In the five years since I first launched this blog — and in the 1.5 years since I began coaching — I’ve learned a thing or two about the things that can hold a freelancer back.

And aside from the lure of a smooshy couch, a good book, or a curated list of sparkly jewelry on Etsy, a lot of the roadblocks we put up around ourselves stem from the pitch process.

You’ve asked me so many questions about query letters over the years:

How do I find publications to pitch?

Which editor should I target?

What do I do if I have no clips/experience/personal connection?

How long should I wait before I follow up?

Is my letter really good enough to send out? 

I had the same questions when I started out and, over the years, I developed my own system for making the pitch to publish process go smoother.

So what’s my trick to busting query fear?

For the past few months,  I’ve been working on 5 Weeks to Freelance Awesome: An Action Plan, a workbook that takes you from idea generation to the building of your freelance brand. This workbook, which will be available for sale in the late spring, will be pretty damn fantastic. But as I worked on it, I couldn’t help but ask myself: Is there a way I can use this information to show gratitude to my loyal word nerd readers? Is there a way I can share this information with readers without ruining the big reveal?

Yesterday, I emailed Word Nerd News subscribers with a download link to Freelance Awesome: A Starter Kit, a FREE mini-workbook containing the five worksheets necessary to jumpstart your freelance writing career. These worksheets comprise the system I’ve put in place for making my own pitch process a helluva lot easier. I use them on an almost-daily basis. They help me:

• generate story ideas
• conduct market research
• write kick-ass query letters, and
• track pitches and assignments

These worksheets take the self-doubt out of story pitching, and help me keep the freelance momentum going.

Because I don’t want you to miss out, I encourage you to sign up for my mailing list as well. As a subscriber to Word Nerd News, you’ll receive instant access to my starter kit. Not only that, but you’ll receive a once-a-month email containing freelance success stories, solid advice, and valuable resources from around the web. I’d say it’s a win-win.

Once you’ve downloaded my .pdf-powered word glitter, I only ask one thing in return: If you find my starter kit helpful… if you think I have something valuable to offer… if you think my hair is pretty… if you think I could be a service to someone else you know, tell them to sign up for my mailing list, too.

(If you don’t want to sign up right now, you can always come back later. There’s a simple sign-up form in the right-hand sidebar of this blog, and a sign-up button on my professional site as well.)

I should also tell you that, next week (Thursday, February 9 at 12 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. EST), I’ll be appearing on Carol Tice‘s weekly podcast, over at the Freelance Writer’s Den, to talk freelance startup plans. (You may recall that Carol is one of my favorite freelance writing bloggers.) This is a members-only event, so be sure to register beforehand!

Finally, I want to give a big thanks to Lyz Lenz, my writing partner, for ripping my workbook to shreds and then helping me put it back together again; Melanie Ostmo, a fantastic designer, for making my starter kit all sorts of pretty; and Milena Canizares, a former coaching client who was kind enough to read through my kit and give me her feedback before I shared it with the world.

Go forth and rock it, y’all.

Related: How To Pitch: The Basics

As commonplace and cliche as they’ve become, everyone loves a good list. Even me. Especially me. Because when I was drawing together my Top 10 Bookmark-Worthy Blog Posts of 2011, I quickly noticed that almost all of them were lists.

A list of lists. How meta.

But even if you’ve grown weary of listicles, I hope you’ll find this one useful. It contains blog posts — all published in 2011 — that I keep returning to… posts I found so useful I couldn’t help bookmarking them for future use. They were just that full of awesome resources and easily-executable tips.

Together, they comprise a handy-dandy resource manual for building a better, stronger business.

So assuming your entrepreneurial muscles could use some flexing…

1. 50 Questions to Ask Yourself After 6 Months of Freelancing. Whenever I think I’ve found the perfect work/life balance, something inside me shifts, and I find myself growing in a completely new direction. Shifts like these have led to me moving from editorial to marketing. They have led to me going full-time freelance. They have led to my career coaching certification,  ghostwriting, and yoga. By this point, I’ve learned that it’s always good to reevaluate your goals. Which is why I love Laura Spencer’s collection of questions you should ask yourself after six months of freelancing. Though I’d take it further. I’d ask yourself these questions every six months, or even every month, from now into eternity.

