I mean, there was never a question I would go to college. After all, it never occurred to me that any other path was available.

But I started out studying journalism at the College of New Jersey. I became disenchanted and discouraged by my choice of major. I fell into a depression after both the death of my grandmother and the end of an abusive relationship. I dropped out of college with the certainty that I didn’t need it to be a writer.

Which was true, but I wasn’t sure how to go about making money. I ended up in a crappy retail job, at which I lasted for two months. Is this all I’m capable of without a degree? I asked myself, horrified. It wasn’t, but I didn’t know that. I ended up at Emerson.

After graduating, I was lucky enough to get a job within two months (though not in my field). I was miserable there, and felt relief when I was laid off after six months. A year later, I had my feet planted firmly within the publishing industry. Finally. I was content… for awhile. But I soon realized I had no interest in working my way up the corporate ladder. I wanted to create. I wanted to be my own boss.

And so I made my circuitous way to the here and now, where I’m a happy, and pretty well-balanced, business owner. I’m lucky enough to be one of the few people out there who has ended up making money in the field they studied in college. But I could have gotten here quicker. I could have gotten here without incurring debt. I just didn’t know.

Last weekend, I toted my copy of Michael Ellsberg’s The Education of Millionaires to my yoga/cooking retreat up in VT, where I devoured it during the free time I had between yoga and cooking classes. As I read, I found myself giving a silent hells yeah as Ellsberg gave voice to something I had always felt when it comes to academia.

“Despite sixteen years or more of schooling,” he writes, “most of what you’ll need to learn to be successful you’ll have to learn on your own, outside of school, whether you go to college or not.” He goes on to describe a scene that’s decidedly familiar these days:

“We now live in an age when it is likely that the person pouring you your coffee at the cafe in the morning has spent four years studying literature, or even business and marketing, in a degree-granting institution. That person is likely to be carrying tens of thousands of dollars in student debt, and more in credit card debt accrued in college, for the privilege of having studied to pour you your coffee with such literary and business acumen.”

I thought of my time on unemployment. A full year. I thought of how humiliated I had been to stoop to temp work, handing out food samples at donut shops and supermarkets. I thought of how my life might have been different if I’d aimed for entrepreneurship rather than employment. But the possibility had never occurred to me. That only came later.

Ellsberg goes on to advocate self-education over academia — a pursuit I’ve come to advocate heavily in the past five or so years –providing readers with a resource-heavy curriculum in the areas of networking, marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship. At the end, he describes the “education bubble,” exploring further why a single-minded reliance on academia may cause the bubble to eventually burst.

At the end, I’m both inspired and introspective. I feel validated. I think to myself: College and the corporate ladder aren’t the only options. and my future children will know that, and will be supported in whichever path they choose.

I enjoyed my time at Emerson. I developed as a person, and met people there who are still incredibly important to me.

But did college hold me back? Would I be even more successful now if I’d gotten an earlier start on the entrepreneurial path?

I’ve learned more in the past five years than I ever learned in the previous 26. This much is true.

What will you tell your children?

Related: Forget Grad School. Is Your B.A. Worth It?, Coffee Break: Home Ec for Entrepreneurs, Passive/Aggressive: Finding Work as a Freelancer

Then I decided, why not just add it to the mix? Because — as someone who juggles sex writing, career coaching, funeral singing, and (now) ghostwriting — I’m all about finding that perfect mix.

Of course, if I was going to be serious about this, there was only one person I could turn to: the lady who wrote the book on ghostwriting.

I had seen Kelly James-Enger’s name here and there throughout the Twittersphere, and knew her as someone who created helpful how-to content for other freelance writers. I had also started reading her column in The Writer magazine. When I realized she’d written the book on ghostwriting — Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer’s Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books – I knew it was bound to provide valuable insight into an area of freelance writing I had not yet fully explored.

She did not disappoint.

