Freelance Switch Birthday Bash: Celebrate With $1,500 in Prizes!

1. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack
2. Why do I want it?
Because I’m a peasant-like web coder, with a broken hard-drive; Basically. [:

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why?
Because I work in an awful marketing firm and am dying to get out. The freshbooks and hard drive would be highly useful in aiding me in this new adventure. The headphones can help me just tune out everyone in the office (for real, you don’t answer and email and they IM you within 5 min, you don’t answer the IM and they phone you with in 2 min and you don’t answer the phone and they are standing in your office within a minute…sheesh). And who can’t use books, I love em, read em and learn from em. Lastly, laptops are hot man, you ever worked on one actually in your lap for more then an hour.

Thanks!
Keep up the good work.

I would like the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack. I deserve it because I’m the first to respond!? (Or maybe that means I don’t have a life.) Either way, please enter me into the contest.

I’d pick the web developer pack cause that’s what I do.

(I’m going for the “simply honest” option here if you couldn’t tell)

Thanks for the contest and a great site!

-A

HI! It was great to read on my RSS Reader that this blog is giving out this prize packs. I does not happen very often. Many Thanks!

I think I deserve the “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack” simply because I am a self-taught web coder working as a freelancer in Argentina.. and this kind of stuff are quite inaccessible here!

Not to mention how useful they would be.

I am a student of the world. Despite my age of 15, (or perhaps because of it) I search for the ways to express those winged creatures we call ideas. Through visual representation I seek to present the universe (starting with our own small parts of it) through design (one big 42). More than visual design, I work through design in all its forms: literature through code. Though my goals are high, my means are not quite so high; after all, you don’t make much on a high school student’s salary ($0, before taxes). I’m a starving artist, starving for inspiration.

Prize pack: Designer’s

I deserve the Web Coder’s prize pack because I’m a poor college student. The headphones would come in handy on those nights when I’m trying to get some work done, but everyone else in my dorm has decided that they want to get drunk and run up and down the halls screaming.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack please
Why? Hmmm, maybe I need to give Freelance switch the prize pack. Going from 9-5 web developer to freelancer has been an awesome yet scary experience and every post has been very helpful on this ongoing adventure. Although maybe, I really should be reward with pack because secretly I think you guys have been reading my mind for post ideas, when I have a problem/thought, magically an answer appears in my rss reader. I don’t how you do it!

Keep up the great work

Prize Pack #3

Why do I deserve these prizes? I don’t deserve them…but my clients do. Each prize has a unique purpose to serve:

The external hard drive is so I can store the countless crap my clients send me, PDFs, contracts, copy, the huge PSD files with their “ideas”.

The head phones (which I hope are noise canceling) will be a great way to indicate in a professional manor that I don’t care. I will literally pull these out in the middle of a meeting.

The books are for my table so my clients think I’m expert and really smart.

The cushion stand isn’t really for my clients (hey they can’t get everything) it will be for my MacBook Pro…because nothing is sexier then a MacBook Pro and Chocolate.

And of course Freshbooks will help my clients pay on time, because they always complain that I’m late sending the invoice.

So don’t pick me for me…pick me for my clients, because they are people too.

Web Coder’s Prize Pack

Why? Well, it’s simply perfect for me. 2 of the 3 books are already in my wishlist at Amazon, my current headphones started hissing last week (I guess I was listening a tad too loud), my external drive is nearly full and I will need another, Freshbooks would be great, but I can’t justify the cost just yet, and finally my lap is sweating just from this post…. my MackBook Pro cranks out an unusual amount of heat.

Finally, I’d be absolutely thrilled and I love getting things in the mail!!!

Prize Pack 2

Freelance Switch,

I honestly feel that I deserve this Prize Package, because I have worked hard to get where I am at. My current situation is not that of a Professional Designer, but I hope that one day it will be. I will soon be attending the California Design College in Los Angeles, after having fought through several very large roadblocks (finances, finances, finances, etc.). And this prize package offers me an abundance of extremely useful supplies, that will be tough to come by with my financial state. Please pick me Freelance Switch, for Prize Package 2.

Thank You,
Joshua Lanphear

I am brand new to this world of web design and blog reading procrastination. It seems to me that those headphones in the Web Coder prize pack could at least help me shut out the noise from my roommates, which would just leave me with the noise from my own head, which is probably worse anyway. If you have any random thought cancelling headphones I would appreciate those being thrown in as well.
Since I’ve only learned CSS from the w3schools css site, a book to teach me would be a nice change. Maybe it’ll explain why float: and clear: are often the bane of my existence, and why sometimes Firefox doesn’t think that my divs have a height, when there are clearly objects floating casually inside them.

Web Coder = me.

Prize Pack Three

I’m being straight forward like my work, nothing to sugarcoat here. Prize Pack Three would assist me in furthering my knowledge and help me work towards being a better developer and designer. Simple as that.

id love to have the designer’s prize pack.

why?

well because im a newbie to the freelancing world AND an artist as well and i havent gotten ANY designerly or artsy love. no clients, no patrons…just schelpping along in my 9-5 as an admin assistant/in house graphic designer (though admittedly i shirk when i tell people my occupation because my co-workers’ idea of design goes as far as Publisher with a lil bit of Illustrator if i can coax them into letting me do my thing). im artisticly deprived in my 9-5 and dream…DREAM of the day that i can strike out on my own full time to pursue my creative interests. so really, though your prizes dont offer me THAT (though your blog helps a lot), winning this prize would be a definite spirit-lifter and continued encouragement to keep on pushing.

oh, and also another reason i think i should win…my name is storme.

sometimes it really is that simple. ^_^

Prize Pack 2: The Designer’s Prize-Pack

“What if I’m a software programmer and none of these prize-packs suit me?” – That is the exact reason for me pitching at the prize pack that represents the area that I am weakest at (Design). I’m a firm believer in *Sharpening The Saw*. I’m a software programmer and right now the area of my work that I feel needs the most attention is to increase my overlap into and skill sets around design.

Cheers, and good luck to all!

Prize Pack #1.

I certainly enjoy and do a lot of writing. A lot of times, it’s just for school papers, or sometimes blog posts, but I often like to go that extra mile and go from a good paper to an outstanding paper. My personal standards of writing are high, in style, grammar, and content. When I’m not doing those, I write film scripts and treatments on the side for fun. Eventually I’ll develop one of these stories into a full feature film.

While I understand that others probably do a lot more writing than I have time for, I’ll still throw my name into the hat.

Thank you for doing this, and keep up the good work!

Prize pack #3,

Not for me, but my desk. My desk craves beautiful, new shiny things. I’d be more than happy to oblige my sturdy oak comrade, but I haven’t been able to bill any of my clients. I’ve been holding out for a free one-year subscription to FreshBooks, which this package conveniently includes.

Happy Birthday, Freelance Switch! It’s been a great first year – this blog quickly became my favourite, one of the few feeds I read daily (along with Dilbert).

I would get a ton of use out of the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack. This is all great stuff that any freelance developer could take advantage of. So why do I deserve it? Well.. my 2-year anniversary of freelancing is coming up next month, and everything is going great. I think that deserves a celebration!

You’ve got me thinking, Freelance Switch.. if I don’t win the Prize-Pack, I’m going to have to go buy myself another “prize”

As a professional designer I felt that I could better convey my desires to win the designer’s prize package through a fresh synthesis of typos and images, so if you would please take a look at http://gpathmedia.com/freelancebirthday.PNG you might get a better feel for why I might be deserving of this prize.

As a professional designer I felt that I could better convey my desires to win the designer’s prize package through a fresh synthesis of typos and images, so if you would please take a look at http://gpathmedia.com/freelancebirthday.PNG you might get a better feel for why I might be deserving of this prize.

FreelanceSwitch Birthday
The Designer’s Prize-Pack is
Fresh spring air for me

Good luck to all, hopefully three nice people wins et. (:

Today is the 2 month birthday of makin’ the SWITCH to freelance!

I am a freelance web designer from Seattle Washington and i’d like to choose what’s behind door #3 (The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.) O’Reily is my GoodBook, Chocolate brown will match my hair, and those headphones are going to look dead sexy on me!

Pick me! Pick me! (please)

Looking at this year, I can say without any doubt : “sure, I deserve the designer’s prize pack !”
And why do I deserve it ? Because I need holidays (but don’t feel like taking any…) : imagine someone spending ALL her time (outside work excepted) learning, learning, learning, Photoshop Illustrator After Effects photography video drawing making mistakes being happy asking questions on forums reading graphic and motion blogs discovering new things like WordPress ‘n co or Flash and trying to keep ONE direction : motion design.
And it’s not so easy if I add I’m 36 years old, and trying to switch from furniture and scenery design to motion design…
I discovered After Effects one year ago (an eternity…) and decided to begin my switching by mastering it. (if you want to see the first results, have a look here : http://www.vimeo.com/user397493/videos … but please, don’t be too harsch… . Loving graphic design too, it’s hard for me not to spend much time on Illustrator and Photoshop also.
It’s a joy learning and learning always more, but it’s sometimes painful, when you don’t have (almost) any friend in real life enjoying your passion, and any teacher guiding your steps…
Such a priesthood deserves well the designer’s prize, doesn’t it ?

I would like to throw my hat into the ring for the designers prize pack. Interestingly enough I don’t consider myself a designer, but I am trying to improve my chops…this prize pack would help me on my journey from coder to creative.

Designer’s Prize Pack

I’d like to win this for my wife. I’m a web developer and she is studying for an A.S. degree in Graphics Arts Technology. She gave up going back to school when she stumbled into Florida 14 years ago and we got married. She never went back to Colorado to finish her original degree of Journalism. Which I’m very thankful for – not only because we have a wonderful marriage and lovely children, but because I don’t know if I could stand to be married to a journalist without becoming violent.

I encouraged her to go back a few years ago and she decided to get this Graphics Arts Technology degree because she wanted to be able to help me in my business. Since I’m a “code-guy”, I had been happily plugging along with nary a thought about such things as gradients, filters, brushes, etc. I thought that was a very sacrificial and sweet thought, but since she was fairly anti-computer at the time, I was a bit skeptical.

She took some art classes and did very well. Very creative and artistic. She is a very good student and has been on the Dean’s List the past two semesters. She seems to be an Illustrator guru nowadays. I’m constantly amazed at what she does. She wants to learn Photoshop a bit more, but I still can’t get over the stuff she has learned in Illustrator. I couldn’t have told you the difference between those two programs two years ago (using Fireworks – and only when I had to).

Anyway, she is almost finished with her degree, but I think she is getting a little worn out. We have six children (yes, they are all ours), so she has been doing this in addition to raising our children (whom we homeschool to boot). And she’s married to me, which that alone is a monumental task no mere mortal woman could handle. I’m being serious. Read my blog. You’ll see. If you were a woman, you’d sooner poke a dagger into your eye than be my wife, despite my dashing good looks and winning charm.

I’m no contest junkie, and I’m entirely unclear as to what the criteria is even supposed to be here (humor? sob story?), but when I saw the design pack I thought that would be a really great encouragement to her. I’ll confess right now that I might snag the laptop stand, but the rest would be all hers. She gets to use one of those pen things at school and I know she’d love to have one at home for Illustrator stuff. I even know what the Prismacolor things are (I think) so even I’ve learned a thing or two about designer stuff in the past few years. But, overall, I think it would be a real nice gift for her. Her name is Nikki.

Anyway, my other little “motive” for entering was that I thought if I won that it would be a real strong motivator to show her how great blogs can be. I think she thinks I might be a little geeky for reading blogs. I got her all set up in Google Reader – and she occasionally glances at them – but she isn’t sold on them yet. I thought if she won, then I think that would be a real wide-eyed event for her.

Lastly, thanks for the opportunity to participate. Happy 1st Birthday. Keep up the great work. I can’t believe a year flew by just like that. This is probably one of the few blogs that I’ve read every post since I somehow stumbled upon it the first month or so you started.

Even though I’m a web designer, I pick the Writer’s Pack!

I actually share my one year freelancing “birthday” with you guys! I started last April, and unfortunetly I didn’t find your site for a few months after that.

Since I did I’ve learned a lot about business, design, and myself. I listen to the podcasts on my daily walk and when I get back to my desk I feel ready to take on the world, one client at a time!