2. 12 Ways to Turn Your Old, Dusty Blog Archive into Cold, Hard Cash. Carol Tice is the queen of the idea-heavy listicle. Here, as a guest poster on the always-educational Copyblogger, she suggests 12 ways to diversify… using content you’ve already created. How’s that for efficiency? From teleclasses to ebooks, she offers up information products and services to fit any comfort level. Because in an age of shrinking freelance budgets, one can’t survive by writing listicles alone.

3. 109 Ways to Make Your Business Irresistible to the Media. It would be so awesome if Ellen invited me onto her show to dance awkwardly together to the latest LMFAO song and chat about my career coaching business. But Ellen likely doesn’t know who the hell I am. And that’s okay. I haven’t really done a damn thing to grab her attention. This Copyblogger post offers up 109 ways to grab Ellen’s attention. Or get local newspaper coverage. Or end up as the guest of honor on a radio show. Now what’s your excuse?

4. 40 Questions You Need to Ask Every Copywriting Client. Let’s put aside fame and fortune for the moment. We’re supposed to be making money here. Land those projects, yo! But wait. Be careful. Don’t say yes to everyone. And don’t even say yes to the best possible clients without first nailing down all the details. What do you need to know before signing that contract? Again, Carol Tice has the answers. Or the questions, rather. 40 of ‘em. From “When do you need this project completed?” to “Who is your target audience?”

5. 110 Ideas to Get More Freelance Work and Generate New Client Leads. Okay. Carol’s not the only one who can whip up a mean listicle. Over at FreelanceSwitch, blogging buddy Susan Johnston provides some major lead-generating inspiration. Because as we recently discussed, no matter how hot your business is, those slow periods will pop up, and you will need to get back to hustling your little booty off.

6. How to Failproof Your Business. Ohmygod. A non-listicle. Let’s hold it together, people. So I may have just broken the rules of this list. This link doesn’t exactly point to a blog post. Rather, it’s a landing page for a video series created by Dave Navarro and Naomi Dunford. I have to include it, though. Out of all the content I’ve come across this past year, this video series has been one of the most educational. In fact, it’s so fantastic, I can’t believe it’s free. From how to build a list to how to close, this series has been a big part of my recent success. And I wish the same success for you, too. So watch it, punks.

7. 45 Kick-Ass Resources for Online Entrepreneurs. A list of resources within a list of list-y resources. Now we’re really meta. But this list is a good one, and contains some of my own favorite resources, including a couple that are heavily featured on this very list.

8. 50 Ways to Get a Freelance Gig. Oh Carol. We have to stop meeting this way. If you haven’t gotten the picture yet, I’ll spell it out for you: Subscribe to Carol’s blog. That is all.

9. Life Cycle of a Book. This one’s a little different from the other posts on this list, but I was absolutely delighted with it when I first saw it, and I think it’s a must see/read for any reader of my blog who’s interesting in someday writing a book. This series of videos (fine; I did it again) takes the viewer through the life cycle of a book (obvs), from the very first draft through to publicity (by both publishing house and author). It’s a great way to learn about the entire publishing process (writer, agent, editorial, production, etc.), and there’s even a pretty infographic you can download and hang up. Check it.

10. Are Your Supposed Weaknesses Actually Your Strength? Finally, I took a look through my analytics to find out which Freelancedom post was the most popular this year. I was surprised by the result. This post of mine is more inspirational than applicable. And it even includes homework! But maybe y’all love stories of vengeance and redemption. Or maybe it gave you hope. Or maybe — just maybe — you found it helpful to see yourself through someone else’s eyes. We tend to see the worst in ourselves. Other people? They see the best.

Did I miss anything so holy-shit awesome that you sorta want to key my car? Leave a link in the comments, and let us know why it deserves a spot on this last. Thanks y’all!

Related: Merry Christmas! My 12 Favorite Freelance Tools and Resources

Sure, I’ve broken into new markets by cold querying and social media marketing. But word-of-mouth marketing is still how I connect with the majority of my coaching clients. It led to my inclusion in the Young Entrepreneur Council’s inaugural group of members. It’s the primary reason I was asked to be a panelist on that ASJA sex writing panel in the spring. And it’s led to numerous writing and editing projects over the years.

You may believe that word-of-mouth marketing is out of your hands (and to some extent, it is). But if you’re looking to build legitimacy for your business, you can still use those satisfied clients to your advantage in a more deliberate way.

