I try to find a different writer's page or blog to look at every day, just to get some new ideas, and see what other people are doing. Obviously I am off to a very slow start with this, but I have hoped that the New Year would find me getting more jobs, and possibly getting a lot more done on my novel.

After reading blogs, forum postings, etc., from many different people, I have come to the conclusion that almost unanimously, the hardest part about taking the plunge into writing is just to "get started". I cannot tell the number of postings I have read across various forums that say, in essence, "Where do I start?". And, again almost unanimously, the answer they usually get is, "Write". The next obvious question is usually, "What do I write?". It is usually at this point that I realize there are others like me who suddenly find themselves with an unquenchable desire to check MySpace for any messages when it's time to sit down and do some actual writing. Or I have to have a cigarette (I call myself trying to quit, which makes the fact that I'm putting off writing to smoke a cigarette that much more of a sacrilege). I get really hungry and thirsty sitting here, too. And I can think of anybody in the world that I haven't heard from since lunchtime to call right then. For all you other budding writing gurus out there, you can share your burden of shame with someone else, because I do it too. Then I find that an hour has passed, and I'm asking myself why I can't just muster up some self-discipline and do this thing.

I get a lot of inspiration from Jennifer Mattern, owner of several different blogs, including All Freelance Writing, and All Book Marketing. She has great advice on every aspect of freelance writing, blogging, etc. Another writer I really like, Allena Tapia, who is the freelance writing guide at About.com, has an enormous list of sites for writing gigs, as well as some very informative articles on every aspect of writing. Allena has a newsletter you can subscribe to, which I have found to be full of great advice. These are two sites that I visit frequently.

A few tidbits I have picked up along the way:

* A website is a must to market yourself

* You have at least one blog that you post to at least once daily (the pot calling the kettle black here)

* You should definitely network with other writers, writing maybe a solitary thing, but you need to know other writers to be able to learn and get your name out there

* A portfolio is essential so that prospective employers/customers can see what kind of magic you can spin with words

* I learned from reading one of Allena's articles that if you don't have "clips" or samples of your work to put into a portfolio, you can make some by posting to a blog and writing sample articles, which are just two of several options. Those are the two I like best

Of course we all know that starting out in any new business venture will require much patience, and lots of hard work. But there is plenty that us newbies can do to get ourselves off to a good start. You can't sit around and wait for fate to drop a writing career into your lap. Just like everything else, perfection takes practice.

You should try any and every manner of writing and marketing technique to see what works for you. Don't be pulled in by scams, though. Be aware, as with anything else on the Internet, that there are people out there who will take advice of some hopeful person, chasing a dream. Don't let some sleazy vanity book press turn your dream into a nightmare. Look at all this options, weigh everything out, and see what looks the best. Do your homework. Learn about any company you will be dealing with. Be sure to read all the fine print, and be aware of your rights. Being as knowledgeable as possible going into this will do great things for your success.