Who knows how we’ll all be reading websites in ten years, but as long as there’s an internet, I hope there’s a FreelanceSwitch!

Happy Birthday!

I was about to forget it : HAPPY BITHRDAY FREELANCE SWITCH !!!!!!!! And congratulations for such a big work, a successful and very useful one ! (in my case, I hope to become a freelancer in a bunch of years )

It is my belief that this contest is rigged. You can prove otherwise by awarding “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack” to me.

I am a web coder, and have recently decided to go freelance. While I do my well with my current equipment, the coder’s pack prize will help me improve and be productive with my work. And of course to better deliver products for client’s satisfaction and creating standards compliant, usable and accessible websites. And it will help me go further with my chosen path.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

What an awesome competition – thanks for your generosity!

I would love to win the Designer pack. I have just started my own freelance training / elearn business (Creative Training and Communications, in Melbourne Australia) and recently completed my first engagement. I would love to be able to add freehand illustrations to my courseware using the Genius Graphic Tablet.

Alternatively, the web coder’s pack would also be awesome, as I incorporate quite a bit of multimedia and audio into my online work – the headphones would be great for this, and of course the external hard drive would be a big help for storing all of those files too.

Thanks and regards,
Tim

1. Number 3 please
2. In true Freelance Switch spirit I have quit my job of four years (just for your birthday perhaps?) and am looking down the barrel of the freelance gun. Commuting, cubicles and lengthy meetings are soon to be a thing of the past.

But what about the steady monthly income, the endless A4 pages from the colour printer, morning idle chit-chat of coffee runs down the block and all the post-it notes you want in the stationary cupboard!!!

Gulp! Prize packs suddenly are seen in a different light

Prize Pack 1, please.

I need to win to give the prize pack to my girlfriend. I am a freelance web developer, but she wants to start as a freelance writer, so this prize will really help her. Thanks a lot.

Prize Pack: Web Coders

Reason:

I’ve been web developing for a few years now and have been releasing free original and re-coded templates for download for about a year. I will admit that I am probably the most out of work freelancer around, I hold my head up high use my spare time to design and code new web ideas and thoughts. I’m about to launch a 2008 version of my site, as well as a web developer blog to accompany it, in an attempt to help all my fellow freelancers and hopefully inspire some of them to new ideas. I believe the Internet is man’s next frontier, and we should do our best to help all those who travel it’s road to achieve their absolute best results.

The web developer of today is a discredited race. With most or all of the attention going to the designers and how well it looks, people need to remember that it’s the web coders behind the scenes that bring those designs to life.

P.S. Happy Birthday FSW!

I obviously need the Writer’s Prize-Pack because after (eek!) almost 19 years as a freelancer, I’m still not wealthy (although, as food-lover, I like to think I’m well-fed).

Thanks for letting us join in the celebrations! I would love the coder’s prize pack, because I am just a baby coder. Like any baby, I need toys to play with, because that is how learning happens, and I need books, so that I grow up reading.

Seagate FreeAgent Go 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive + Case Logic Small External Hard Drive Case

just to see if I am lucky,
The great idea in this post,will be hot anyway.Want to know who will be the lucky guys.

gosh i don’t know if i deserve it, but it sure would be handy. i’m a web developer who has been working corporate jobs for almost 15 years, just starting out on my own. i’ve got the developer thing down pretty well, but i could use some help getting back up to speed with designing.

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why should I get this pack? Well a better answer is actually explaining why I will be more empowered by this pack than other individuals. Well long story short, I had been working as a software developer part time while I finish bachelors degree in Information Systems. Unfortunately, I happened to lose my job in mid-February. Since then, I’ve been trying to pick up freelance jobs here and there to fill in the financial gaps. As I actually will be graduating now in two weeks (on the 28th), I will soon be thrust out into the real world. I am living in Michigan where it’s tough finding full time employment (Read as 7.2% unemployment rate, against national average of 4.8%). As a result, the freelancing which I had originally began to fill in a financial void in my last semester of college is looking more and more like I will need to make it something of a full time job.

The prize pack will empower me with books to help provide better development solutions for my customers, storage solutions with the external drive, mobility solutions with the laptop pad and drive case, entertainment solutions with the headphones, and billing solutions with FreshBooks.

So basically I’m graduating and getting pushed into the rough and tumble world of full-time freelancing, and your prize-back would certainly help ease the transition.

Thank you, and happy birthday!

I think you have my stuff in your Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

Just this week my Seagate FreeAgent Go 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive + Case Logic Small External Hard Drive Case, Sennheiser HD 215 Extreme DJ Sound Headphone, CSS: The Definitive Guide, Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook, Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design, and Belkin Cushtop Notebook Stand – Chocolate have ALL gone mysteriously missing. FSwitch I think you have some explaining to do.

Luckily I still have my current Freshbooks subscription so I can send you an invoice for the total losses. Or, I suppose you can just give me my stuff back!

Web-coder prize pack.

Truely, this is one of your best ideas yet…you offer 3 prize packs on a Freelancing site designed for each type of the freelancers you market to. Being a freelancer means thinking outside the box, thinking of unique ways to attract people to your business, yadda yadda yadda. So you spring an idea off the idea of Freelance Switch’s birthday — lets give prizes away! This will probably appear on digg, you’ll probably have tons of comments from people who have never read your blog before, and you’ll probably give your prizes away to the people who “need it most”..but really, your getting the most out of this. The publicity on this kind of stunt is phenomenal. You get thousands (if not millions) of hits, even more comments, and then those viewers come back again to see what kind of articles this “site that’s giving away super-cool stuff” has to offer. They may even buy your book. Tell you the truth, though, I’ve been reading the blog for a while, but I never really comment. I bought the book, learned a lot..but I wouldn’t say I “need” the prize pack. I already just learned from this post a new marketing strategy that could earn me even more than one of those prize packs. All I need is some help with figuring out a better marketing strategy than this one. Some hi-def headphones and a external hard drive could help.

-Max

I’m a college student – an economics / english double major, specifically. I’m not sure what my plan is post college outside of exploring and learning more, so prize pack one would be ideal for me to take with me wherever I end up going.

Outside of economics, i’m part of three start ups from the design / code end, but I focus on content. The tools presented in prize pack one would help me focus my ideas and cull the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, to generate positive content.

Prize Pack #2

Freelance Switch has been one of my inspirations for starting up a web design company with some great friends. This site has really made me want to design art in several ways. I have recommended this site to several people and everyone reacts the same. This is one of the best resources on the web. Honestly, the prize pack would be extremely helpful to a start-up web design firm as well as anyone else that visits this site.

Thanks for all your helpful advice and resources and happy birthday!
Chris (Nashville)

I would love The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.
I’m currently a grad student, working as a graphic designer at very small (and very much hurting from this economic downturn) communications firm. I have been expanding my knowledge base by reading numerous blogs, obviously including Freelance Switch, to survive in the world of design/coding/freelancing. I’ve been branching out in my freelancing experience and perhaps this could the push I really need to be out on my own.

Honestly, I really don’t care about the “prize packs”, I’m just happy to have been able to follow FSw for the last year. You guys have helped me out in *so* many ways. Congrats, and if you make your way to Calgary, look me up and I’ll treat you to dinner!

Cheers,
Brad

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I bought the “How to be a Rockstar Freelancer” book because I am in awe of the design aspect of the web and I would love to start my own little gig. I am still young and in college so it’s hard to start without much money. I’m sure you don’t remember, but I was the one that emailed you about buying the PDF version, but thought it was an actual book haha. You helped me out in the situation. The prize would be a great start and motivate me even more to start my dream.

Package: 2

Why: Because life is a balloon and I want to blow it up!

Prize Pack #2

I have just recently joined the professional design workforce and boy is it glamorous. I’m using my Thermarest camping pad as a bed, my sleeping bag as covers, my climbing bouldering pad as a couch/desk and my mac book pro as a design center, dvd player and tv.

Livin’ the dream baby…

I think that Belkin Cushtop Notebook stand would make a great pillow.

Hey! Happy birthday colleagues

My personal blog about freelance in russian is on 10th month of its life. It is very close to 1 year birthday too.

And for the prize pack – to be honest i don’t believe in winning it So many people, sho deserve it much more than me – i am just a freelancer, who likes your site.

Thanks for your content and podcasts – i am very happy to be a part of it and thanks for your great work!

Best wishes, Stanislav Malkin.

Web Coders! Hooray!

Why?

1. I’m awesome, I need presents.
2. I follow Freelance Switch (as well as top notch FreelanceRadio!) a bit too religiously, and a little kick back would be nice
3. While going from a 9-5 corporate type guy to a full-time, work where I want, dev for hire is fun, it’s freaking scary and you guys have been a great support through the tough times (broken contracts!) as well as the fun times (making money, doing things I love, where I want to be).

kthnxbye.

Happy Birthday!! It’s been a great year!!

I like the designer prize pack best. I don’t know if I deserve it more than anyone else – I’m sure there are many of people here who could use it just as much as me – but I’ll throw my name in anyway. Good luck to everyone!

Haha, the writers could probably win all of the prizes if they were deceiving enough.

Well I’m no writer, but I love graphic design. It’s my passion, I do it everyday. I’m a high school student, and juggling school and design is hard, but it’s worth it.
I’m not going to rant on, but I feel I’d really benefit from the Designers Prize-pack. I’m working with my first real client at the moment, with another soon after, and these tools would be such a great help. Come uni time, I’m not going to have much money to spare either, so what a great help this prize-pack would be.

Thanks for the great resources over the past year, keep at it!

Harry.

Designer Pack

I deserve this pack made for designers so that I could really improve what I do everyday. The makers would help define the lines of my doodles when I am bored out of my mind when I am talking to boring clients. You would be helping me not to go insane.

And the tablet would help me when i talk to clients through MSN and they forget that they are using red for some reason that they think its web 2.0 but in reality is making me go blind and giving me spinning headaches every night. Freshbooks could be a major part of my life because it could possibly help me keep sanity when i go through the invoices that I get from clients that range from a wet napkin with numbers scribbled on it and a mental note of their tabs.

The laptop stand rest would help me conceive children in the future because I think the stand would prevent radiation to important jewels.

The book would most likely help if it has the power to reverse losing a soul already. The book would hopefully help me regain a soul and feed my passion fuel for graphic design.

The moleskine would be great for travel when I get emotion urges and I could record my behavior.

Thanks!

I choose…(3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

0_o

You guys throw the best birthday parties!
I’ve been following your website since the website was launched, and I must say I still love it. You guys are the best and winning this prize would prove that even more. Keep up the amazing effort and attention to freelance needs.

I deserve the Designer’s pack because the other contestants will not do anything valuable with it.

Starting a clothing/graphic design freelance career and the mobility/wow factor of having the tablet will be very effective for client-site mockups and design.

prize pack #3

Because I already own the three books and want to give them away to people I know who could really use them.

Prize: Web Coders Prize-Pack

Why: ’cause I need to polish my programming skills (and my english too) *lol … but for the comments I’ve read so far, there are people who deserves this prize more than I do (what can I say about ‘Jesse Skinner’ lifesaver’s-javascripts, they saved my skin lot of times!), anyway, this is not for me to decide, so here I am =)

Congrats: A big Happy Birthday from Brazil! =P

I like most would like the designers pack. After my photolab went bankrupt 4 years ago I got a little depressed. Immediately following that my father died. The previous owner of the lab thinking he would be able to sue me ( the corporation went bankrupt but I hadn’t) tried to sue me . I then had to sell just about everything I owned to pay my Lawyer because this annoying man was trying to just get me to settle little did he know I had no money. I have student loans that they have attached on my paycheck and I just got a notice from Massachusetts Dept of revenue. that I owe 3100.00 from when the lab went bankrupt. so after takes levies and such I should be taking home a whopping maybe 150 dollars. Obviously I have had to move in with mom which is good because she is at the beginning stages of alzheimer’s.
I really could use a little good in my life. winning something may bring me out of my funk.
Have you ever had someone say “it can’t get any worse,right ?”
trust me it can

Designer Prize Pack

Why? Because I’m a kick ass designer and I deserve some kick ass prizes.