I’m talking testimonials, people. And all you have to do is ask for them.

Maybe you feel weird about asking your clients to talk you up. Maybe you figure that — if they really liked you — they’d do it on their own.

And they might.

But if you straight up ask for testimonials (and you ask for them using the types of thought-provoking questions that make for the most effective testimonials), you can then use them on your website, in your e-newsletter, in your email signature, on your blog… wherever you think they’ll be most visible to your target client.

And these solid endorsements from others will show those still hesitating to open their wallets that you have a proven track record of solving problems just like theirs.

So how can you score those eye-catching testimonials? Promotional wordsmith Alexandra Franzen makes it easy with her latest info-product: Five Scripts to Rake in the Praise.

Remember when I offered those freebie email templates you could use for asking your boss the tough questions? (Questions like Can I telecommute? and Will you hate me if I resign?)

Alexandra’s Five Scripts is sort of like that. Except way prettier. And with templates for multiple testimonial-gathering situations. Such as:

• confidently requesting a testimonial from a current client
• prompting your client with the types of questions that make for the most effective love notes
• scoring a belated testimonial from a long-ago client
• requesting advance praise for a soon-to-be-released product
• taking previously written praise and spreading it among your advocates and fans

And like Alexandra herself, the scripts are bold and colorful, including such turns of phrase as “your words of support are like solid gold for my business” and “with wiggly anticipation.” (Seriously. This Alexandra chick is my kinda wordsmith.)

You can send out these scripts word for word… or you can use them as jumping-off points, allowing them to inspire you to new heights of writerly radiance that smack of your own huggable personality.

If nothing else, these scripts will stand as shining examples of what can be accomplished with top-notch copywriting.

Alexandra’s Five Scripts to Rake in the Praise is available for only $15 [not an affiliate link; I just think this product is quality and cool], but one lucky Freelancedom reader will receive it for free. Just leave a comment below with the five adjectives you wish your clients would use to describe you. (Example: Relatable. Honest. Funny. Empathetic. Looks like Zooey Deschanel.)

OR.

If you’re more interested in Alexandra’s Five Scripts to Fill Your Client Docket, leave a comment below describing your dream project/client, because I have one of those to give out as well.

Dream big, word nerds! Dream big.*

* I will be excepting entries through midnight on Thursday, December 22. I will email the winners on Friday, December 23.

Related: Want to Work Remotely? How to Ask the Tough Questions

Of course, I get my motivation and accountability elsewhere. My writing partner, Lyz Lenz, sends me threatening emails every week.

But what about the rest of you? Where can you go to ensure that your writing goals are met, thanks to a mix of motivation, camaraderie, and abject fear?

1. For those of you who have trouble updating your blog on a regular basis (shut up; I was doing very, very important things… okay, I was tweeting and surfing Etsy), there’s NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month (also in November). You can check out the BlogHer site for writing prompts and badges and then dive on in, secure in the knowledge that, at least for one month, you were on top of things.

2. If your November is just too damn busy (with Christmas shopping), there’s always Michelle Rafter’s WordCount Blogathon, in May. Check out Michelle’s Blogathon page for all the ways in which participating can help you build your biz.

3. And of course, those are just two of the more well-known ones. You can search for blog carnivals within your specific niche at this handy-dandy online directory.

4. If you’ve got your blogging covered, however, and would rather concentrate on content you can create for actual money, I highly recommend Freelance Success‘s twice-a-year Query Challenge. For the brief period of time in which I was a member of this professional writer’s group, I found the Challenge to be its most beneficial resource. Participants were split into teams and pitted against each other, earning points through queries and LOIs, and through the assignments that resulted from them. Team members had to report their points once a week, and team rankings were sent out in the weekly e-newsletter. There’s nothing like some healthy competition (and the fear of letting your teammates down) to make you sweat.

5. Then there are those sites and applications that target your writing productivity, and that can be used year-round. 750 Words is one such resource. It’s a site on which users aim to write at least 750 words a day and, for their troubles, receive points for their progress, and stats about what they’ve written (such as their most productive times of day, their quickest entries, their most common topics, and their most frequently used words).

