on 2
5 for Hills & Lagoons (really soon): 4 done
1 for LEG (9/5): need info
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started, received 3 back
more queries! five sent this month

Wednesday 8/27

Today was a good day. I could have made more money, but I did some research for one article and wrote most of my last restaurant profile and will finish it tomorrow (hopefully) when they return my email (I hope). I finished an article for 1 Magazine, wrote a restaurant profile for Hills & Lagoons and wrote three for Demand Studios.

I received 5 more assignments for Horseman's News, 1 for Western Shooting Horse, and it looks like RS wants me to do 10 more for them but I can't start until Friday. Woot!

I received my business cards today, designed and donated by Beth Sandland of The Sandland Group. Thank you, Beth! They are beautiful!

Earnings: $120

Payments: $500

Assignment update:
4 press releases for PB (soon): second draft of #1 and #2 sent, #3 started (waiting for her)
1 for Demand Studios (8/30): done
2 for Demand Studios (9/2): done
4 for Demand Studios (9/3): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): 4 done, Greg did 2 and plans to do the other
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
6 for Horseman's News (9/14): research started on 2
5 for Hills & Lagoons (really soon): 4 done
1 for LEG (9/5): need info
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started
more queries! four sent this month

Tuesday, 8/26

I had a fairly productive day today, although I didn't earn a lot of money. I finished the book I was copy editing at last, wrote two articles for Demand Studios, my first for Suite 101 and one for Associated Content. I also sent two queries and did some research for articles I need to do this week. Good news! Saddle Horse Report loved the article I did for them and want to hire me! It's not a high paying gig, but it's high enough and steady work.LEG also loved the last piece I did for them, which makes me feel good, and they assigned me another, which also makes me feel good!

Earnings: $130

Assignment update:
4 press releases for PB (soon): second draft of #1 and #2 sent, #3 started (waiting for her)
2 for Demand Studios (8/26): done
1 for Demand Studios (8/30): not started
2 for Demand Studios (9/2): not started
2 for Sandi: 1 done (have to wait on her to do the other)
7 for 1 Magazine (9/14): 3 done, research started on 3 others
2 for Back Country Horsemen (9/15): not started (need the topics)
1 for Horseman's News (9/14): not started
4 for Hills & Lagoons (really soon): 3 done
1 for LEG (9/5): not started
Copy edit book for SK: done
Gold Medal article (9/30): interviews started
more queries! four sent this month