I’d love Prize Pack 1 for Writers, because I live way the hell in the bush in Quebec, and items like those make me drool. I can get smokes and beer every 10 feet in my town, but BOOKS? GADGETS? Luxury items? No way. No can do. Plus, everything’s in French, you know?

Yes, alright, I could buy them online. I know. I keep forgetting, alright?

But there is one thing… Oh man. I so want that voice recorder. I’ve been wanting one of those for three years now, because trying to jot down ideas on torn scraps of paper in a car while driving just isn’t safe. And what would I use while doing groceries? I mean, I leave my pen in the car, I get an idea… I’m screwed.

I need my ideas. I would use that baby like there’s no tomorrow.

As a college student studying Information Security and Technology and an aspiring Freelance Web Coder/Designer the web coder’s pack would greatly improve my skills and the equipment that I have available to me and my budding business. With the help, information, and guides that Freelance Switch provides (which are the BEST I have been able to find anywhere) I have been slowly improving my skills and will soon start actively seeking projects.

I sincerely thank you and wish you a happy birthday.

Prize Pack: Web Coders FTW!!!

Happy Birthday Freelance switch. Your web site and podcast are a wonder resource and have help me tremendously in my self-employment endeavors. The writers Prize pack is the one I would chose for myself. While I do a lot of design and coding work I am finding myself more and more writing on my business blog and providing compelling copy for the projects I do for my customers. The Writer’s Prize Pack would help me hone those skills and provide the best service to my clients as well as crafting compelling words that help in natural SEO and extending the conversation with those I come in contact with.

Naturally I’m a big picture kind of person and the prizes will help me excel in the realm of writing. I definitely appreciate including the digital voice recorder for recording interviews and audio notes to myself. The headphones will definitely help me concentrate better as well.

good morning, and “congrats” for keeping me busy since 8month with all the various topics on freelance work etc. well…i dont deserve the price pack 2 (Genius MousePen 8X6 Graphic Tablet ) just because my beloved girlfriend ursula deserves this. she is an artist working as an english teacher here in china. and what can i tell you, she is marvellous, but to be honest, she doesnt have a laptop yet, but i am saving up to buy here one!!! and i already introduced her to the idea of being creative on the notebook…sketching things with a graphic tablet….

she still thinks that these nice toys are sci-fi and simply “not from this planet”….
cheers to y`all and all the best for the future
olaf

I want all 3
because I am a greedy, greedy, greedy bastard

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I just think this is TOO SWEET to pass it up so I thought I’d gave it a try. My charm is better communicated in person through my lovely Salvadoran accent that doesn’t quite translate in writing, but still want to try! Oh, I also freelance… I’m fresh out of college.

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS!!!!

Congrats on your first birthday. It’s been a pleasure to see you grow.

#3 Please because,

Recently my computer died out of warranty and so I had to get a new one. I was rushed, in the middle of a project I couldn’t delay, and bought one from a friend with an onboard water cooling system. Well something went wrong a month or so later and water + leakage + electricity = BOOM.

Currently I have files all over the place on multiple CD-Roms. I’d really like to get organised and I think that hard drive will really help.

Good luck to all.
Dave

The Designer’s Prize Pack

Hi,
First off, happy birthday to everyone at Freelance Switch. The fact that you guys have been sharing vital design information for only 12 months is simply amazing to me! Then, when I read that you guys were doing a give-away instead of requesting b-day donations/shout-outs I was in awe.

Doing things for the love of your craft and out of passion for the arts is what I try to promote everyday. I struggled with trying to figure out the best way to put my talents to use all through my journey in college. I always felt like I wasn’t the best amongst my peers, but I still had a creative voice that I wanted so bad to be heard. After dealing with accepting my level of talents and learning how to enhance them instead of changing them to fit the image of others, I was able to tap into the true artist in me.

During my last semester of school, i experienced a revelation that changed my life. I was getting ready to end my road to higher education in the design world and was determined to take on the world as a MAGAZINE PUBLISHER. Ever since I was a little girl I always had secret dreams of having a book on the shelves of my favorite bookstores, but could never really see myself taking the time to actually write all those pages lol. In my youthful mind, a published book was a way of keeping one’s legacy alive even after the author dies. In addition to having a book, I was always more drawn to the radio and cassette tapes as opposed to sitting in front of the ‘idot box’ (TV). Getting on punishments were the coolest until my folks caught on to the fact that taking away my Sony Boombox was more torture for me than unplugging my tv lol. So that night right before finals of my last semester, I came up with the bright idea of merging my two childhood fantasies into one and creating an entertainment magazine from an artist’s perspective. Shinning a positive light on the industry and bringing together both fans and artists by the passion they share in the arts.

With all that being said, I took it upon myself to quit a very good paying job that was awarded to me fresh out of college (Fall 2006) to focus on my passion on a full-time basis. Since August of 2007, I have been interning with a few established magazines and have been soaking up as much information as possible.

I would love to win prize pack #2 to enhance myself as an artist in order to be as competitive as I can in this industry. Im constantly trying to convince my parents (who nag me about not going to grad school) that life’s experiences are the best teachers known to man for anyone who calls themselves an artist. With the Designer’s Prize Pack, I would be fully prepared for Design Professionalism 101!

Happy First Birthday!

1) The Writer’s Prize-Pack

I am just about to seriously begin pursuing a freelance writing career and this prize pack would be extremely helpful. Just think, when I make it big I’ll be able to say it’s all because of Freelance Switch!

hmm, its hard to choose between the web pack or the designer pack, as i usually am involved in both. I think i will choose the Designer pack. I would love to win these mostly because, I am currently making the move to Freelance work and will have to rely fully on freelance work to support my Beautiful wife and daughter. I am currently a Youth/Childrens pastor here in Salinas, ca. and get paid alright, but i feel that i am too, move my family and take on a Youth pastor job, with no pay. Because I want to help the youth of Stockton, and am willing to take a leap of faith, and rely on my web and graphic skills to support my family. That set will definitely help me get the start that I need, almost like a little boost, as this is a very scary thing not only moving my family but having to rely on freelance work.
Thank You for considering, I love your blog, and read it everytime i hear that sound of a new post alert. and if i can’t have the designer package i will make great use of the web one as well. Thank You guys.

For The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack!

Name: Steven Nacario
Alter Ego: Obake
Born: Oahu, Hawaii
Age: 20

I have no money because of bills. It’s almost too difficult to afford going to a community college. These would be extremely helpful for faster work! I do have a strong passion for digital art. Just started building a portfolio from scratch. Hopefully I can make it! Thanks.

I would love to get my mitts on the Writer’s Prize-Pack! I am in the early part of my writing career and am moving to New York this summer for another round of Big Apple post-college internships where I hope to fatten my professional portfolio and pick up some invaluable experience to help me in the freelance years ahead. Interestingly enough, I am funding this budding writing career through freelance web development where I probably have a much better chance of making more money…but, writing is my first love (even when I’m cursing my career choice those times I find myself staring at a blank page that needs to be filled with something coherent and somewhat brilliant).

I’m thinking the halogen desk lamp would look good in what may turn out to be a cramped windowless Brooklyn apartment where the fountain pen will make me feel like a sophisticated writer and the headphones will help block out the honking horns of taxis and the wail of sirens at all hours of the night. I have a feeling the Belkin Cushtop notebook stand will serve me just as well as a pillow to cushion the inevitable head-to-desk banging that every writer on deadline can relate to. You, yes you, can not only continue to keep me excited about freelancing with this blog but can help save my forehead from permanent indentions. Think about that!

Let me be the first to say, thanks for the offer of free schwag, but don’t give it to me. Honestly. I don’t need it. But here’s my two cents on who it should go to…

Give it to someone deserving. Someone who doesn’t have the ability to obtain all of the above (yet). Don’t give it to someone just cause they just started or are planning to start a freelance career.

Give it to someone who can prove how they will be a benefit to others with it. Clients, the community, etc.

Give it to someone who has the fire and the passion for what they do. “I love design” just doesn’t cut it for me. Why do you love design? Why do you analyze billboards and street signs for typography differences? Why do you write for a blog that only your wife, mother, and two cousins read? Because you have a passion. Explain it.

Give it to that person.

I’ve been trying to start my own freelance web design studio off and on for a few years now. I finally took the plunge in Spring ’07 but soon after my wife became pregnant. I panicked and went back to a cubicle job, much to both our dismay.

Since then I’ve been watching our little boy get bigger and it got really hard being away from him and the wife again. So, with her support, I’m back in business for myself again and loving every minute of it.

Your website has been a huge help – both informational and motivational. Here’s to another great year

(btw, #2 would be a huge help!)

Why should I win the “WEB DEVELOPERS’ prize?

Well, number one, because I really need those headphones. I started freelancing about 6 months ago with the help of Freelance Switch and since then, I have enjoyed it. What I have not enjoyed is the noise here in my house that my sibling and my parents make. That would really help me out. Plus, that harddrive would be very useful so I can carry my files to Starbucks coffee and Its a Grind.

PLEASE, I am begging you (you said be honest) please give me the Web Developer’s prize.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

Happy Birthday!

I would love to win the Writer’s prize pack.

Only recently have I discovered a love of writing, and now that I know, I really want to make this into a career! The books will help me develop myself as a writer and as a freelancer, and the voice recorder and notebooks will help me keep track of my ideas, no matter where I am! Winning this would be a great way to jump start my writing career, because I’m still a starving student for a couple more months, so I can’t afford most of this on my own!

Prize Pack #1

I’m not really sure if I deserve to win but right this moment I just feel like I could use a boost. I used to own The Elements of Style but I gave it away after high school to someone who couldn’t afford to buy her own copy. I miss having it around just so I can make myself look foolish. I also used to have a Moleskine but I filled all the pages up. I had to resort to carrying it around with me anyways because I felt empty without it.

The truth is I’m just starting to find myself again and writing has helped me through a lot of things these past few months; releasing emotions in a constructive way, working through problems or questions that I have, and discovering that I don’t have to be afraid of all of those things I buried so long ago.

In short, writing has helped me realize that I want to write professionally. When I was younger that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up but somewhere along the line I stopped believing that I could do it.

Do I need to win this? No, I don’t. If I don’t win then I’ll survive. I just feel that if I did win this prize pack it would really make my day.

I would love to get that Web-Coder’s Prize Pack.

Why because that it would come in extremely hand in the fall. When I start my first semester of two years of collage school. With not a very large salary, I don’t always have the money to all the great books that are out, that have to do with web design, development, or coding. I have head that Web Standards Solutions is a really great book and I would love to read. An external hard drive is always a handy thing to have for copying files between computers or backing up files.

Also I’ve started doing a little bit of freelancing in web design and development and hope to continue freelancing. I love the challenge of having to find out why my code is not doing, what I think it should do. Although some days I just want to toss the computer out the window (its a love hate thing).

Best of luck to everyone.

Hi there and Happy Birthday!

I’d prefer price pack number 2 (designer).

Why I deserve it? Well, I’m a German web design freelancer who was just granted a permanent visa for Australia. I will be making the big move to Melbourne (my favourite city of all!) later this year. Once I’m there I will need every help I can get to set myself up (working from home at the beginning) and start a new life. This package would be a greeeaaat little support package that would come in handy for my freelance business!

Cheers
Kai

i can’t honestly say that i “deserve” this prize, but i don’t think that anyone can really say that except for the editors and contributors to FS.

for me, this prize could potentially tip me over that part-time precipice into full freelance freedom. i’m right on that edge, preparing myself and doing part-time work, but i need a nudge. this could be my nudge.

oh, and door #3.

I have an exTreme addiction to freelancing, and I believe in Hard work and doing what I lovE. I’m a Work-a-holic. I lovE the Breathtaking experience that I sit down to do with my Coffee every day. I cOuldn’t even get close to Doing a sit-down job. Doing it solo has bEen one of the gReatest experienceS of my life. Freelancing has had its Peaks and its lows. I’ll pRemise this by sayIng that breaking even has been difficult. I wish I could have bought a nissan Z 350, but it just didn’t happEn. I soon learned that I wanted Power, but incorporAting my business was an exCeptionally expensive tasK.

And this is the part where I’ll detail my entry into the freelancing world. It was a feiry and ferocious act of Fulfillment and Freedom. I had just finished my final job of the fiscal quarter and I was finicky about continuing on. I finished work every day and clocked in. It guaranteed me a state of financial soundness, but there was something in me that said “F$*% this”. So I, in my fractious state, put the small startup I was currently employed by into a state of fury and walked out to the pier and took the ferry home.