6. Finally, if extreme terror is the most effective form of motivation for you, there’s always Write or Die. I’m afraid to use it, but rumor has it that, if you don’t reach your writing goals for the day, this application send you a threatening email, announces your failure to the entire Twitterverse, erases your hard drive, and makes your coffee pot malfunction.

Just kidding.

Write or Die tracks your writing and, if you pause for too long, you either a) receive a gentle reminder pop-up, telling you to stop being such a goddamn slacker (gentle mode), b) are subjected to an “unpleasant sound” that only ceases if you continue writing (normal mode), or c) are forced to watch your writing unwrite itself (kamikaze mode). Note: I am afraid to use this app.

7. Of course, you could always use mini goals, rewards, self-imposed deadlines, and good, old-fashioned self-discipline, but where’s the fun in that?

Any of you guys have an app or non-technical trick that keeps you at your keyboard?

Related: Didn’t Get It Done? That’s Your Own Damn Fault, Resource Roundup: 4 Time Management Applications, Are Professional Organizations Worth the Cost?, Motivational Trick: Fear (of Letting Others Down), Finding Someone to Drag You to the Finish Line

My idea of the perfect afternoon.

The other day, I participated in a book club gathering at my favorite local coffee shop. It was my first time, and I was nervous about inserting myself into a group of people I didn’t know, but they were discussing Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – one of my favorite books — so I couldn’t resist.

I ended up having a lovely time, and it made me think about the way I cover books here on Freelancedom.

I mean, writing a book review is all well and good.  But wouldn’t it be way more fun to have a virtual book club discussion?

Books have been SO important to my development as a freelance writer and business owner. And I’m still learning. Which is why I have about 5 trillion business/writing books on my (ever-expanding) Amazon Wish List. Among them:

• Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone
• Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way
• Kelly James-Enger’s Six-Figure Freelancing
• Julie A. Fast’s Get It Done When You’re Depressed
• Joy Deangdeelert Cho and Meg Mateo Ilasco’s Creative, Inc.
• Seth Godin’s Linchpin
• Laura Vanderkam’s 168 Hours
• Carol Roth and Michael Port’s The Entrepreneur Equation
• Mark Wiskup’s The It Factor
• Adair Lara’s You Know You’re a Writer When…
• Alan Weiss’s Value-Based Fees

How would you guys feel about having a once-a-month Freelancedom book club? We’d read a book, I’d post a review that contained discussion questions, and we’d have a party in the comments section. Wine and cheese optional (but strongly suggested).

[poll id="2"]

Related: Home-Schooled: 20 Books To Build Your Freelance Life Upon

My gift to you. Go ahead. Open it.

Just yesterday, Deb Ng wrote a fantastic post on the 10 Ways to Give Back to Your Favorite Bloggers for the Holidays. I loved it because I’ve always felt that generosity toward your fellow freelancers was key in achieving career success… and in experiencing the warm fuzzies. In fact, I’d advise all of you to show generosity to your fellow freelancers year-round, with feedback, advice, contacts, support, resources, and more.

In that spirit, I’d like to leave you guys a Christmas gift before shutting down my laptop for the holidays and gorging myself on Candy Cane Kisses and eggnog.

I eschewed fancy wrapping paper, as my cats tend to eat any curling ribbon I  leave languishing beneath the Christmas tree. (And then they puke it up later. Fun!) But even though my gift’s not super-fancy, I hope you’ll find it helpful.

Go ahead. From me to you, my 12 favorite freelance tools and resources. May they bring you career success, and/or make your day-to-day freelance life a bit more bearable.

1. Books. Some go to journalism school. Others hire writing coaches. And still others juggle six internships and invest in continuing education courses. All viable options, but I learned the most about freelance writing from reading a shit-ton of business books. (Well, that and just diving right in… the best way to learn, in my opinion.) My favorite career-related books? Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears’s The Boss of You; Michelle Goodman’s The Anti 9 to 5 Guide; and Michelle Goodman’s My So-Called Freelance Life.

2. WordPress. Okay. WordPress is nothing new, but it deserves some serious recognition for its role in helping me build up my freelance business. Using it for Freelancedom has widened my freelance network exponentially, and my husband also used it to build me a super-pretty professional site. But I don’t always need my husband to update my sites. WordPress is so intuitive, and has such a great community of users willing to help out, that I can figure out a lot on my own. This Plugin Directory alone is worth its weight in gold. And when I want to pretty up my posts? I use stock photography sites like stock.xchng, Flickr, iStockphoto, and Thinkstock.

