Happy Holidays! Preparing for 2013

Update: I've decided to extend my vacation until Monday, January 7th to spend some more post-holiday downtime with family. I will not be back to regular posting here until that week, but our other contributors will continue to post on their usual schedules. 

This week was my last work week in 2012. I'm now on vacation until January 2nd. I hope you're all enjoying a bit of downtime to recharge before the New Year too.

In the meantime I thought I'd look back on 2012 and to some plans for the future.

Looking Back on 2012

This year wasn't a great one for me. In fact, it was one of my worst, at least work-wise. I lost a lot of work time early this year while I was planning my wedding (which was the best part of the year). Then I was sick for several months over the summer, where I was lucky to stay awake most of the day, nonetheless work productively. After minor surgery to fix the problem, things got better. Then one major client cut back because their business was suffering. And I had to walk away from another major client (which knocked a nice chunk of my yearly income out).

That said, things weren't all bad this year. I was planning to cut back on client work anyway. So even though it happened a bit more suddenly than intended, it pushed me to make other business changes that I'd been putting off. For example, I've nearly finished prepping five new sites for launch early in 2013. And I've had more time to work on e-books which will mostly be launched here.

Some of my older sites are also doing better now than they were a while back -- including All Freelance Writing and BizAmmo.com. I've decided against filling the larger client time with new clients, and will instead be pushing more aggressively into the publishing and Web development side of my business.

Looking Forward to 2013

My plan for 2013 is more of the same. New sites will launch. I'll continue the audits and improvements on bigger existing sites. And I'll spend more time on manuscripts and my e-books under The Query-Free Freelancer brand. I already covered my specific goals and 2013 resolutions, so I won't get into that here. But here are a few of the biggest things I'm looking forward to:

  • Finishing edits and rewrites on The Query-Free Freelancer, which has taken me much longer than expected;
  • Being excited about my work again -- things were starting to feel monotonous, so this shake-up is incredibly invigorating;
  • Helping my hubby build his new business, which he officially formed late this year. It will largely involve contract work and WordPress development, putting me in an ideal position to help him market his services and come up with new development ideas for the platform.

What about you? How was your 2012, and what are you expecting in 2013? Are you planning to enjoy some time off this month or in early January before you dive into the New Year?

Profile image for Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern is a professional blogger, freelance business writer, consultant, and indie author. She runs numerous websites & blogs including All Freelance Writing, Freelance Writing Pros, NakedPR, and Kiss My Biz.

Jenn has 25 years' experience as a professional writer and editor and over 20 years' experience in marketing and PR (working heavily in digital PR, online marketing, social media, SEO, new media, and thought leadership publication). She also has 19 years' professional blogging and web publishing experience (including web development) and around 18 years of experience as an indie author / publisher.

Jenn also writes fiction under multiple pen names and is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association.

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4 thoughts on “Happy Holidays! Preparing for 2013”

  1. I am so ready for a break. I’m actually taking the same time off that you are – seems to be popular.

    2012 was hectic and very busy for me. But it also saw the launch of my brand new website, new growth in my freelancing, and some new exploration in my personal life. I’m hoping 2013 will see a new blog, some published fiction, and maybe an eBook (if all goes well).

    Reply
  2. I’m ready to get out of 2012; it was so-so. The best thing that happened is that I did receive a contract with a publisher. My book, “Color Your Life: Daily Meditations for the Creative Soul” is published under the pen name Celeste Teylar. The publisher required a pen name, which was fine with me.

    I expect 2013 to be extremely better than 2012. I want to finish the treatment for my half-hour sitcom. I’m waiting to hear from a publisher about my ghostly historical romance. Even if they don’t pick it up (my intention is that they do), it would give me ‘a foot in the door’ to pitch my other ideas, and maybe, just maybe, become a ghostwriter for them.

    I need to do more marketing and networking in 2013. Of course, I need a plan. I don’t have one yet. But I’ll get one before Jan. 1, 2013. 🙂

    Reply
  3. So looking forward to 2013, Jenn!! As you know, recently launched my new venture so for me it’s a new year, new beginning and I am excited to build my freelance blogging career!

    I have been sending out a number of pitches already and I have a strong feeling most of those guys aren’t even back from holiday yet – it’s as if my mind just can’t let go of the excitement so I sure am hoping to land my first long-term client very soon!

    All the best to you guys for 2013 – may you achieve great things beyond your wildest freelance writing imaginations (that’s gotta be pretty wild!)

    P.S. I heard a little bird whisper into my ear it’s going to be an EXCELLENT year for freelance writers and freelance bloggers! 😉

    Reply

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