And then I went into happyland, where the deers prance around and the bunnies fly in a happy place. It was a rather interesting experience. I had fun. My hangover the next morning wasn’t though. I found that I had called my former boss and sworn profusely for several minutes, hung up, and used the company credit card on a brand new Lamborghini Murcielago (don’t ask me, they had a high line of credit). I walked into my room where there was every animal imaginable and a big giant bear walked up to me and hugged me. There were beavers playing the saxophone and giraffes playing the trumpet and a parrot playing the piano and singing with a bottle of Jack Daniels. My sounds system was blaring “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Qeen and I heard sirens coming down the street.

And that’s how the cookie crumbles.

(Disclaimer: the information in this comment cannot in any way be considered true. I was not under the influence of alcohol or any drugs when this was written).

I pick The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack
because
I’m a full time student and part time freelancer. It’ll take more than a year’s earnings to be able to gain these prized possessions! And being in Malaysia with the weaker exchange rate, I’ll have to work 3.17 times harder!
[Live rates at 2008.04.16 02:32:54 UTC from XE.com ]

I’d love to win the Web Coder prize pack because it would fit my always-strained budget. As a 15-year-old small-business owner and web developer, money is generally always tight, and when it isn’t, it’s not in my control to spend. This prize would help me greatly in my business.

Jason

I’m excited by the quality of the answers so far .

Competition for the Designer’s Pack and the Coder’s Pack seems pretty hot. But where are the writers?

Still asleep, probably .

Yo that’s great stuff you’re giving away.

#1 Writer’s Prize Pack – because I’m a writer.

Not just that I’m a writer, but also that nobody asked for that yet! ^^

Thanks

Coders pack #3 please..

Why? Not because I am a coder but because I am a designer (primarily print) with an extreme interest in gearing up my mediocre chops for coding – especially CSS and semantic markup. A freelancer for 3 years full time now, any funds I have are usually spent on things that I need for my print design freelancing. It would be a VERY nice start and a kick in the ass to have this so I can really get things under way and to ultimately increase my arsenal.

Thanks for the consideration and I dig the content here.

- Patrick

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I’m a web coder and designer, but I feel my design skills are lacking more than my coding skills. The books especially will help me as my eye for color schemes, typography, etc. isn’t the strong. Besides, everyone needs a creative outlet, right?

Thanks! You guys rock- you’ve immeasurably helped my freelancing career!

I’d definately go for prize pack 2, the reason I’d like to receive such an awsome prize pack would be because I’m 16, this is my last year of school, and I’ve been working almost every hour outside of school working on getting a freelance career ready for when i finish school (I’m also in a TAFE course for Multimedia Design, of which i’m now just waiting on recieving the certificate), I’ve been creating designs for over a year and a half now and I’m addicted to it, I love design and everything to do with it, of course family doesn’t quite understand how dedicated I am to it (of course my other half does when i point out the fonts used on the ads on foxtel ) – I’ve spent countless hours reading up on anything even remotely close to design and know more then enough to be a proffesional designer, of course… being 16 it’s hard when it comes to the financial aspect of things, i’ve got such a busy life setting myself up for life through school, tafe, girlfriend, and working freelance as much as possible while working on my own projects, that I can’t work much outside of this so i don’t have the finances to purchase everything I want for myself – esspecially considering the government takes 47% of all my income due to a tax file number f**k up (Thanks Kevin Rudd!) .

sob stroy alert ( ): The tafe I go to: http://www.blc.com.au offered me a graphics design tablet (it was an old wacom) for a logo design if their head office chose my logo out of 3 concepts they had… of course i did my best work, spent a full night working on it, only to be told their boss chose one that was made 2 years prior (and it looked like it was made by his kid ahaha). so i missed out on that tablet.

Congratulations on a year, it’s definately evolved into an amazing community.

#2 the designers pack…….mmmm molskine
i think i deserve it because i have never won anything. (no wait that’s the reason in my head as to why I deserve it) actually i think these tools can only help my freelance situation for the better and freelance switch > you guys rock! Im an avid reader and fan of this blog. Even if I don’t win, keep up the great work!

Oh Frelance Switch! What have you taught me more than anything else? To walk the walk and freelance with confidence! So in that spirit, I will comment as if I have already won the pack…

Thank you so much for the Design Prize-Pack! You’ve made me what I am today. I’m excited about all the product that will keep me out of the corporate wasteland. The Genius Tablet will help illustrate my 2008 holiday mailer. The Prismacolor Marker Set will let me draw on my converse when I’m waiting for my morning latte at 2pm. The Desk Pad will… um.. pad my desk and ledge my pencil like never before! My Sketching Pencils and Moleskine will replace the scratchy ballpoints & half used notepads I stole from the supply room before I quit my full time job in September to pursue freelancing full time. The Belkin Cushtop Stand will keep my lap from overheating while listening to John, Kristen, Dickie & Cyan on Freelance Radio… wait, that sounded wrong. Um… You know what I meant. Thinking with Type will remind me to resist the urge to use too many “cool” display fonts. Freelancing is already saving my soul, but I’ll take the added help of How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul. A FreshBooks Shuttle Bus subscription? Absolutely because I know you know your applications & resources! Thank you in advance!

Okay, seriously Freelance Switch, I hope you enjoy your birthday. I’ve enjoyed my year with you & can’t see anything but great growth in your future. I am a product of your influence; thank you.

I pick pack #1. There are thing in there that might push me over the top or over the edge, whichever comes first. I currently launching my career at the ripe old age of 63 so I don’t have much time. I need all the help I can get.

And, Happy Birthday!

Writer’s Prize Pack
I am an aspiring freelancer. Currently I work in the public schools trying to inspire young people to do great things. Freelance Switch motivates and encourages me to continue to strive to achieve my goal of becoming a freelance educator. Learning doesn’t keep a “regular” schedule, and neither should work. Thanks for the great blog posts and especially for Freelance Radio.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

Sign me up for #1 the Writer’s Pack. Why do I deserve it? Because I am just starting to make my switch to freelance and could use all the help I can get.

I would like to win The Designer’s Prize Pack.

I want this one because I am always going through pencils sketching and drawing so much. I go through at least one sketchbook a month as it is so another one of those would be helpful. The books are great, and I just finished “Don’t Make Me Think” (again) so I need something else to read. And, well, a graphic tablet and a Prismacolor pack… pardon me while I wipe the drool off my chin.

I love how you guys always take care of your readers. As usual, you’re the best!!! Thanks!

I would like to have the No.1, Writer’s Pack.

Congrats for completing a wonderful year.
I was introduced to your blog, by the person just above me here (Shankar).
Since then, I love coming here.

Many of my friends are busy preparing for some professional courses inorder to have a quick job&bucks.. But, I don’t. I (we) can’t work under some BOSSes, doing something which has nothing to do with my (our) true potential or talents. Yes, it offer quick bucks, but life is nit just bucks, right??!!!

I believe in myself and in people like you & a few of my friends, who are constantly trying to state: “let a man free, let him do the wonders!!!”.

I’m so happy to say that, if received, this prize pack will help me to make my thoughts and writings more presentable and above all, more persuading.

Thank You.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch.

Thanks for the awesome prizes you’re giving away. I’m going to choose #3 The Coder’s Pack.

I am a Burmese national, studying in Singapore. All I did know about internet and web technology before I got to Singapore in 2005 is the funny Internet Explorer icon and the error page that comes up when I tried to open it. (Yeah, general public cannot have access to internet until recent years.)

However, I’ve learned and gained lots of experience and knowledge since I got here thanks to Freelance Switch and many other websites. Though I had developed quite a decent portfolio and been doing regular freelance works, I’m willing to learn more, experience more and have fun in web development.

And I believe the prize pack would be an incredible addition to help me get there.

Many Thanks and keep on rocking.

I would love to have Pack #1, the Writer’s Pack.

I just finished my taxes, and as far as God, the government and everyone is concerned, I’m an archivist. In reality, I’m a glorified file clerk. I earn a good wage, considering, but I don’t want to earn those wages for the rest of my life, and I’m one of those people who needs to sing the Alphabet Song to herself to figure out where to find the H’s. So, on the side, when I can, I do a little freelance writing, a little web geekery, a little podcasting, building my portfolio until that day that I can walk away and make a file clerk’s wages for myself. Until then, I sit parsing my archives at my desk and listening to podcasts on iTunes (with headphones that desperately need to be replaced) scribbling all my good ideas in a little notebook, until I can play with them on my time.

And to be perfectly honest, I collect fountain pens, and use them every day. I’ve wanted a Century 2 for a long time now, but I just haven’t been able to justify the expense to myself.

And I *really* need a new desk lamp.

I have to go for the Web Coders pack but maybe the designers since I am not a designer but covet the skill, perhaps I could use it to bribe my designer that helps me when I need it, or give it to my kids to make them better designers cus heck that would really save some money…

Happy birthday, FLS!

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack has caught my eye….

For the last few months, I’ve been feeling like I want to make the jump to a freelancer – office work just has been getting less and less appealing. I’m looking for something to give me that kick start, to say “Yes, Adam – you can do it!”.

Something like this – tools to get me to where I need to be – may be that kick start that I need.

Hope FLS keeps up the great work, and look forward to quality post after quality post!!

2. The Designer Pack

My passion is design… I think it, feel it, breathe it. I’ve delved into coding before, and although I could do it, its not that much fun to me. I’ve tried to write, and from reading this post which I’m writing right now… its kind of obvious that pack wouldn’t be of use a lot. So that leaves me with what I’m good at and what I enjoy, the design pack!

I’ve been doing Freelance Design work for a little over a year (!) and I just haven’t had the money to splurge on cool items such as these. So help me out!

Thanks for all the news, reviews, and words of encouragement!

I am just a crazy wabbit trying to win something other than carrots.

Hi,
Im not good at writing funny posts, so I will go the honest route. I would love to win the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack because, well, I can’t afford any of the items on the list. I am a broke college student (Carleton College) who spends countless hours of the day dreaming of a job involving coding and web design after graduation. This could be a sort of … early graduation present. Thanks.

Thanks for giving us all the opportunity – and for the year’s advice on how to get started.

My first reaction would be to request the web coders pack, but I’m going to request the writers pack. Taking the step to working for myself brings on a certain sense of fear and hesitation. So part of my plan is to develop\improve skills other than those that will be my primary focus for earning an income. Developing websites certainly comes easier for me at this point, but I would really like to become a good writer one day.

So please – show me some love!

I have to go for the Web Coders pack but maybe the designers since I am not a designer but covet the skill, perhaps I could use it to bribe my designer that helps me when I need it, or give it to my kids to make them better designers cus heck that would really save some money…

But truly great site… thanks

Package 2 please.

I work in reality television. Need more?

I currently spend my nights (yeah, I work from 6pm to 4am, want to fight about it) watching snotty girls complain and fight with each other over who’s going to be on top. I really need a kick in the butt to get out of here and get started on a career where I control my own destiny, Freelance Indy Film Editor. And what Indy film isn’t all about awesome graphic design today?

Thanks Freelance!

Freelance Switch Haiku
Be true to yourself in art
work will come your way

– Design Pack # 2 (that’s not part of the Haiku)

I really want the Writer’s Prize-Pack because as a two time survivor and a freelance writer, I write every day to empower breast cancer patients, other survivors and their caregivers. Primarily, that writing takes the form of posts to my weblog, http://www.pinkribbonreview.com; occasionally I’m able to write essays or features on the topic. Oh, the difference I could make in people’s lives with these new tools!

(Yes, I did just play the cancer card … but that was in the hand I was dealt!)

Maybe I deserve it, I don’t know but it would be a big help. I was a freelancer for a year or so and I took a job from one of my clients (http://www.worshipfilms.com) because working with them was more than just a paycheck. I recently gave them my notice. I’m a single father of 2 kids ages 4 and 5. I’m going back to freelancing for a more flexible schedule so that I can home school and I’m blogging about the experiences good and bad on my site http://www.randomutterings.com.

I deserve the Designer’s Prize-Pack because if I win, I will save money that I would have spent on the tablet, therefore I can work less hours this week and go skiing instead.