3. Twitter. I am amazed by everyone out there who can successfully juggle 10 different social media accounts. Not me! While I have accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Brazen Careerist, and other sites, Twitter is top dog on my list. My favorite Twitter app? Hootsuite, both because I can use it to manage multiple accounts, and because it offers that nifty, URL-shortening Hootlet bookmarklet. ANYways, I’m a little bit addicted to Twitter. It allows me to promote my own work, share and find great content, and connect with other word nerds. For a peek at my favorite word nerds on Twitter, check out this list I created.

4. Gmail. I know this is another no-duh entry, but I love labeling my e-mails into organized submission, and I also have multiple Gmail accounts: my personal account, my YourTango account, my Frisky account, and my career coaching account. Want to create

The first site I visit every day, obvs.

a separate business e-mail? Gmail makes it easy.

5. GQueues. This is not a Google application, but it does sync up with Google Calendar. I use GQueues to create to-do lists for the different areas of my life: marketing tactics for my career coaching biz… blog post ideas for Freelancedom and LoveMom… I even use the e-mail alert feature to remind myself to pay my bills on time. You can read more on one of my favorite apps of all time right here.

6. Skype. I only started using Skype about a year ago (I know; I am so behind the times), because the folks at YourTango use it to keep in contact with each other. Now I also use it to harass my husband while he’s at work, conduct video chats with coaching clients and other business contacts, and hold conference calls. And according to the e-book I co-wrote with Ian Kerner, you can also use it for webcam sex. Just sayin’!

7. MailChimp. When I tweeted out a call for suggestions on the best e-newsletter clients, the majority of people told me to try MailChimp. Sold! I now use it to send out my monthly Word Nerd Newsletter, and the process couldn’t be smoother. I love how customizable it is, how easy it is to create e-mail templates and web forms, how helpful the MailChimp team is… if you’re considering starting up your own e-mail newsletter as a means of building your business, I highly recommend it.

8. Freshbooks. Because you all like to get paid… At YourTango, I happen to be in charge of organizing freelancer invoices. And every single one of those freelancers sends their invoice along in an unformatted Word document or Excel spreadsheet. Which is fine, but if you’re juggling a ton of clients — and a ton of projects — it might be nice to have access to a program that lets you store client and project information, track your time, generate invoices, run expense reports, and more. I like Freshbooks.

9. Dropbox. My husband made me install Dropbox after a virus began running rampant on my laptop. He wanted my files backed up in case he needed to reformat my hard drive. Now, not only are my most important files secure, but I can also access said files on any computer I download the program to.

10. Letter templates. I give good e-mail. It’s one of my primary skills. In fact, a post I wrote on cover letters back in 2008 remains my most highly trafficked post ever. (Math on the other hand… forget it.) My gift to you? Letter templates for those looking to resign

Soon, you shall be mine.

from their jobs in order to become full-time freelancers, and for those looking to request a remote work arrangement. Download the goods here.

11. Coffee. I know. I’m such a cliché.  But this magic can’t happen without my morning brew! Which is why I’m giving myself a gift in 2011: membership in the Citizen Bean coffee-of-the-month club. Citizen Bean sends out sustainable and complex roasts from small roasters around the country every month. I swear this isn’t a paid advertorial. It’s just that I’ve been reading about them all over the damn place lately, and I’m ridiculously excited to splurge on this in the new year. Maybe the splurge would be worth it for you, too?

12. You. You guys have helped me so much over the past three years. I want this to be a reminder that it’s always okay to lean on others. And if you need to lean on me a little bit harder… well… that’s what my coaching biz is all about. It was your comments and e-mails that inspired me to go ahead and earn my career coaching certification, and eventually launch a business designed to help freelance writers and other publishing professionals. Thanks guys!

Related: The Road To Freelance Success Is Paved with Good Karma, Bring In New Projects Without Lifting a Finger, How I Write

Not my pretty face, but the cleavage is similar...

About a year ago, I accepted an on-site, part-time position at YourTango, despite misgivings about resuming the dreaded NJ-NYC commute I had left behind several years before.