As with all my favorite how-tos, James-Enger really went into the nuts and bolts of how to make it as a ghostwriter. While many of the tips she includes throughout the book can be applied to other aspects of freelancing, this book goes beyond what you’ll find on the average freelance writing blog, providing, among other things:

• descriptions of the types of clients who typically need ghostwriters or coauthors, and how to target them.
• what to ask a possible client before negotiating your price, and signing on to the project.
• what should be included in the ghostwriting contract.
• actual examples of ghostwriting contracts.
• sample pitch letters.
• stories, tips, and examples from other ghostwriters.
• additional resources.

By the end, it had earned a spot on my permanent writer’s reference shelf (which, at the moment, is a tiny drawer in my tiny desk; sigh).

And for those of you still on the fence about ghostwriting? Those of you who are still wondering if ghostwriting is a tool you should have in your freelance toolbox? James-Enger even includes a quiz to help you figure out whether or not this type of work is the right choice for you.

Ghostwriting: It isn’t for everyone, and that writerly ego can easily get in the way. But man I do love those paychecks.

Related: Do You Write for the Bucks or the Byline? How I Started Ghostwriting, How to Rock the Ghostwriting Process

I'm quoted in here, yo.

I create content for online magazines. I blog here at Freelancedom. I spend way too much time on Twitter. I get all my news from whatever I happen to be subscribed to in Google Reader. I spend my days seated in front of this laptop and, when my phone rings, I get confused. Why didn’t they just text or email? I wonder. (God I’m a recluse.)

My husband, meanwhile, works full-time for SocialFlow, a social media startup that optimizes tweets. He has a web development business on the side. He’s always glued to his Droid, and he uses Foursquare even when we’re at the goddamn recycling center.

His best friend says we’re “so Web 2.0.”

Yet I avoid Facebook. I’m not as active on LinkedIn as I should be. And when Google+ launched, I wanted to flee the country (or at least my inbox). Am I missing marketing opportunities?

I’m not one to embrace every social media site out there. I believe in figuring out where your audience hangs out, and participating accordingly. In fact, I wrote a lot about this — and other ways to avoid social media fatigue — here. But active participation on a handful of social media sites can really boost your traffic, your visibility, and your career.

LinkedIn, for example, has increased my visibility even without my active participation. I’ve even landed several lucrative projects through the site. Imagine what I could do if I joined some LinkedIn groups and jumped in on the discussions happening there. Imagine what I could do if I started reaching out to more people, and swapping recommendations, instead of passively accepting a small number of connection requests.

Yes. Imagine.

Unfortunately, I’m too damn lazy. But I do know what can be achieved with even a little bit of effort, and I’ve seen results from these (tiniest of) efforts, which is why — I suppose — Susan Johnston was good enough to interview me for her recent ebook, LinkedIn and Lovin’ It.

Published through Rockable Press — an online publisher offering detailed how-to guides and resources for web professionals — LinkedIn and Lovin’ It places a magnifying glass over one of the most popular — yet still underused — social media networks out there, and shows readers the marketing possibilities they’re missing. In fact, this book is so in depth that it even provides readers with the step-by-step on how to set up their own profiles, going into the nitty-gritty of headline writing, resume creation, photo uploading, and how to include external links.

It goes on to cover:

• the ins and outs of building your online network
• ways of maximizing your LinkedIn presence (and establishing yourself as an expert in your field)
• conducting research
• finding jobs
• and more.

What I love about this book — aside from the fact that it contains concrete steps for boosting your online presence, helpful case studies, and… um… me — is that, despite how much I thought I already knew, this books goes even deeper. I walked away from it feeling inspired to do even more with my account. Because, honestly? Why wouldn’t I take advantage of a smart and easy way to bring in more eyeballs?

LinkedIn and Lovin’ It will become available later this month. In the meantime, you could always consider boning up on another aspect of online media. WordPress design? Facebook marketing? Freelancing? Copywriting? Rockable Press [<----- That's an affiliate link, FYI] has you covered.

