Journalist Express is at http://journalistexpress.com — don't miss this site, it's great. The owners of this site are also working on WiredJournalist where you can send news links and tips to your wireless phone.

Writer's Digest Book Club — Although not technically totally free, Writer's Digest Book Club currently has a special offer, where you can join by buying one book for $11.99 and receive two others free. Joining club is one way to build up your own instructional library. I signed up a few months ago, and bought a grammar book, a guide to freelance writing and Writer's Market 2000 for about $17 (included shipping). No aspiring writer should be without Writer's Market guide — not only does it have information on thousands of markets to sell your writing, it also has interesting articles, explaining ins and outs of contracts, rights and publishing. This book itself sells for around $27.99. If you join book club, you are under no obligation to buy a certain amount each year. Information about club and a list of books can be found at: http://www.writersdigest.com/wdbc/index.htm (You always receive a free gift for joining).

The Writer's Digest Web site at http://www.writersdigest.com, has links to Hot Markets and competitions for writers. There is lots of good information at this site, which is additional to Writer's Digest magazine.

That's it — just some great, free resources for writers. Check them out!

September 2000:

Children return to school, hurrah. House gets sold. No time to be a freelance writer as we pack and try to find somewhere to live. Hurrah, magazine with travel appears — my first “glossy”. Am immensely thrilled and feel famous.

October 2000:

Settle into new abode — children are lice-free; toddler is at childcare, recommence freelance writing career. Cold and flu season begins — children take turns at being ill over three-week period. Just as they are well, I get sick.

November 2000:

Hurrah! Magazine editor that published travel article calls and asks me to write monthly articles — only small piece but feel like a very minor celebrity, however a poor one.

December 2000:

No time for writing! Consumed with making arty-crafty gifts for arty-crafty inlaws. Seriously weigh up if freelancing is viable venture. Feeling very homesick and isolated as a work-at-home mother -- missing festive activities of work life. Decide, however, that working fulltime, and coordinating offspring between school and childcare, would be too difficult. Decide to get REALLY serious about writing as soon as new year rolls around. Heartened at year-end to discover I made a very small profit from writing endeavors.

January 2001:

Have lots and lots of ideas for queries and meticulously list them, research them, but seem to have no time to write actual queries. Realize I spend far too much time thinking about being a writer than actually writing. Realize that motivation is only way to achieve writing success. Realize at times I am sadly lacking. However, do have regular magazine contribution and editing work so at least feel like I’m achieving something.

February 2001:

Dot.com editing gig folds in current economic climate. Sigh! Back to resume, and trawling online job sites, and piles of query letters. Anxiously checking mailbox each day for checks owing from aforementioned dot.com to appear.

Realize I will have to work a lot harder if I want to travel to Australia this year. However, at least freezing cold nights are spent at home with offspring safely ensconced at feet.

Decide to make last-ditch attempt at writing. Set achievable goals — both writing and financial, and resolve to find a cure for procrastination — self discipline.