I was desperate, though. I needed some regular income to supplement the other work I was doing, and I was also badly in need of some quasi-regular human contact. Happily, I ended up enjoying my work at YourTango so much that the commute didn’t seem so bad. Plus, I loved the people I was working with.

Still, it eventually began to wear me out. It ate up my time. It was expensive. And, after almost a year of doing it, I began to resent it.

So at the tail end of September, I requested a new, remote working arrangement and, several weeks later, they approved it. Now, I work with my three cats laying in a semicircle around me. I sleep in a little bit more. I dabble in yoga and take daily walks. I have extra time to work on my other projects and extra time to make plans with… well… other human beings. Once again, I feel like I’ve achieved a healthy balance.

Maybe some of you are a little bit like me. Maybe you have full-time jobs, and squeeze in your freelance work in the evenings and on weekends. Or perhaps, like me, you have a part-time gig, and have to commute in to an office. Maybe you often think to yourself, man, I could totally do this job from home, and it would totally free up some extra time for my personal projects! But you’re afraid to ask permission.

How do you go about proposing such a fan-flippin’-tastic work arrangement to your big-time scary boss?*

Well, I used e-mail. Because, as we all know, I’m better in writing.

Still, I’m sure this would work just as well if you opted to go the verbal route.

But basically… don’t beat around the bush. Admit to your superiors that you’d like to make a request to work remotely. Then, follow it up with a pitch they can’t refuse. And don’t make it about you. Talk about how your working remotely would benefit them. Use words like “efficiency” and “resources.” Companies love that. Give examples of how similar work arrangements have worked in the past, if you can. Convince your superiors that having you work remotely would be better for… everyone!

In the event they react with hesitance, suggest a trial period (one month?), a compromise (once-a-week face time?) or both.

And above all, make it clear that you’re not trying to pull back from the company. Some employers might take a request to work remotely as a sign that you’re operating with one foot out the door. Convince them otherwise. Be frank about how much you love working for them, and about how appreciative you are of the opportunities and experience you’ve been given.

If you make your case well enough, they should have no (sane) reason to turn you down.

Need some help putting together your own request e-mail (or fantastic speech)? No problemo! I’ve actually put together a freebie e-mail template for you that you can download here. It contains the bare bones of the ideal request letter, in addition to suggestions for the extra details that can really make a letter sing.

And as a bonus, I’ve also put together a resignation letter template. Because maybe you want to take that plunge. Maybe you want to say sayonara to your full-time job, yet still leave on such good terms that your former employer continues paying you on a freelance basis, or recommending you to others. It could happen. It happened to me!

I hope you find these templates helpful or — at the very least — entertaining. (Maybe both?)

Feel free to share your own request success stories in the comments!

*Disclaimer: My superiors at YourTango are not at all scary. Rather, they are as sweet as apple pie. And they have pretty hair. And cute shoes, too. But they do mean business.

A few weeks ago, I read a blog post over at Zen Habits about going Google-free. Leo’s post proposed that it could be dangerous to give all of your information to, and rely so heavily on, one corporation.

While I found the post interesting, I obviously have no such reservations about allowing Google to run my life. I rely heavily on Google Search throughout the work day (in fact, I just used Google’s blog search function in order to track down Leo’s post so that I could link to it here). I keep track of all of my blog subscriptions with Google Reader. And, when researching practice management services the other month, I came to the conclusion that it would be most cost-effective (aka “free”) to run my business using a mix of Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs.

And now, there’s GQueues.

GQueues is like the perfect offspring of Ta-da Lists (which I’d sort of gotten lazy about updating) and ping.me (which I was using as a reminder service for paying my bills, but which closed down last month). It’s not a Google product, but was created using the Google App Engine platform. I use it to create various to-do lists. It’s perfect, because it integrates with my Google Calendar, and allows me to set up e-mail alerts. It’s simple, but it’s also everything I need. (Seriously. I want to make babies with it.)

You can do so much more with it if you so choose. You can share your lists with others. Add tasks to your to-do lists from your task bar, using the GQueues bookmarklet. Tag your queues. Assign projects and tasks to others…

GQueues recently came out of Beta (which was completely free), and added a paid option. At just $25 a year, I think it’s totally worth it. But that’s just me. You should check it out!