Related: How To Avoid Social Media Fatigue in 5 Easy Steps, Will An Editor Judge You If You Don’t Have An Online Platform?, Using Twitter To Achieve World Domination (in Your Field), How To Market Yourself: Strengthening Your Web Presence

And so, while I’ve not yet courted traditional authorship myself, I do sometimes help clients with book proposal preparation and lit agent research.

In fact, as I’ve learned from working on several ebooks for Good in Bed, it’s a pretty short leap from being a short-form freelance writer to putting together an entire book. Which is why I thought some of you might be interested in 77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected {and how to be sure it won’t happen again!}.

Because perhaps you have a book in you, too?

ANYway. After receiving a review copy of 77 Reasons and tweeting it up, a friend of mine (a published author who probably bristled at the admittedly provocative title) commented that I should give the book — and anyone who rejected me — “the Middle Finger, and then start looking for other smarter publishers/agents.”

I understood where he was coming from. After all, stories like the one surrounding The Help show that sheer determination, and an unwillingness to give up, can lead to authorial success.

But aspiring authors should be aware that some level of effort is still required on their part to increase their chances of getting a lit agent and/or a book publisher to sign on the dotted line. While writing an entire book is a daunting prospect to most of us, and we admire and envy those of you who can pull it off, that accomplishment does not, unfortunately, grant you a golden ticket to traditional publication.

Enter 77 Reasons.

Its author, literary agent and former acquisitions editor Mike Nappa, doesn’t leave much to chance. Throughout the book, he provides readers with the many reasons an editorial board, marketing department, or sales team might pass on your book, and then gives tips on how to avoid each of these pitfalls. He also gives aspiring authors an inside look at the book proposal consideration process, which may make readers amazed that any book has ever made it to publication.

Some of the pitfalls and pointers may seem common sense, but I feel confident that anyone in the midst of pulling together a book proposal will find value in this book. In fact, I suggest keeping it around on your reference shelf and using it as a checklist once you’ve pulled your proposal together.

It can only strengthen subsequent drafts.

Related: Breakneck Book Report: Adair Lara’s Naked, Drunk, and Writing, How To Get Your Book Published Before the Age of 25, Breakneck Book Report: How To Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead

I had seen lots of online love for Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage, and Ed Gandia’s The Wealthy Freelancer before I broke down and picked up my own copy. Why did I wait so long? Being a raging book nerd, with a particular love for self-help-y career titles, I had started to feel as if none of the books I was reading had anything new to say.

The Wealthy Freelancer exceeded my expectations by… well… a lot. As I mentioned in a related post, the book is so much more than inspirational mumbo jumbo. Rather, it contains concrete tips and step-by-step instructions for making it work.

I’m curious to hear if you loved it as much as I did, and whether or not it had anything new to teach you. Just as with last time, I’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments section of this post, in addition to your responses to the following questions:

1. The authors of this book assert that you can improve your business drastically even if you implement just a handful of the tips in this book. Which tips spoke to you the most, and why?

2. The first chapter of The Wealthy Freelancer (TWF) discusses what being a wealthy freelancer really means, and then challenges readers to explore what wealth means to them, and to write out their ideal day. What does wealth mean to you, and how close are you to really living your ideal day?

3. TWF touts the power of the buzz piece, and lays out what your buzz piece could possibly entail. Have you already created and launched your buzz piece? If so, how did it boost your sales. If not, let’s have a brainstorming party. What types of buzz pieces could benefit your business?

4. Secret 8 of TWF delves into the importance of focus, something I’ve struggled with myself. At times, I’ve tried to do too much, and I’ve had to take care to be sure that everything I was attempting was connected, and easy to convey to others. Do you have trouble answering the question What do you do? Is it time to start cutting items from your list of offerings? Are you trying to be indispensable to everyone? Assignment: Take a good, hard look at what you’re trying to do, and determine where you can trim the fat. Share the results in the comments below. 

