Your Writing Is Your Business
Whether you're just starting out or you've been freelancing for some time then face the fact that you have to treat your writing as a business - that means trying to keep on top of things even when you are blue.
You need to be out there bidding before the work runs dry and if you miscalculate and find yourself without work then write for Constant Content or Associated Content
Sites like the above don't pay very well but they do pay something and are a good fallback option when you are having a dry spell. Now and again you will find yourself with more work than you can handle and then you may have to outsource.
All of the above needs constant monitoring and organisation, freelance writing is a business and as such needs some sort of system. My own system is very loose, I keep a note of jobs that I am bidding for, telephone interview times and the rate and size of the job. When I have a spare couple of hours then I try to streamline things a bit e.g.
Sometimes I may write more than this in a day and sometimes less, it depends on work level, my own equilibrium, and my other committments. I also try to do some promotion and marketing each day and post to at least one of my blogs.
When I am working on a research project I have to fit things around that, sometimes this means that I end up working ghosters if a deadline is approaching but that is part and parcel of running a freelance writing and research business.
Finally you need to keep a log of any costs you incurr and the money that you earn either in a notebook or in a spreadsheet, which is the way I do it - that way it is all ready for when the tax man comes to call. Happy writing