**note: I already went skiing this morning, so I am therefore behind on hours. I really need to win now.

Package #1:

You would think a would-be writer would be able to write more . . . but I have a hard time with saying: please consider me for x, y z . . . I am a graduate student, I love your site, I love words, and I hope to make some sort of difference. All of the support I receive is and will be given back one thousand fold.

The designers prize-pack is more than just a prize, it’s the chocolate factory, and you can call me Charlie. Oh the goodies I could make with such a prize!

Why do I deserve to win it? Because I never win anything.

My previous comment is still waiting for approvement

$prize_pack = “Web Coders”;

public function prize_justification($reasons:Array) {
if (count($reasons) > 0) {
return “This array probably has an infinite number of reasons for why I should get the Web Coder’s prize, but really Freelance Switch has been one of my biggest influencers in talking my sometimes-overly-pessimistic, super-worrying, perfectionist self into honestly and truthfully wanting to take a big jump off the fantasy isle of ‘job security’ and take a shot at finding happiness on my terms.”;
};
};
$myReasons = new Array();

while ( -1 < 1 ) {
$newReason = “insert generic reason here”;
array_push($myReasons, $newReason);
};

print prize_justification($myReasons);

The writers prize pack please, because it deserves to be desired as much as any other prize, and I am capable of that.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I think I should win it because I should have started freelancing like a year ago or so but I’m too much of a punk. I’m afraid i wont have time (I have a fulltime job), or know what to charge or if the client will like what I present. I’m hoping this would force me to freelance, especially since I am starting grad school (MFA program) and will need the money to pay for tuition.

Thanks

I had no idea the site was so young! I discovered it last summer and had assumed by the amazingly high quality that it was a well-established blog. Well done!

And, without further ado, a haiku:
The third project pack
Will help me make the Web
Much more beautiful

Seeing as how I will be getting married in a matter of weeks, and will be working exclusively for non-profits after that, I have absolutely no money and cannot even begin to fathom purchasing any new equipment or books (of which, I am in great need). I would kill for a simple 2gb thumb drive at this point.

Thanks for the opportunity!

I’d kill for the Writer’s pack. I write on technology and virtual worlds but remain an absolute sucker for a quality notebook!

Prize 3 – Developer pack

I deserve this prize because everyone else thinks they don’t deserve it, but I know I do!

I would really love to have the writer’s pack. Web design is my passion, but writing is my secret love. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to develop. I wrote a few articles for a conservation organization a while back, but I never got into the creative stuff I really crave. Anyway, thanks for the contest!

Because I’m a young, burnt-out, interactive designer with a feeling of entitlement.

I’m pleading for The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.

I’m a Canadian living Canada. This may sound exotic and interesting, but let me assure you it’s not. I currently reside on an island off the coast of another island west of Vancouver. The island inhabits 3500 hippies year round and 1500 more in the summer. Being part of Canada there are a lot of products and services I am not privy to. There has been many occasions where I’m signing up for the hot new web2.0 application, 4 pages into the sign-up process, about to whip out my credit card only to find that it’s not available in my country. I applaud Freelance Switch for being upfront about their shipping limitations to countries outside the US. Rarely do websites open their contests to international readers, it’s easier for them to add a disclaimer to number 32 in the FAQ. So next time your surfing AdultSwim on your new iPhone, think of all the poor 8bit Canadians suffering in a 32bit world.

I’d like to throw my hat in the ring for prize pack #1.

I’ve been following the FSw blog for a few months now in anticipation of “The Big Event” that’s taking place in mid-May. That’s right…I bit the bullet and resigned from my corporate communications job, and in another month, I’ll be making my own way in the freelance world. The writer’s pack would get me off to a great start (and help to quiet the nagging “OMG, what have I done?!!” thoughts running through my head). Believe me, no one would appreciate that pack more than a newbie like me!

Happy birthday, Freelance Switch!

First of all. WOW.

The Designer’s pack is amazingly awesome and I would love to win it. Here’s a few reasons why:

1) I love design. It’s almost sick. I never try to win contests, but I knew I couldn’t pass this up. These prizes are unbelievable. I feel like such a dork, once I saw what you are giving away my heart started beating faster and I could even feel my pupils dilate. I am truly passionate about design.

2) All of the prizes are what I truly need and will use. I dream of a graphics tablet every time I scan something and fight with the anchor points in Illustrator. The moleskin notebook is just waiting for me to sketch some new ideas. The books want to replace old design and typography books from the 70s that I bought at thrift stores. Those markers want me to make beautiful patterns with them!

3) Financially I just can’t get this stuff yet. I just graduated from a private design school (with embarrassingly large student loans) in December. Just a few weeks ago I quit my job as a bartender/waitress and decided it was finally time for me to follow my dreams as a freelance graphic and web designer full time. As fantastic that is, there’s not a lot of extra cash, even if it is for business expenses. I know I can do it on my own, I have faith in myself, but this stuff would help a lot.

And lastly, I just wanted to say thanks so much for the opportunity to even win this stuff. You already provide unbelievably useful information to us freelancers every day and its really great that you would celebrate like this with us like this on your birthday! Thank you!

Mmm… the Writer’s Pack!

Why choose me? Because I’m getting ready to take the leap and embark on what I hope will be the most fulfilling, exciting and profitable adventure of my life in freelance writing, and if I want to survive, I’m going to need all the help I can get!

Awesome, guys. Keep up the amazing work.

-Jeff

*.*.*Happy Birthday*.*.*

Wow and prizes too… nice

I’ll participate by picking:
3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I’m surprised my self as I would have thought #2 was more suited for me but at the moment I’m learning CSS from the ground up rather then trying to relly on WYSIWYG’s. That way I can do standards complaint websites.
Also I already have a small wacom tablet so what’s the point of getting another.

- Interface design perhaps that can be used for Aero, Silverlight, etc.
- Backup Drive… Brilliant… could always use a backup!
- CSS Orelly book ~ that would be nice as I’m learning it at the moment.
- Web Standards Solutions, that’s what I’m aming for with learning to code.
- Headphones, nothing like working with some great music for some inpiration. Personally I like Trance ~ Tiesto or Armin Van Buren
- Notebook Stand, well don’t have a notebook yet but if I do go for a macbook pro instead of my pc this will suit it well.
- Freshbooks ~ yes this will definetly be better then me sending invoices via paypal.

Thank you for offering up these useful prizes for the community.
You guys are always looking for way to help everyone progress, that’s why I like this site and visit it on a daily basis.

Good Luck to everyone.

My Choice: The Writer’s Prize-Pack

I was introduced to writing at a very young age. When I was about 6 years old, I had my first exhibition. My pieces of creativity were pinned to our home curtains! I would invite neighbors and my relations who lived close by, to come over for the exhibition. At the time, my motivation for holding an exhibition wasn’t because I loved writing or any style of creativity. It was because I used to get a few coins every time someone came to visit the “exhibition”! Looking back at it now, it all seems a bit embarrassing. Whenever there are family reunions, these things have a nasty way of coming to haunt me!
In school, the form of writing was essays. I didn’t like writing essays. Possibly because English Literature was the only subject I didn’t get an A! Then there was university. Every assignment was followed by report. That was when I began to realize that there was no escape from writing. Then it finally happened.
I was in my final year at university and I had to write my BSc thesis. I was really in love with my project. It was a software project on web services;WSDL,UDDI (never mind, if you are not aware of the technical jargon.) That was when the web services concept started to lift off. A lot of people were interested about the project and their interest was very encouraging to me. In order to get my idea across, I had to write. This time it was different because I was writing about something I loved. It didn’t seem like “just another assignment”.

After graduation, I began my career as a software engineer. Again, No escape from documentation and writing. That’s where I discovered the world of blogging and the beauty of “having my own mic”!

Why do I deserve the chosen prize-pack?
I live in Sri Lanka and English is not my first language. What I presented above was a glimpse of my journey.I have come a long way, to be where I am today. And I know there is still more room for improving my writing. The books in the writers pack are appealing and I feel I can benefit from it.

Writing has always been (and will be) my way of discovering the “gifts” I have and then finding ways to share them with others.

I Wish Freelance Switch a very happy birthday and continued success!

Web Coders Prize Pack

Despite my chosen profession as a graphic designer (although I call myself an ad man quite often too), I loves me the internets! I honestly believe the web is the future of design so I need some tools to make that a reality. As an avid freelance web designer and soon to be college graduate these are the tools I need and can’t afford. If that’s too truthful, then how about this:
The fate of the internet depends on me winning this prize pack. Without it, the next big thing won’t happen. You’ll throw off the space-time continuum and stall the growth of the internet as we know it. I’ll leave the fate of our most precious resource up to you.

hmmm… I want the coders prize pack despite being a designer/illustrator. Maybe change the books for the prismacolors, or for the design books (if it’s possible). My current HD is getting stuffed, and those senheisers will do a lot to keep my parents asleep in those long cold freelancing nights where music is key to maintaining sanity. Anyway I think i deserve that prize because i recently (6 months ago) made the jump (despite whole hearted objections from my family), & have a big school debt to pay, & what’s worse, i have to deal an old 4 year old Pentium 4 that is involved in a fight with Painter X, or any CS3 application (and losing)… (just in case you’re wondering the software licenses aren’t exactly bought you know, but sshhhh!!!)… Anyways, maybe that sounds normal to a lot of you, but i’m kinda different. I’m a 22 year old guy trying to make a living as a freelancer in a country where hourly wages don’t exist and marketing dudes are the apparent design experts, and haggling is the “de facto” standard (well to be honest that maybe happens in other places too). I don’t want to sound like a whiner or anything, but check out the stats. (wikipedia or something) Normal people in Ecuador don’t earn as much (compared to other countries), and the design profession doesn’t have much value here amongst the possible clients. So please, folks please help out here . Another thing despite the clever and interesting replies, all you 15 year old freelancers that have replied to this thread still have mommy & daddy to help out with the educational payments. I don’t think it’s fair to compare to people that have more realistic responsibilities than dreaming. Not that you shouldn’t… (reply #1 got me thinking of this, but all the other 15 year old’s were just enough).

Anyway’s that is all.. greetings & happy birthday folks… you’ve got a killer & helpful project going on here. Thanks for everything so far.

All of the packages are sweet, but I’d have to choose number three, mostly for the books that are included.

Why? Well, I used to work with computers a lot (doing some web design, spreadsheet stuff, general business junk), but thanks to market over-saturation and the inability to go to college (due to time and money not lining up together) I was forced to get into customer service and eventually oilfield and truck driving. Lately, I’ve been checking into getting back in the ‘computer job’ market, but of course I’ve been out of it too long (according to potential employers).

My dream is to run my own business from home, but the truth is I don’t have the time to go take classes at the college (or online for that matter). I think that access to those particular titles will help me catch up a bit with the newer design styles, and perhaps help me to build at least a semi-acceptable portfolio.

3. The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack. I don’t “deserve” any of them, unless you call following your blog since it began and dreaming about freelancing deserving. I simply would enjoy any of the prize packs. The web coder’s prize-pace would be awesome. I could use the headphones to drown out the noise in my open cubicle, and actually get some work done. The hard drive would be used for some virtual machines. They perform much better on another drive. I’ve already read Web Standard’s Solutions so I would give that to a friend who still uses Frontpage. The other two books look like good reads. FreshBooks would be sweet since I’ve been taking on side projects. Oh, … and the laptop stand? That’s to guard against Local Warming, the new threat to mankind: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/203

Thanks, and keep up the great work!

I’d love the designers pack, because I love every. single. thing. in. it.

It’s not so much that I deserve the Web Coders pack per se, it’s more that these items offer an escape – nice headphones that let the world melt away or, hell, I could just run away somewhere with lots of stuff on that portable hard drive. But no, running away from my work is not the answer (although the notebook stand probably makes more sense to my partner than the bread board I use).

I would loooooove to win Prize Pack #1, the writer’s pack, because I love this website so much that I want to have the tools to start contributing to the site! I am not primarily a writer, so my writing skills could use the improvement brought by the prize in order to start my own blog and contribute to Freelance Swtich. Make a new freelancers’ dreams come true, and let a non-New Jersey native win :-p

I’ll take the Designer’s Pack.

I find design to be a fascinating thing that is in more places than most people would think. As much as good design excites me, bad design makes me cringe more than anything.