Related: Resource Roundup: 4 Time Management Applications

I was totally planning on attending a networking event tonight. I had already RSVPd. I’d put it into my Google Calendar. I’d e-mailed the info to a few friends. Then I began losing momentum…

I was afraid to go alone. I didn’t feel like taking a bus into the city, especially during rush hour. My energy levels were low, anyway, and there was work I could get done if only I stayed at home.

I put on a dress in order to motivate myself. After all, who wants to waste a pretty dress by not leaving the house?

I took the dress off.

Then I noticed that I was having a good hair day. Could I possibly waste a good hair day by not leaving the house?

Yes. Yes I could.

If only I could find a networking group closer to home.

Despite completely insulting “jokes” about NJ’s status as the armpit of the northeast, it seems that one can find totally respectable networking events there.

Which means that your odds are probably even better. Especially if you do a search on one of these sites:

Craigslist: I like Craigslist. It has a page for New Jersey. Not only that, but it even has separate pages for Central Jersey, the Jersey Shore, North Jersey, and South Jersey. NYC, eat your heart out. Search for your own geographic area. Then, follow the links for “groups” or “events” (listed under “Community”) to see what’s going on in your neighborhood. If things seem slow, feel free to suggest or start your own group or event.

EventBrite: This site is like an Evite for networkers and professionals. One can plan and prevent events here — and even search for events by location and keyword.

Ladies Who Launch: Here’s one for the ladies. The site is a hub of information and resources for female entrepreneurs, and it also allows you to search for events by geographic location. Events are scattered, but it’s still well worth checking out of you’re looking to connect with like-minded, oh-so-awesome women.

LinkedIn: I know, I know. I should be using LinkedIn to build my professional network. Everyone else is. Guys. It’s tough enough balancing the blogging and the Twitter. But don’t follow my example. LinkedIn has a great Events feature now, browsable by keyword and location.

MediaBistro: While the bulletin boards at mediabistro only have location-specific sections for the major cities, it is possible to connect closer to home by searching their media events by state, type, and keyword.

Meetup: Can’t find the group for you, despite a thorough search by topic and location? You can easily start your own Meetup group. The only catch? Group leaders are now required to pay: either $19 for one month, $45 for three months, or $72 for six months.

NetParty: On NetParty, you can find business and social networking events for young professionals. If you don’t see your city on their list, you can suggest it to them, in order to aid them in planning future events.

Twitter: I know that you’re sick of hearing about Twitter but, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m on it, and I use it heavily. I’ve previously blogged over at TwiTip on taking your Twitter networking from online to in-the-flesh. Now, planning tweetups — or searching for already-existing ones — is even easier with twitvite.

Are there any resources I’m leaving out? (Maybe that’s the reason I’m sitting home alone.) If so, please do leave a comment!

Related: Build Your Own: Writing Group, How to Market Yourself: Getting Out More

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Since scheduling my days into blocks of time dedicated to specific projects, I’ve been much more productive (we’ll discount the latter half of May for a multitude of reasons…), miraculously finishing up projects that had previously kept on falling to the bottom of my list of priorities.

Hallelujah!

While I have my personal schedule stored only in my noggin, on my weaker days (like that day I got sucked into a Tales from the Darkside marathon after sitting in front of the TV for a lunch break), I probably could have benefited from some sort of time management application.

Because I hope you can succeed where I have failed, I present to you 4 time tracking applications that will help you stay on…well…track:

1. SlimTimer: This online time tracking application lets you create (and share) tasks, time your work (by clicking on a task when you start working, and when you’re done), and run reports. Create an account and you’re good to go! [FREE]

2. Timepost: Timepost is a time management system that not only allows you to track your time, but also has idle detection that enables automatic pausing of your timer when you’ve been away from the computer for a certain length of time. [$39]

3. 88 Miles: This is another tracking system that allows you to punch in and out of projects as you work on them, set time budgets for various projects, run reports, send invoices, etc. [FREE-$75/month]

4. Toggl: Finally, here’s the one my hubby recommended to me (he uses it with his own freelance work but, like a good wife, I ignore most of his suggestions; perhaps you’ll listen to him instead). Toggl is a simple app, with one-click time tracking, and can be embedded just about anywhere. [FREE]

Have the lowdown on an app or software download I’ve missed? Have a better way of tracking your time? Please share! Before I stumble across Darkside again!

Related: RoundUp: 7 Invoicing Apps That Will Get You Paid