Some businesses require you to work outside the home, either in a storefront, an office, or some other specialized location. But there are many businesses you can work on, or even start from your home. With many you can even have flexible hours.

Do you like to craft? Set up an online shop at Etsy to sell your handmade items.
Do you enjoy photography? You can sell your photos at several online photo galleries. Most pay you when your photo is downloaded, some popular photos and digital images are downloaded hundreds, and even thousands of times. One of my favorites is istockphoto.com.
Create …read more

One of the things I hear a lot these days is that I’m lucky to not have to worry about losing my job. When the economy started to spiral downward, many of my friends began to worry that their position would be next on the chopping block. People have also noted that they can’t rely on bonuses like they used to, and office perks are being a thing of the past. I’m lucky that I don’t have to deal with these things.
Or do I?
As a freelancer, I might not have to wonder whether or not my boss will talk to …read more

A writer’s space is often a snapshot of just how successful they can expect to be during their work time. Need convincing? Just look at my workspace evolution:

I started writing when I was in college. My workspace was a desk where I also did homework, and I shared the room with one of my friends – though it was an actual apartment, not a dorm room, so we had a separate living space. I only did freelancing part-time, and my success was mild. Often, I was a bit overbooked and unorganized.

Image: sxc.hu

I then moved to my own bedroom in an …read more

Let’s take a break from talking about business today and instead talk about something fun – snacks! I don’t know about you guys, but this week’s been super busy, and I could sure use the break.
Working at home isn’t good for the waistline, if you’re anything like me. I guess the same is true with any office job where you’re sitting most of the day, but when you’re at home and your kitchen is RIGHT THERE…
To help battle the bulge, I’d started stocking my cupboards with healthier snacks. That way, when I do chow down, at least I’m making better …read more

Happy Earth Day! If you’re reading this right now from a screen in your home or somewhere else that is NOT an office, congratulations! You’re saving the world!
To thank you and get you thinking about all the ways that working at home helps to conserve Earth’s resources, the authors of Undress For Success—The Naked Truth About Making Money at Home are offering a free download of the book’s introduction as well as the chapter, “What’s In It For Me” which, among other things, shows how employees can save up to $17,000 a year by working from home.

The free download is …read more

Desperate times mean that people are desperate.  And desperate times also bring out the people who prey on those desperate people.  Pyramid scheme offers are increasing, as Sandy Mitchell writes, even with the huge amount of publicity for the Bernard Madoff scam.  Work from home / home business opportunity scams are also coming out of the proverbial woodwork.  How do you know if the offer is legitimate or a scam?  The best people to ask are the folks at Undress4Success.com.  They have a great blog that helps you sort out the claims.
Undress4Success says you can spot a scam by looking …read more

It’s far from the end of the world, but I had just finished printing out some 96 pages of an edit from a ghostwriting client when the phone rang, and sure enough, it was his secretary telling me another version was coming. It’s arrived, and when I get back from buying more paper, I’ll print it out.
Write well and often,

Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing – a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision – for those who want to get a book written.

I have a vague memory of hearing long ago that computers would be come like appliances. I suppose that’s like the promise made even longer ago that we’d all have paperless offices.
These thoughts come because the Logictech Trackball I use rather than a mouse started acting strangely today. I couldn’t scroll reliably, nor could I move cards in solitaire. Of course, I wasn’t sure it was the trackball, but everything else seemed fine and since they cost less than $25 it seemed worth a try. Which meant a trip to the store, etc. etc. etc.
Sure enough, that solved the problem, …read more

Yesterday, around 11 a.m. my stomach started acting up. I actually cancelled an appointment, turned off my phone and went back to bed.
Today, I’m better, but not great – a clear case of what my mom called kollywobbles. And again I’m so very grateful I work for myself at home. The way I feel today wouldn’t really be bad enough for a full-on sick day in the corporate world, but I don’t have to face that decision.
I already emailed a client who wanted some details on a writing project that I’m slightly sick, not thinking clearly and he’d …read more

I’ve said it, and now Contract Worker is saying it, differently and well. The post is Freelancers Can Take a Break Anytime They Want, to which I say a big Amen!
Today turned out to be mostly a day off for me. Network and internet problems caused a great deal of frustration this morning and rather than fight it I ran off to get a hair cut and do some needed shopping. I thought I’d get back to writing, but I had a couple of personal phone messages when I got back and sure enough, spent close to a healing hour …read more