I’ll stay short and sweet: I would love The Designer’s Prize-Pack. I’ll be spending all of my extra cash this summer buying into the Mac world. So these sorts of fringe things aren’t really on the agenda.

Oh, and I’m so extreme I counted to infinity this week. Twice.

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I think all of us freelancers could use a little boost! I also really love the combination of both practical items, billing solution (which I bet most of us are paying for), and books to improve ourselves. And finally I really need to work on improving my CSS skills!

My choice is “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack”

Why to choose me?

I am a web programmer and I always wanted to be a freelancer, because being a freelancer I can try out new and latest technologies which was not possible in my corporate day job. It was Freelance switch which gave me the confidence that I can survive as a Freelancer.

Now I have laid down a clear plan of how and when I am going to totally switch from the day job to freelancing. I have started doing freelancing work on the side now together with my day job and soon will be becoming a full time freelancer. And once I become a full time freelancer, I will be in need of all the things that you have specified in the web coder’s pack. So if you give the prize to me then I can become a full time freelancer a bit earlier than I have already planned.

Thank you Freelance Switch.

I choose The Designer’s Prize-Pack

As a creative director, cameraman, graphics guy, sherpa, grip, best boy and show evangelist – I’m going to need every tool, scratch pad and color palette I can get my hands on! My partner and I run a two-man show with very demanding schedules on the most limited of resources. We are the definition of Indie-freelancers.

My personal wet dream is the Cintiq (which by the way was a great review and only made the pain that more visceral – thanks). I’m also not afraid to say I have actually bought you guys a cup of coffee… (loved the pitch for money using the coffee/paypal donation).

So yeah, help a starving new show get it’s colors! Thanks for the great content!

1. I’d like the designer’s prize pack please.
2. I think I should win because the Genius tablet would allow me to illustrate on the computer using my left hand again, or maybe it would just be fun to watch the power struggle for the cursor between the mouse in my right hand and the pen in my left. (Also, I think the pencils, markers, and sketchbook are so delightfully analog.)

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

Prize pack 2.

As an avid reader and huge fan of Freelance Switch, based on the amount of knowledge I have taken from the site, I should be offering you guys these prize packs. However I have some how tricked you into giving me one. I’m a coder and I’m a designer. Maybe I Should ask for the writers since I could add that to my bag of tricks but I’ll stick with what I know.

Main reason you should give it to me?
I’ve literally never one any contest or prize drawing/give away thing in my life ever. and I’m 25. My luck should be changing any day now I hope. In keeping with the freelance switch way of thinking tradition which is making yourself better at what you do. Maybe you guys should help me out once more by giving me a leg up with these great tools that will be put to use instantly.

Thanks for your time and attention!

Congrats on the Birthday and thanks for an always entertaining / interesting site.

I’ll toss my name in for the Designer’s Prize-Pack.

Why?

Well I already have been working as a Web Developer for several years and actually have purchased many of the items in the web-coders prize pack. So that pack would be wasted on me.

The writing pack is interesting but I had my first book published last year and my second one will be published this year – so better to let those prizes go to someone who may need them more than me.

So i want the Designers pack because even though I’m certainly not an artist, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for graphic design and even spent a couple years in college studying it just to gain a deeper understanding of it. So I think being able to explore that side of myself with tools like the moleskin sketchbook and the graphic tablet would be a huge blessing to me.

3. The web coders pack.

I’m currently working for a big corp and i’m going to switch to freelancing by the end of the year. I’m working hard to do all the stuff needed before the switch (my website, biog, networking, documents, …). This pack will certainly help me in my way to this new adventure.

Happy birthday and keep up the great work.

-A reader from Sunny Spain.

1. The Designer’s Prize-Pack
2. Choose me because I have been teaching Print and web design and flash animation to a number of people passionate enough to go to my friend’s Internet Cafe during downtimes. In exchange they buy me snacks or if I’m lucky give me some kind of honorarium, (my friend gets more people to come to their cafe). I am going to leave the comfort of a 8 to 5 job and go freelance this May. I have a Pentium IV PC with 768 DDR Ram and a 21 inch CRT as my workstation at home. I live in Davao City, Philippines. These gift would help a lot more people here! Or in other words, it will help me maximumly.

Congratulations and thank you for this nice gesture. I read your blog religiously.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I selected the Designer pack because I’m an “opportunistic” designer and I think that’s is a good enough reason that I deserve it – beside the fact that I’m “poor” and don’t have any items in the package

No one will deny this extra opportunity.

I would chose the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack
because I have my birthday today.

Happy birthday to you, too!

Happy Freakin’ Birthday, Freelance Switch! My wife and I both find your sight incredibly insightful, encouraging and hilarious (almost always intentionally). I hope this is the first of many more years to come!

But on to the nitty gritty. I throw my hat into the ring for the Web Coder’s prize package. Although I am a writer at heart, the hard drive just tickles my fancy and my CSS skills are seriously lacking.

How do I deserve it? I do not. While I applaud the multiple examples of creative self-promotion, which of course every freelancer ought possess, I prefer to throw convention to the wind and instead humbly request your grace. After all, within the freelance community, aren’t the best and most rewarding moments those in which we offer another a hand when he or she needs it most?

No, wait… I meant the moment when we snatch the freelance prize from another writer, designer or code monkey and get to yell, “In your face!” (On the inside, of course. Best not to burn bridges, right?)

In closing, “PICK ME! PICK ME!!!”

I´d like the designer´s prize because I´m incredibly handsome.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack!

I deserve it because of those many nights I spend studying CSS. I wanted my personal blog to have an unique design but because I couldn’t afford a web designer I decided to learn everything necessary by myself. It was two years ago and I’m still in love with coding.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack,

Because being deserving is all about furthering ones love for life, and the pursuit of ways to sleep less.

Happy Birthday !!! Freelance Switch

I choose #3 The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why ?

I’m floating on CSS river with 16MB only USB flash DRIVE without knowing any WEB STANDARD SOLUTIONS. My brother always blame me while I’m listening musics as you know why? In case If I have External drive with huge space, I need CASE. The rest, I hope too.

My broken language, Anyway.

1.The Designer’s Prize-Pack,

because I need a grafik tablet, but I can’t afford to buy one yet. It’d be a great help for me, and my future projects.

Thank you FSW!

Web Coder’s Prize Pack (#3), mostly because of my obsession with fish and ducks.

I’d love the web coder’s package, and I’ll tell you why.

About 18 months ago, I did this crazy thing. I mean, if you ask my friends and family, they’d tell you that I was pretty much career tracked to being a tenured professor.. that is, after about six or so more years of college.

What crazy thing did I do? I had a daughter. A beautiful little hell raiser, who lights up my life and lightens my wallet at every turn.

I wanted to spend every waking (and embarrassingly, sleeping) moment with her.. so much so that I took time off from school to be with her. I didn’t want to work corporate, because I didn’t want her in day care. So… freelancing I went.

I spent the last little bit of money I had (reasonably) on everything I’d need to dive head first into freelance development. What was once a hobby immediately became a full time profession… only second to making Binky sing the ABCs and bite her toes. Before I knew it, I was really doing it.. and now, I’m fortunate enough to have a successful agency, AND I’m now going back to college in the summer. I’ve managed to build a solid enough foundation for a real empire. Something that now will work even when I don’t feel like it. Now, THAT’s maneuvering.. and it only took 18 months.

The web coder’s package contains just about everything that I need and can’t get, thanks to tuition. Between school, the little’un, and bills, I can assure you a brokey-broke girl like me would be eternally grateful for the prize. I can definitely appreciate the milestone for an entity like FSw, especially considering how little the percentage of success is for startups. Believe me, I’m right along with you.. and prize or not, I’m definitely cheering right next to you.

I would love the Web Developers Prize Pack.
Mainly because web is something I am really trying to understand better. I’m doing ok with understanding design and the communications and aesthetics that go into it, but taking those ideas and being able to implement them in a web environment is where I am lacking, and with one more year in university I’d like to be as versatile as possible when I graduate.

cheers,
Zach

1. The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack
2. As an avid music-listener, I go through headphones like Vista goes through memory usage: aggressively and without merciful restraint. My current external hard drive is teetering on the brink of being full, bulging at the edges of its plastic case with mp3s, fonts, and my backup copy of Rockstar Freelancer. As a college student, my level of funds can’t keep up with my zeal for learning and books on coding and design. I’ve been in the market for a book on interaction design in particular, so Designing Interfaces would be a perfect addition to my collection.

Thanks for holding the context! You guys never cease to please.

Awesome! First of all Happy B-Day Freelance Switch!! Wish you many many many more 2 come, and many more prize give aways! =)

1. The Designer’s Prize-Pack

2. Those gifts would look great on my desk…. =)

Keep up the good work!

1. Web coders
2. I’m a web designer that has never read a single html/css book. It’s about time I did

After reading the comments so far, i think i came up with the best one.

I’m a poor college student with 5 kids, a dead wife and my roommates keep annoying me. But that doesn’t mather as long as I have my secret lab. Nobody found out yet that I’m combining pink fluffy bunnies with nuclear fusion, thus obtaining ultimate creativity in design ! (insert evil laugh here). And I don’t need your Designer’s Prize-Pack, foolish mortals. Really, I don’t. Keep it. Mhm.

#2 pls.

I’d like to win the Writers Prize-Pack (#1).

Why? I’m actually a coder, but I could sure use those writing books. One thing I’ve discovered since going full-time as a freelancer (just a few months ago) is it doesn’t matter what your specialty is, good writing skills makes every thing you do look better. Besides, once I’m done reading them I could use those books to prop up my broken computer chair

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why?
Well, my apartment was recently robbed and these stuffs seems to be the exactly the stolen things.
/sarcasm

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

just because

Why I deserve pack #1:

…because I bet I’m the only writer on this site who’s also a roller derby player. Any tools that will help me continue to kick ass on paper or on the rink are not only welcome, but deserved.

Writer’s Prize-Pack

sent 4/14/08
–

["Great talking with you today, Mark. Again, this is very timely and ...
...But first, here are some resources I thought you might find helpful in launching your freelance business:
Freelance Switch > http://www.freelanceswitch.com
This is a very hip and resourceful blog maintained by a great writing talent. TONS of free information about invoicing, marketing, client issues, starting/running/maintaining/growing a freelance business. Her paradigm is right on the mark; best freelance blog out there, in my opinion.]

sent 4/15/08
–

["Also, I can not speak highly enough of http://freelanceswitch.com/.
It is a freelancer's blog that has hands down, the best business advice for consultants there is. Its primarily geared to writers and designers, but the business articles are so right on any one can benefit. If there's one suggestion I could make, it would be to sift through their archive of freelancing articles or to purchase their book.]

- – -
The above excerpts copied from my ‘sent’ box serve as two reasons why a great product is the best form of advertising, and why speaking highly of another’s good work is good karma (worth a prize pack, right?)

As an online marketer, I have the most use for the drives in the coder’s pack, but would prefer the writer’s pack so I can send 1/2 it’s content to the recipient of email/reason #1. (Mark, a budding freelance writer starting his own communications business.)

Keep that karma going around and coming around!

Web coders pack

Why do I deserve this pack – (honest answer) well I’m relatively new to freelancing and I’m currently programming in the Industrial Automation sector, I’d very much like to expand into web design…. and have you seen the price of this stuff!!!

(not so honest answer) I deserve this ‘cos……. well I just do – I’m great

Prize Package #1 : The Writer’s Prize-Pack

Lol. I’m gonna give most of the prizes in that package to my friends and encourage them to start writing.

What: Designer Pack

Why: I recently started freelancing and it’s depressingly slow at the moment, so a little encouragement would be cool.

Thanks!

I am going for The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack but honestly I could fit into any of those categories
I study literatture for pleasure (pack 1) but work as a web designer and coder (pack 2 &3).

The reason I choose to give as in why I deserve to win is more likely to be cataloged as a desire than a reason.
After many years working on this area, I am finally moving to Denmark to tighten my business relations with some DK colleagues with who I am looking forward to build a long lasting relationship.
Therefore: FreshBooks Software will help me deal with financial matters (it can get complicated when you have clients all around the world!)
the external HDD will help me move with more ease, and avoid taking countless piiles of DVDR with me.
The books, well, I have a 18 trip to Copenhagen and sincerely, I could use some readin besides Quijote!
Headphones are for when my tired eyes cannot keep reading anymore (I am calculating it will be somewhere above the Azores Islands)
And th lappie stand is the perfect piece to put the newly bought MBP in the altar, a chocolate altar !