5. For me, wealth means being able to pay the bills without having a panic attack every month. It means being able to work at a leisurely pace, and still have time for things like yoga, and Netflix, and lunch. It means being able to prioritize my health instead of burning myself out with an around-the-clock work schedule. The authors of TWF seem to agree that “a wealthy freelancer is a healthy freelancer.” What has kept you from achieving a healthy work-life balance? Which tips from Secret 10 (pages 191 – 194) could you implement now without freaking the eff out?

And finally, what else from TWF leapt out at you? What inspired you? What have you implemented already, and how has it worked for you?

But this month will be different. I promise you. I’ve already started reading my next pick — The Wealthy Freelancer: 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle – and it has me excited. Twenty-five pages in and I’m already 100 percent sure I’m going to love it.

Why?

Because it’s about so much more than inspiration, motivational speeches, and make-you-jealous case studies (though it has those, too).

Like all the best self-help books I’ve ever read, it contains concrete, step-by-step instructions for taking your freelance business to the next level.

Even better?

You don’t have to put every idea in this book into action in order to rock the house. Picking and choosing even a handful will (allegedly) make a huge difference to your business success.

And in case you don’t believe me, this book and its authors have already been championed among other freelancers I admire: Carol Tice. Thursday Bram. The folks at both FreelanceSwitch and Freelance Folder.

I’ve already started some of the exercises in the book, and I’d love it if you joined me. Come on, you guys. I’m already brewing a pot of coffee for our end-of-the-month book chat. Don’t make me drink it alone. (I totally will. I have a debilitating caffeine addiction.)

But the book  made me angry. Why? The author seemed to have little respect for the readers he was trying to help, blaming their inability to connect with other people on arrogance and laziness.

Is it just me? Is my resentment warranted? Am I just not the intended audience for this book?

Either way, I still felt as if the book contained a lot that was worth discussing. So without further adieu…

1. The author seems to believe that those reading his book suffer from an abundance or arrogance and laziness. He thinks we have a voice in our heads, telling us that what we have to say is worth its weight in gold. But I feel as if the opposite is true. I’m an introvert who loses energy quickly in social settings. I have social anxiety, which makes me feel awkward and self-conscious. And while I have no problem asking people about themselves, I have problems talking myself up, because I fear coming across as a sleazy self-promoter. I also worry about being boring. What do you struggle with when it comes to finding your own It Factor?

2. Wiskup writes that we should talk about the “why” (why does what I’m saying matter to the listener?) early and often, and this I agree with. In fact, I believe that knowing your “why” is the key to creating marketing copy that sells. Have you effectively pinned down your own “why”? How?

3. In Chapter 4, Wiskup writes about painting pictures with your words. I myself have found that using personal anecdotes, and peppering them with personal details, can help an audience connect to you and your message. How have you used storytelling for your freelance business? Do you hesitate to use personal anecdotes when it comes to your networking and copywriting? If so, why?

4. In Chapter 7, Wiskup gives step-by-step instructions for creating your own elevator pitch, and reminds us that “not every pitch is right for every elevator.” His instructions are useful, demystifying the process of putting together a good elevator pitch, and his advice to prepare many different pitches is spot-on. Using his instructions, put together at least one pitch of your own, and share it in the comments section below.

5. I was intrigued by Wiskup’s steps to successful small talk in Chapter 9. I know of many introverts who hate small talk, partly because it makes them uncomfortable, and partly because it feels so phone. But, as Wiskup writes, the best networkers know that small talk is “just a step in the connection process.” Do you feel comfortable with small talk? What did you think of Wiskup’s small talk technique? What has helped you become better at small talk?

And is there anything else that leaped out at you while reading this book? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Related: Freelancedom Book Club: The It Factor

As it’s the first week of June, I wanted to announce my first book club selection:

Mark Wiskup’s The It Factor: Be the One People Like, Listen To, and Remember.

I chose it because I feel that building a strong professional network is so crucial to freelance success, and because — as an introvert — I’m always looking for ways in which I can improve my in-person communication skills.

