Eight Popular Posts from 2011 You May Have Missed

Yup, 2012 is around the corner and I've been working on my list of topics I'll cover on the blog next year. I'll share what I made money-wise in 2011 (newsflash: not as much as I expected to!), why I failed to meet my income goal, and how I plan to avoid that in 2012. I'll also be conducting another freelance income survey so we can compare 2011 to 2010 and identify some of the most lucrative areas for freelancers. 

But first, let's take a look at some of the most popular posts from 2011 you may have missed--and that  are definitely worth reading: 

• Struggle with writing queries? Most new freelancers do. Follow this proven query template and boost your pitching success rate. 
• Many freelancers find that an LOI, or letter of introduction, is one of their most effective marketing tools. Here's how to write one. 
• Miss a deadline, and you risk alienating your editor or client--for good. I've never blown a deadline in 15 years. Follow my advice and you'll never miss one either. 
• Plenty of new writers break into national magazines with few or no clips. Use these tips and you'll see your byline in a major glossy, too. 
• Networking with other freelancers is essential to your success--as long as you're able to sidestep certain writers. My post on Explosives, Waifs, and Users (and other writers to avoid) got lots of traffic (and probably had some writers worrying I was talking about them!) :) 
• Email is an essential tool but a potential time-waster. My post on ways to use email more efficiently also garnered a lot of interest. 
• More freelancers are adding ghostwriting to their repertoire, so it's no surprise that my roundup of ghostwriting posts was popular. 
• Finally, writers were interested in what freelancers are making. The results of the 2011 income survey (and the 2010 income survey) always get a lot of hits. 

Want to be a more successful freelancer in 2012? Why not preorder Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets to Freelance Success. You can write it off your taxes this year--and be one of its first readers when it releases in May. Win-win! If you're just looking for an entertaining read (which got good reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal!), I suggest White Bikini Panties, or Did You Get the Vibe?, my first novel. Enjoy! :)