Prize 3 – The Web Coder’s Prize Pack

I would love to win this pack because these books would be amazing to help boost my library and my knowledge as I work my way through college. Also that external HDD would also be so beneficial for my projects when going to school!

Thanks for offering this contest and happy birthday Freelance Switch!

I literally JUST officially started my own freelancing “business” on Monday of this week– that’s right, 2 days ago; out of the crammed room in the basement of my parents’ house, waiting for my big break to get out. I’ve come a long way since goin BOCES (BOCES.org) during jr and sr years of high school, But, back to the more recent events… I’ve spent much time lately figuring out what exactly to expect when I feel I am finally ready to dive in the pool… which would be this past Monday. Prior to Monday I spent many waking moments (notably on the crapper) checking things out– sort of a reconn mission. (in fact, you know you’re in deep when you can’t find the book “TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH: BUSINESS SECRETS FOR DESIGNERS” next to you once settled in the bathroom…..) [a good book-- highly recommended]
This first week has filled with preliminary tasks such as researching pricing, how to make a contract, where/ how to find clients, online research of what others have done. Nothing would serve such entrepreneurial spirit better than to end up with the perfect set of items to start the physical tools to get things going. I have a friend coming over on Thursday to be my “first client!” so things are already looking up.
Simply put, want and need is equivalent here.
DESIGNER PACK ALL THE WAY PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAASE

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Why?
Think of being me. Wouldn’t it be nice to get all this stuff for free?

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch.
I hope we all can enjoy this blog for many yesrs to come.
You’ve been really helpfull, because after just one year of professional experience I
decided to go freelance and the blog was there for me to support troughout the way.
I think the best prises are yet to come for me, and all depends on how well I can
manage my business.
Being honest here I don’t think that I’m the exact person that deserves the price.
I beleive good profecionals are reading the blog and some people that relly need and could use
the prises. But I just wanted to take the chance, because life and freelancing is about that, taking chances making mistakes and learning from them (maybe sharing the lessons you learned on
freelance switch )
I choose the designer’s prise pack since I’m a graphic designer. What really interests me are
the “Thinking with Type”, “Desk Pad With Wood Pencil Ledge” and “How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul” because these items would be hard to obtain where I live in Bulgaria.
And I think I could really use the literature to learn more about the profession and develop my skills.
The rest of the stuff I would like to give away to the next person that will be needing it the most.

I wish luck to all the contenders !

I’d love to win the Writer’s Prize-Pack because my lamp is not lightning enough my work space

Also, i’m so curious about that thing that stands behind the laptop that I want to know what is it!
Well, then I’d love to read those books to improve my writing !

BTW, today is the 1st birthday of my blog too!

wow… little to no human contact this week = 3am babble… oops…

1. The Designer’s Prize-Pack

2. I’m currently still studying my design course at university. However, I decided to plan ahead and start my own freelancing business while studying. It has greatly surpass all my expectations, but it still has so much more potential. Winning the designers prize pack would be a god-send. Some awesome new literature to help start a new library of design textbooks and resources that I’ve been trying to save up forever now. I recently just managed to save up for a new Macbook Pro, but winning the Graphic Tablet would be a live saver honestly as its next on the list anyways for me. I would use it every day, I need one so badly. The notebook stand will go great with my new Macbook Pro.

I’m a strong believer in putting your ideas on paper first, before even looking at a computer, so I am always needing new pens and pencils to draw out concepts. And as you guys and girls know, pens, pencils, and rendering markers really do add up in price and be heavy on a students wallet. And although I’m trying to minimize my impact on the environment, sketching concepts requires paper, so the sketch pads would be put to good use.

I know my reasons for winning the prices might not seem as exciting as others, but we all needed to start somewhere to get into the industry. I’m trying my best at freelancing, and any sort of help, (freelanceswitch.com has been an awesome help) even this prize pack would greatly help me.

regards

Oliver

1. The Designer’s Prize Pack
2. Why do I want it?
Because here in Italy there’ll be bad times (for the politics, you know) and I want to go on a desert island, so I need good friends!

Thank you so much!
Valentina form Italy

Web Coders Prize-Pack please!

Why should I get the prize pack? I couldn’t have made the leap in the last two months without the help of freelanceswitch. I even bookmarked most of the articles I read for referring back to it!

http://del.icio.us/matthewlang/freelanceswitch

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

Wow…if I could get my hands on the “Writer’s Prize Pack” I would feel like quite the writing stud!

I’m not especially qualified to win this award over anybody else, but I do write for a living and would use each and every one of these tools in my day-to-day business.

I’ve had the digital voice recorder on my wishlist for over a year now as it would help me remember my thoughts when I’m driving (I’m a talking person) and conduct interviews for the little bit of journalistic writing I do.

I have a great headset right now for staying at home – since I use Skype on a regular basis, but would definitely appreciate a collapsible set for when I’m on the road. The prize’s headphones would be quite an improvement over my walkman ones from 10 years ago!

As a rather new freelance writer 8 months into my career, I’m always looking to grow not only as a writer but also as a business person. It’s my personal goal to read at least 3 books each month that will contribute to my professional growth and I’ve had two of the books in your prize pack on my “buy list” for a while now and am sure the others would be great as well.

Ironically…you have also been able to offer two of the only things missing from my desktop… a notebook stand and desk lamp. I’m not sure about the notebook stand, as I’ve never used anything like that in the past – but the halogen lamp would be awesome! Not only would it be brighter than the lights in my room, but it would also allow me to conserve a bit of energy, something that would be helpful for a guy that writes for two environmental publications!

Lastly, Freshbooks is simply awesome. I’ve been using their free version for the past two weeks and am going to upgrade regardless of whether I win this competition or not…but hey, if I could win it for free I’d be stoked!

I don’t expect to win and understand there are many other writer’s that would be as thankful as I am for the great prizes you’re offering. Nonetheless, I would be forever grateful if I was chosen. Heck, I’m grateful without being chosen! This Birthday Bash just proves how awesome everybody at Freelance Switch is and why you guys sit atop my iGoogle homepage. Keep up the great work!

Oh…almost forgot about the Moleskines and pen… Skellie, you know more than anybody that these are the essential tools for any writer. Whoever wins this contest is one lucky son (or daughter) of a gun!

Oh – and let me add…as a Canadian I would go out and buy the same items you had here if it turns out you can’t ship the items to me here. Why? Cuz it’d be the fun thing to do. Nobody prefers money over gifts for their birthday…do they?

2 ) The Designer’s Prize-Pack
I admit I’m more a programmer than a designer, but during my last period in my work as a freelancer I do design as well and want to improve my skills in this and I also admit that I like designing very much.

1) The Writer’s Prize-Pack
2) I am a freelance writer from a small village in a third world country trying to catch up with the rest of the world. Many say that technology has leveled the playing field and that it has given everyone around the world a chance for one’s writing to be read. Not so much in my case. Writing with an aging computer and accessing the Web using a slower-than-dial-up Internet connection makes writing and blogging feel like slave work. While the prizes wouldn’t really help me with these concerns, packing a good pen and notebooks would definitely be a start. Oh, yes. Those books would really help me a lot since I am neither wealthy and well-fed. Help out a poor and starving freelance writer. Pick me, damnit!

Happy birthday, Freelance Switch!

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Why?
Just because I deserve it and you are very generous.

I would like the developer prize pack just because I was one of the first to read you guys and congratulate you: http://freelanceswitch.com/general/a-warm-welcome/#comment-347

Thanks!

p.s. I think that to read all these comments will need as much time as to compile the freelance survey results

Well, it is difficult to say why i deserve a prize over anyone else. I would like the designer’s pack because i am a 24-year-old french female student in master degree in webdesign and i am willing to begin a freelance career in webdesign, graphic design and illustration ?
oh and also because i have no luck at all, every time i participate in a lottery or any contest i loooooooooooose :’( *bump*
Moreover I always dreamt of having enough money to have a graphic tablet, that will be so awesome to draw directly and to have the freedom of making my imagination get real !
oh and i need a hard disc to stock all my personnal works hehehe :p (random fact looooooool)
Thanks anyway for your generosity and for having read my wish.
Happy birthday

I deserve the writer’s prize pack because I’m awesome. And a freelancer.

Other than that, well, I live in Argentina, and while I could plausibly buy them stuff over the internets, my cash-money reserves are low enough as it is.

I want^H^H^H^Hneed that prize, not because I’m poor (i’m more middle-class-y (I’m uber-classy, but hot in the same way)), but because I need to improve my writing. My blogs need help, it’s being held hostage by poor grammar and sub-par spelling (the kidnapper has requested 300 posts in order to release my blog into freedom). And you don’t want blogs to suffer, do you? Won’t anybody think of the children^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hblogs?!

Also, when I rule the world, you’ll be allowed to live.

Okay, sillyness aside, man, that is some awesome swag right there. The recorder better be industrial strength, ‘cuz it’ll be used and overused. The pen… oh god, the pen… that sure can take down a sword.

The only item I don’t really mind are the earphones, but if everything else is a thousandth as awesome as I’ve heard, man, that’s 1000 times better than anything I own… I need them moleskines… my precious…

Pretty please, with sugar on top?

Help a freelancer. Think Tordek.

Happy Birthday! I choose the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.

Why I deserve this? Because I need those things to be better!

Have a really great birthday!

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack – I deserve it because well I am a stay at home mum who loves to design. I’m starting out in this industry and I can’t afford all those things. I am self taught and your site has been a big influence. I never missed to read one post.

I am probably too late it seems. shouldn’t loose hope though right?

Happy Birthday.

1. The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack
2. I deserve to win because I dared to start med own webcompany, dared to stay alone without any constant income and have no regrets of doing it! I still haven’t been rich, but I love my work and still life after my dream!

I never see any people from India winning any online contests. Since I fall in that category, how about making a change?

I want: The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I’d love to get the Web Coder’s prize (#3)

Why would I deserve it? Because that’s what I do mostly … I’m striving to perfect myself in Design as well, but I just don’t really have the hand to use that tablet to its full potential.

I plan to go freelance myself in about an year, as soon as I get a solid footing to start with. And all the items in the pack would help me greatly. I wish I had them or your great articles at hand about an year and a half ago, when my first (unsuccessful) attempt to go full freelancing happened. I know that because of you I’ll be better prepared to take that step again.

In the end, I wish you a Happy Birthday and many more successful celebrations like this.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack…

I feel I deserve this because… Well, the headphones alone would make life much easier – I have a two year old son who demands that I listen to him shout to high heaven all day long when I try to work, and conveniently goes to bed once I have finished working for the day!

The harddrive would also be awesome as I can’t really afford an external drive and one day I just know I’m gonna get bit in the ass after not having backed up

As always, I’d also like to sweeten by post by bribing you: The sites fantastic! I read almost every post and recomment you to every other freelancer I meet

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Relocation, relocation, relocation! That’s why. In three months I have to relocate from Barcelona to Mexico City and I need to do a lot of freelance work in order to survive. And why the hell would one move from sunny Barcelona to monster Mexico city? Well, love. I’m going after the woman I love.

I would LOVE the designers pack!

It would be to selfish of my to say that I deserve the pack, but after taking care of my two kids all day, going to work for hours and still trying to inspire others to do what they love- I feel that a little love coming my way would be wonderful. Finally I would have a sense that I actually exist, that you actually read this comment and understood where I’m coming from. I need a little boost to keep going- It’s a lonely road and knowing that you care would give me so much more energy to do what I’ve been doing for this long.
I love you guys, I really really do!
Ali
p.s. I’ll totally understand if you decide to give it to someone else. No hard feelings. I swear. I mean it. It’s totally cool…really.

You know how public toilets are always scribbled? People even leave phone numbers on them. “Call this number for free sex!”, they say. When I was twelve and first saw such a statement, I naively wrote it down, thinking it would be handy. Three years later, at the age of fifteen, I found that note and decided to call it, just out of curiosity. Palms sweaty, fingers shaking, heart racing. I was nervous as I punched in the number, not knowing what to expect.

