Truthful Politics

Earlier this month I headed to San Diego, Ca., to attend the Creative Freelancer Conference. This was my first conference since my aunt passed away and I made the decision that I was going to get serious about my freelance writing business.

I was not sure what I was getting into but something told me that I was going to benefit immensely. I am glad that I listened to that little voice (something I need more confidence in doing), as not only did I get to meet some wonderful people, I heard awesome people speak, and I learned a lot.

I took away wonderful information from June Walker during her tax seminar. She explained about the myths regarding deduction for a home-based business during her session Money Saving Tax Solutions for Creatives. She was such a wealth of information that I bought her book Self-Employed Tax Solutions, a must read for any freelancer.

The Communicatrix aka Colleen Wainwright, was very knowledgeable and extremely funny. If you aren't following her please check her out, she has wonderful ideas on how to increase your communication skills.

Michelle Goodman, another great speaker, was a wealth of information. She gave a seminar on "Dealing With Nightmare Clients," and a round-table on getting your work out to mass media. Since she is a fellow writer and an author, I definitely had to pick up her book which has the same name as her blog Anti 9-5 Guide, and a wonderful read.

Petrula Vrontikis was hands down the best speaker at the conference. Okay that is opinionated but she really was great. Her session What Will Your Freelance Business Be When It Grows Up? on how to nurture your business and get it going in the right direction was the first session. It motivated not only myself, but many of the participants, and set the tone for a conference that beats all freelance conferences.

There were other wonderful speakers who were chock full of advice, Ilise Benun, Peleg Top, Lee Silber, just to mention a few more. The full list is on the Creative Freelance Conference site in the right hand column.

I stayed in San Diego for another two weeks after the conference visiting family. This conference had me so inspired and fired up that those feelings are still going strong today. So much so, that I created a home office and bought an office TV (to keep up with daily news), I am working every day researching articles along with questions asked in my comments. I am also in the midst of gathering names of publishers, editors and magazines to submit articles to. This conference has me not only motivated but thinking professionally regarding my business.

If you are a freelance designer, writer, fiber artist, photographer please check out CFC and join us next year.