If you’d like to participate in the Freelancedom Book Club this month, pick up a copy of the book, grab yourself some quiet reading time and, at the end of the month, I’ll do up a post containing my initial thoughts on the book, and put forth some discussion questions. At which point we shall have an absolutely rousing discussion in the comments section. Rousing, I tell you.

I hope you can participate!

Related: Do You Want To Join The Freelancedom Book Club?

In reading through my review copy, I felt that the step-by-step, how-to content was definitely valuable for anyone considering the self-publication route. But what I was most struck by was the section on press kits and press releases, as putting these together is something I feel many freelancers don’t know a lot about. And if you’re trying to promote an information product, a copywriting biz, or any other type of product or service, it can be an important skill to have.

The Press Kit:

• press release
• author bio
• books spec sheet
• author’s photo
• book cover art file
• interview with author

You can use the press kit to contact media in the virtual as well as in the real world. To save costs, and trees, post the elements of your press kit in downloadable form on its own page with your blog site or website. Rather than send out the actual press kit, you can send out letters through email or snail mail with bullet points of your press release and a link to your kit. This has become the standard form of distributing press releases to newspapers and magazines, both online and in print.

The press release is the most important element of your kit. Don’t make it a boring announcement that repeats your synopsis and gives the book’s release date and retail outlets where you can find it. Instead, find a “hook” or a newsworthy angle. There are a number of ways you can make your press release newsworthy.

- Use a quote from the book as a way of commenting on a current event or controversy.

- Tie your book into a seasonal or holiday event.

- Create an event, such as a seminar or speech, in which you are appearing as an expert and sprinkle in your book’s name.

- Don’t forget the old standard “five w’s,” or Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Make sure you answer each of these questions in your press release.

- Always write in an active voice.

- Vary the length of your sentences, but try not to use too many compound sentences, or ones that contain more than 15 words. Remember that someone is probably just going to scan your press release at first to see if they want to use it. If it is too hard to read, that means it will need editing. That’s work no one is going to want to do.

- Quotations are a must in the press release. Reporters like to pull out quotes to use in their articles.

- Write in third person.

…

To read more about press kits and press releases — or about self-publishing in general! — check out McCann’s book!

Related: 12 Ways To Market An Ebook

Since leaving YourTango, I’ve used the past two months to take a really close look at my career coaching business, trying to figure out what I want to focus on, which products and services I want to take off the table, which I want to add (if any), and where I want this whole career coaching thing to go.

The first sentence of the bio I wrote for the YEC site was telling: “Steph Auteri is the founder of Career Coaching for Word Nerds, a company created with an eye toward building a community of fellow word nerds and publishing professionals who can share stories, experiences, tips, and resources with their peers, and also connect with established experts within the industry.”

It made me realize that — as much as I enjoy one-on-one coaching — I’d really like to make my coaching biz a community.

And so, the germ of a (possibly ridiculous) dream was born: To one day open up a coworking space / cafe that also holds regular literary and networking events.

I don’t use an established coworking space myself (though I sometimes pack up my laptop and head to the Fine Grind for some distraction-free work and a cup of coffee). But the idea does intrigue me. And no wonder. According to Coworking: How Freelancers Escape the Coffee Shop Office and Tales of Community from Independents Around the World — an ebook written by Angel Kwiatkowski and Beth Buczynski – 82 percent of coworkers in the U.S. feel more motivated and productive since joining a coworking space. Not only that, but most make seven vital connections within two months. Human contact and the possibility of collaboration? Sign me up!

The pretty pretty ebook!

Coworking was rich with info on the benefits of coworking, coworking etiquette, and the ways in which to find a coworking space that works for you. It also contained stories from happy coworkers around the world. Definitely worth a read.

But what I want to ask you is this: What does your fantasy coworking space look like?

Does it offer events? Coffee? Cubicles? Conference rooms? Scheduled dance breaks? (Now that’s an idea… ) Spill it!

Related: Coworking: The Cure for What Ails Me?