There is an image most people carry of artist (think Van Gough's self-portrait, one with his ear bandaged), working in solitude in a barren garret in a dark corner of city. Everyday is a struggle. He continually walks between moments of brilliance and moments of insanity. It's a romantic image, I suppose. Built around belief that an artist must suffer for his art.

This applies not only to painter, mind you, but also to actor, dancer, photographer, writer. We all must suffer for our art.

But image and reality are often two different things. Writing, for example, does NOT have to be a torturous process of endurance and pain. In fact, it should be exactly opposite. Liberating. Joyous. Enlightening. Why else would you want to invest so much of yourself in it?

So let's take a closer look at a few common writing myths.

This first one actually applies in all areas of a person's life. Simply stated: Having a big ego is a bad thing. It's unbecoming. It's boastful. It puts you in a negative light.

The truth is … if you want to be a success at anything, you need an ego. It motivates you, keeps you moving, pushes you to do your best. It's not your enemy. It's your ally.

The key to making it work for you is to keep it directed inward. Pump yourself up silently. Let it fill you with pride and a sense of possibilities. That's what ego does best. Used wisely, it will move you toward your writing goals, not away from them.

Our next common writing myth is one you hear all time: you have to write something original.

What is originality?

There's only one thing in world that can make your work original. That's you. Because that's all you have to bring to table as a writer. Who you are. Your history. Your experiences. Your family. Your beliefs.

My samples are self-selling. They gleam behind protective covers in my portfolio and snatch me business. "Wow, I really like this one," says a new client, studying one of my newsletter samples. "That's what I want. Can you do something similar for me?"

"I sure can," I tell client. "I think we should shoot for four colors, instead of two. And thick texture paper would be better for self-mailing."

The client agrees. He also agrees to pay me $850 for 4-page newsletter, half now and rest when I complete job.

"Your samples are your most persuasive tools to seal deal," advises Mary Anne Shultz, a NY-based freelance writer who specializes in ad copy.

"At least seven out of my ten clients had asked to see some sort of samples before hiring me for job," says freelance writer Joan Berk. "Clients want to know what you are capable of doing for them."

"Even if your new client does not ask to see samples, you must have samples," says Louie Markowitz, a freelance writer specializing in corporate newsletters. "I show every new client at least one of my samples -- a sample that is similar to what they have in mind. This helps me get constructive feedback and insight into what client wants."

This is easy for established freelancer to say, who has collected professional samples over years and knows that samples sell themselves to clients.

But what about beginning freelancer who has nothing?

According to freelance writer, Scot Card: "Don't panic. Many freelancers start at bottom. It's where I started. And probably so will you."

As a beginning freelance writer embarking on a part-time or full-time freelancing career, you'll need to do a lot of "grunt" work in your field of specialty. Depending on your approach or what you choose, you'll be doing assignments and working on projects for little or no money, but payoff will reward you in long run.

Writing a brochure for a local non-profit organization or writing a press release for your church's summer events will come in handy day you need to show your first client what you've been up to. But it doesn't just begin with freelancing to local non-profit organizations or churches. You can tap into many other outlets to collect samples while improving your experience, skills and knowledge before you begin freelancing part-time or full-time.

Your first step to get started is obvious: Take inventory of everything you have written.

Everyone has done some writing in past: writing term and thesis papers; writing articles for your college newspaper; providing copy for a flier or brochure for an organization; helping your friends write their resumes, or your own. The list goes on.

Of course, a client won't hire you after he glosses over your high school term paper (with bright red A at top) or a short poem you scribbled in a birthday card. But all of your past writings can serve as a benchmark as to where you stand now. You may even possess samples hiding in your closet or lost somewhere in massive directories of your hard drive, waiting to be reworked and re-edited for a fresh facelift.

Take inventory of all of your writing samples and evaluate them as if you are client. What grabs your attention? What makes you squint away. Do your samples have anything in common with your specialty? Can you rewrite any of your samples for improvement? If so, redo them and use them to begin your portfolio. If not, listen closely...

Here are some ways, endorsed by established freelancers in field, that can help you collect samples of your writing, including testimonials and references; but by no means do you have to follow them. Be creative and seek out other alternatives.

Joseph Martenello (technical writer): "I worked as a part-time stringer for my local newspaper for a year. How'd I get job? I responded to an ad in newspaper, even though I barely had any writing experience. Next thing I know, I was covering town meetings and local events, boring stuff. I didn't get paid much -- not enough that I could live off -- but this lead to a higher paying position writing short features for a while and freelancing for neighboring newspapers for dirt pay...I was able to collect my published articles and put them into a portfolio. Even now, six years later, I'm able to state in my sales letter that I worked as a newspaper reporter. That title has a lot of clout with clients. My clients expect short, tight copy -- type of copy evidenced by my published newspaper clips."