Consider my own recent experience. As editor of Worldwide Freelance Writer web site, I publish a newsletter that goes out to thousands of freelance writers around world. I can recall one particular issue in middle of 2002. I started planning newsletter in heat and humidity of Hong Kong. When first draft came together I was in Indianapolis, in United States. And by time I completed final copy and pushed send button I was at a lakeside cottage in Ontario, Canada, with snow lightly falling outside.

Maybe you are interested in a freelance writing career but you worry about whether you live in a suitable location. Well, think again. Freelance writing is a job you can do from anywhere. It is true that if your home is near New York's editorial offices you may be able to use your proximity to some advantage. But many, many freelance writers are working successfully from more distant locations, and in many cases enjoying a better lifestyle in places where they live.

Take Ron Irwin, for example. An American, Ron freelances from a small house on beach in Cape Town, South Africa. The majority of his work is still for North American markets. Consider Vella Corinne, a native of Malta in center of Mediterranean Sea. From this island steeped in history - Order of St John was based here and temples are thought to be older than pyramids - she writes travel and lifestyle features.

Writers in locations such as these, far from being at a serious disadvantage, can actually enjoy a number of benefits. For a start, these writers are in an excellent position to write about their own locations, people and culture. Also, living costs are often less expensive than for writers in major cities. And if that is not enough, how about fresh, clean air?

Writers working from remote locations usually live in a cleaner, more peaceful environment, and may live closer to outdoor and recreational activities. Vella reveals how she enjoys warmer days: "Once I pack up my computer, I just head to beach. Distances are short and, island being small, I'm always close to center of whatever's happening here. I can control my own time in a way that I could not if I lived in a busy city."

Twenty years ago writers in remote locations were often frustrated by slowness of communicating with editors on other side of world. It would always take months to receive a reply from an editor. Waiting for a response to a query was about as exciting as watching grass grow!

Your print or ebook is nearly finished. You wonder if you should try to get an agent to represent you to publisher. Maybe you've already sent out your query letter to some agents. You dream how great it would be to be taken under publisher's wings.

You've already read about what traditional publishers can and can't do for you. Now is a time for self-publishers who want a print book to check out Print On Demand or Print Quantity Needed.

On Print Books--Print on Demand Two Ways

1. Hire Publisher/Printer yourself to just print your book from your word file. In Print Quantity Needed such as www.daharts.com (similar to POD) you keep all of your book's rights. This method helps you make much more profit from your effort and you will get your book out to buyers so much faster, making faster profits.

2. Hire Full-Service Print on Demand Publisher/Printers who each charge you an up front fee to set up. They too take your word files and put into Portable Document Format.

The downside? Check to see if you need these services. You don't need an ISBN # if you sell from your own web site. The biggest down to me is no control over my book. Here, you must buy back each book from printer/publisher at a wholesale price--almost half of what you will sell it for. So, your profits are limited.

List of POD Publishers to Investigate

1. www.trafford.com-888-232-4444 2. www.IUniverse.com 877-823-9235 3. www.XLibris.com 888-795-4274 4. www.pagefreeepublishing.com 88-707-7634 5. www.infinitypublishing.com 877-289-2665

These companies do not offer a good promotion plan. If you want to sell online, you'll have hundreds of thousands of eager book buyers ready to buy when you apply number one, free way to promote your book--submitting articles to opt-in ezines and web sites. Contact a reliable book coach for this information.

On eBooks

If you sell your book as an eBook on your Web site or link it to other publishing web sites, you will make 100% of profit.

FACT: In traditional publishing for print books, you must get a distributor, and a wholesaler to get brick and mortar bookstores to carry your book. The bookstore gets a percentage too. Maybe these costs will add up to 85%! What's left for author, one who wants to make a difference in people's lives?

Is there a drawback to self-publishing?