We’re alone. But we’re not. See, freelancers, in many ways, have only their little ol’ selves to depend on when it comes to getting work, doing that work, getting paid, and staying sane. But you know what? This internet thing - it could just catch on.

Let’s back up. Sometimes being rebellious means being realistic. It can be a departure from all the excessively optimistic treatises on freelancing and writing out there, the Marty McFly brand of blogging, and therefore near blasphemous. So let’s get rebel real. Sometimes, especially when we’re starting out, we promise the world in order to get the gig. We talk up ourselves and our experience because we have confidence in our abilities, and know that if we JUST GOT A CHANCE we can blow the underwears off of these dream clients. Sometimes, we get the gig. And then we have a royal freakout, something kind of like this:

Fuck. Damn. Poop. I am so in over my head. I am going to blow this on an epic, unheard of, tale-told-for-generations scale. I need to know [fill in the blanks] like now or I’m screwed. Fuck. Damn. Poop.

As I said before - this internet thing? Could darn well make it. Besides all the pron lovers making it float, us freelancers are finding the inherently life and ass-saving qualities of the web. I myself have found a load of links that help me hone my writing, give me the background I need to back up my ability to write about anything, and provide me some winning inspiration and examples. And when all else fails, when you’re still stuck and frustrated and anxious, there’s the sophisticated art of doing something completely mindless and time-sucking while your subconscious and writing gears kick in.

Here, then, are some rebellious resources for your freelancing success:

Research:
We can write about anything. ANYTHING. That’s the idea, and that’s the goal. But what our editors and clients don’t need to know is that we’re faking it. We don’t have limitless fountains of knowledge within. What we do have is kickass research skills to find out what we don’t know, and to write knowledgeably about it. Here’s the places I go to do this.

• Direct Search. I loves my Googley Google like everyone, but sometimes there’s more to the story. Get all scifi with a trip into the invisible Web.
• Internet Public Library. I mean, full-on interweb-wide library goodness. Glory be.
• Ingenta Connect. Need access to scholarly work? Get your fill of big ass words and jargon here. Another spot or two: Infomine; Medscape.
• Medical Student. So I’ve never spent the scads of years on med school, but I do write on medical topics. And to get myself acclimated, I can turn here. Take that, extra hundred thou of education. Also useful here: Medical Dictionary.
• AllExperts. Know when to hold em and when to fold em. When you need someone far more in the know than you, bring it here.
• Mag Portal. Find articles from a slew of categories (and add feeds to your own site). Additional sites: Find Articles.
• LibrarySpot. The end-all-be-all of libraries. On the web. Ready for you. Bring it. Slightly similar site: RefDesk. Get your fact checking on.

Wordsmithing:
Sure, we know how to write. But gosh darnit, sometimes we need some help. And when it comes to the act of writing, here’s where I go.

• Thesaurus. You know it, you love it. And here it is in it’s online glory. How else would I get my winning turns of phrase??
• World Wide Words. British words, weird words, odd commentary: it’s another little bit of word porn for everyone!
• Daily Writing Tips. Writing instruction without pretension. What a concept!

Inspiration/Instruction/Ignorance-Erasing:
You know what I find most helpful when I’m figuring out how the f to write something? Looking at others I consider experts. Seeing how people I respect and admire write an article or brochure gives me ideas, confidence, and excitement. A few folks that are particularly rocking the freelancing realm:

• Anne Ford. Strong articles with kick and personality.
• Jenni Prokopy. A writer with a strong trade background, a field I am increasingly expanding into. Her samples are wonderful for the variety of straight-man and more carefree approaches. Then, she kicks my ass with her other fascinating endeavors, most notably Chronic Babe.
• Bella Rossa. She’s a comedian, she’s a writer, she’s an endlessly fascinating blogger. Which means a mean resource to draw from.

Random:
Let’s face it. Sometimes staring at a computer is pointless. I may have all my research down, my witty words ready, my idols sparking ideas. But then the actual writing comes, and the mind is blank. So I often indulge, freeing myself from the computer for a time. A bit of random information is often the perfect antidote to dead head, and whilst procrastinating I often find my voice. Try it and see.

• Internet Archive. Check out CNN.com from 1998. Find photos and an archive of live music. Completely random, and completely brilliant.
• Whole Books. Online. Ready to use for research, or for colossal time-wasting. Take your pick from the anthropomorphized sites: Carrie; Bartelby; Alex.
• Mental Floss Blogs. From appreciating art again, to completely random (and humiliating) pop culture quizzes, to fascinating and revolting tidbits of Americana/Human-ana, you’ve got it all.

Have some more? By all means - share, babies!

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