It led to a much disgruntled car mechanic, who didn’t really feel like giving me free sex. He did mumble “I thought that message was long gone…” though. I kept the note as a memento.

Yesterday, nine years later, I found the note again. And I decided to initiate a project. So far ten public toilets in my town have been scribbled with the exact same message, in the exact same look:

The Toilet Project
Heya! What’re you thinking about? Send me a text or multimedia message at [phone number], and let me know. Love, the Project Manager.

My goal is to have that message up on all of the public toilets in my area, and publish the responses on a web site, and quite possibly, a book. A coders web pack would help with the first step.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack is my choice.

And I would like to win it just because I would like to win something finally.
And I would like to win because I want to see you shipping it to Slovakia, the heart of Europe
And I would like to win because I haven’t forgot to say: The site is fantastic!
And I would like to win because my comment is well structured and short. I think that’s what you need.

And what I need is the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.

Have a nice day!

I’d choose the Designer Pack

Why? Well, I’m established already with being a coder, but I am moving more into the Designing field which will help me get more freelance work and reach a broader client base. Having this pack will push that out faster for myself and be a VERY valuable resource.
I’m also feeling that I could loose my soul, if I continue to be a graphic designer without that book!!

PS.

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch! Been a long time reader, and this place has been a great resource! Keep on rocking. Always supporting you down under! (Australia)

Happy Birthday!! Neato stuff you have here!

I’d like to enter for the designer’s pack for my hubby – number 2. He is an illustrator and his graphics tablet is getting old and he needs a new one until we can save up for the cintiq you guys reviewed yesterday. He could also use those good markers and pencils for his illustration work. And I think the type book is pretty rad myself.

I got a laugh out of the headphones for the web coder package. That’s good!

Man, what a mission to try and choose between these packs…

I’m actually a designer so that should be first choice, but I already have a tablet and the Adrian Shaughnessy book (not to mention the Moleskine, but I can always do with more of those).

The writer’s pack is mighty tempting, especially the Cross fountain pen… mmmm… and I can pretend I’m a writer too.

Then again, the coder’s pack has the oh-so-useful extra hard drive and yummy chocolate laptop stand.

I’ll tell you what, FSw guys: I’ll let you choose for me Either way I know I’ll put the prizes to good use, and have even more to be thankful to you for than a whole year’s help and advice. Thanks for the blog, you guys are huge.

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why? I took the brave step a couple of weeks ago and quit my day job on a Friday to start Freelancing on the Monday. I don’t want to look back, I know I am going to love it, but I understand it is going to be tough.

I know I will need the help and support of friends, family and strangers alike to make sure that I do the best job for my clients so that I can continue to be a Freelancer. Winning this prize could be one of those bits of help.

‘ello. i’d like the designer’s pack please.

i don’t deserve it so i’ll give it to the Creative Product Design final year graduates at the University of the West of England so they can use it to raise money for their graduation show at the Business Design Center, London 9-13th July this year.

/cheap plug

Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

I would love the Designer’s Pack. I’m not sure if I deserve it, but it would certainly make my day. I am currently pursuing my Masters (in a really, really, expensive city!) and working as a freelance graphic designer as well. I work my butt off to earn a few bucks, but it doesn’t matter because I love what I do with every fibre of my being. Anyway, the designer’s pack would come in really handy because it has a good mix of the stuff that would help me in both my studies and freelance work.

Here’s wishing you another successful year…

Greetings, FreelanceSwitch!

I’ve been freelancing full-time for well over 8 months and I know how easy it is sometimes, in amidst of all the client-meetings, late-night design marathons and bureaucracy troubles, to simply forget to look back on all the things you’ve accomplished and quietly say to yourself “I’ve done OK”. Overburdened by the rigorous work process we create for ourselves, we often forget what made us quit our day jobs in the first place – that rewarding sense of independence and creative freedom that creeps up our backs every time we finish a new design, “the best we’ve ever made” – it’s what makes it all worth it. And it’s so easy to put that aside and just slide into your next project. We all need to reward ourselves for the work we’re doing, no matter if it is by sleeping through a Friday, or carelessly watching cartoons with a bowl of ice-cream in our lap. Or winning a FreelanceSwitch Designer’s Prize Pack for that matter. We deserve it for the work that we do. I know I do.

So happy birthday, FreelanceSwitch! You’ve done great.
To many more!

I have picked up #3. Which is “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack”

Simply because, “I AM A WEB CODER” and I deserve it. I have passed so many valuable times of my life at http://www.freelanceswith.com from the very beginning of its birth. I love this site and I would love to get something solid to show up. hee hee.

BTW: I never won a prize before . So, make me proud and confident..pls……………………

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

I’d like to win the “Web Coder’s Prize-Pack”.
Why? Easy: People say I’m a webcoder, and I think I could make big use of it:
1. Seagate FreeAgent Go 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive + Case Logic Small External Hard Drive Case
-> Because my local SVN repositories are full and since the year 2000 or so I’m a bit unsure what to delete, so I avoid deleting and archive everything. There’s always the fear to delete something that could have been used.

2. Sennheiser HD 215 Extreme DJ Sound Headphones
-> Actually I have some hama speakers on my notebook which cost around 10$ and they exactly sound like that–

3. CSS: The Definitive Guide
-> I had a good mentor when I started web coding, but I think I could learn a bit more with that

4. Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook
-> Maybe I can fetch some good arguments for my next browser war discussion?

5. Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design
-> I would love to use this for my latest AIR development ideas

6. Belkin Cushtop Notebook Stand – Chocolate
-> It would be great to have this! No more burn holes in my thighs! Yeah dude!

7. One-year Shuttle Bus subscription to Freshbooks
-> My doves are untrained and I was already looking for a serious delivery method for my bills. So maybe this could replace the dovecote?

Cheers and rock on,
markus

Hi..ok so finally someone is here to give me a gift. Ya I deserve it , please. I launched my blog recently and it hit the digg front page on the first day of my disclosing it. And then what a pain it was when it went down even with Media Temple GS. It came out that the problem was one of my plugins but I am still mad. What a loss of visitors. But I think Writer’s Prize pack could help me come back to senses and write better articles and also venture out in the freelance world. So the Writer’s Prize please…pleaseeeeeeee…plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanks a ton !

Abhijeet

Web coder’s pack or Designer’s pack (I do both).

I should win it because I’m totally flabbergasted by the amount of comments already on this post. Offer free stuff and it really draws the crowds, eh?

All I wanted for Christmas was parts of the designer’s prize pack, especially some items of it. Well, I didn’t get them on Christmas, so why don’t I get them on the second best celebration in my calendar .. your birthday. Some of the items like the moleskine and ebony pencils are items which I can’t get in my country from any shop and just the thought of having one of them makes me feel at least a bit more professional. And since I know you would read through all hose comments I have one extra request : Keep up the good work for many years to come, pleeease

For the hundreds and hundreds of hours I have worked hard in providing freelancers and regular users with free Tutorials I deserve The Writer’s Prize-Pack.

First off, thanks for the great site.

Second, I’d love the pack nr 3 with the book substitution option.

My reason: I am taking the plunge to full time freelancer at the end of May. I’m friggin’ excited but also scared out of my head. A win in this competition would be a real kick start to my freelancing as I’ve been planning on buying the hardware bits of the pack anyways. So winning in this competition would save me a big amount of money that I could then put back as an emergency cushion for my business, this reducing the anxiety of jumping off the firm ground.

Happy birthday from Finland!

happy birthday! thanks for providing articles, blogs and helpful tips to us your loyal fans/ readers/bloggers. gosh you’re prizes are really tempting. since you’ve asked, i only want one, the moleskine ruled notebook. that’s it. i know you’re giving away the whole package, but i really don’t need them. just the moleskine ruled notebook so i can scribble away my thoughts, put it on my bedside table, read and write before i go to sleep and join moleskinerie.
again, happy birthday.

I’m going for the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack, because thats what I do, for the time being anyway.

I’m currently in a crazy slog to get myself into the freelancing world before going back to uni in 5 months. Getting a website up and running, find clients, actually do some website building stuff for a portfolio. And thats only the half of it, then there’s actually preparing to go to uni, becoming a penninless student, and paying £6000 for the priviledge, joy!

So the prize-pack would save me a heap of cash to help me start living the dream.

Incidently, I’m not fussed if I don’t win, I haven’t lost anything for trying, I’m just glad I chanced upon the site. Read every post ’till my eyes bled (figuratively) , bought the book (currently a bible!), had the veil lifted. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I hadn’t found you guys

Now at least when I’m a broke computer student looking for work, my upselling won’t be “would you like fries with that?”

Happy Birthday FSW, looking forward to the next year!

Due to this fantastic blog and it’s fantastic articles, I now have no time left to write such a stunning piece as others do.
Not only do I have not the time but I am also too stressed. My wife promised me to beat me up with a piece of wood if I don’t win The Designer’s Prize-Pack. You must know that my wife is 13ft tall and that she has arms like … oh my God! … And you can’t image what that piece of wood looks like. It is NOT a regular piece of wood, it is a killing, demolising chunk of living darkness.
She won’t hesitate to beat me up, she never did. But this time it’s different … This time she will beat the sunshine out of my pretty eyes until there’s nothing left but … petty.

You may wonder why I stay. I’ll tell you … She can make such sweeeeeet love to me. When she’s happy she brings back that lost sunshine in my pretty eyes. Then I get 13ft of passion all over me!
Then she takes my euh … Going too far here I guess.

Anyway, the ball lies in your camp. I don’t like to put this pressure on your shoulders, not at all. But you can choose between my being hit by a trainwreck or me being loved all over the place.

I do not hope, my hope is gone … Left me years ago … Bring my hope back, please. I hope you understand my situation and … Hey wait! I said “I hope”! Oh there’s my hope, it’s coming back! Come on guys don’t let me down, it’s coming back! There it is! It just needs a little push! And I honestly think that that litle push could be The Designer’s Prize-Pack! Yes guys, come oooon!

Got to go … There’s a 13ft tall women who wants to use the internet.

Writer’s pack please…

I am a software developer and can just about write code but when it comes to the English language I am truely stumped. Unfortunately for me there is not a lot of demand for works of fiction written in VB.NET. I did try but did not hear anything back from the publisher. Funny that, it was a great novel about a for next loop losing its way in the class and always coming up with exceptions that were never handled. Such potential…

I would gladly be given some help writing my blog and writing articles and who knows maybe my for next loop will one day see the light of day.

Designer’s pack

Why?

Because i don´t have a girlfriend, and i want happiness in my life.

The Designers Pack

Why? Because my boss is really tight fisted and never buys me anything! Not only that he pays me a pittance and makes me work ridiculous hours, never gives me any credit for anything and keeps all the perks for himself!

Dave Ellis
Freelance Designer and Sole Trader

Props for your blog!

I am a web designer/developer from Italy, maybe your gift can give to a very young italian freelancer (i am 20 years old) some motivation to go ahead in this country where young guys are not considered worth, infact most part of them go away from here, just as I am trying to do.

I hope you will continue to give nice interesting tips about freelancing and web design / web development for another year.

Byeeeeeee!

Happy Birthday, Freelanceswitch! Here’s to many more brilliant articles.

Ahem…so….the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack……P.L.E.A.S.E.

I could really use the external hard drive for my photographic files. Am currently backing up to DVD…I mean really now…nudge, wink, hint, etc.

Web Coders Prize Pack

Why?

Well, I already have most of the things on the list so if you choose me, don’t send me the prizes, donate the $500 to a local children’s charity or homeless shelter or something like that.

Dave

It would make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside if you lovely bunch would cross my palms with ‘Prize Pack 2 – The Designer’s Prize-Pack’.

Just to give you an idea of that feeling, I’ll leave you with some ‘warm and fuzzy’ things to ponder:

cute little puppies
your favorite scarf on a cold winter’s day
tiny baby chicks
Santa’s beard
a cat on fire

Now if they don’t make you feel like you don’t have a care in the world then I don’t know what will

For the last few years I have been planning to go into Freelance Web Code/Design once I finish my a-levels, a way to earn money to pay for university and neccessities.

This plan looked to be a success, until a recent car accident. The incurred costs of the accident mean i will be unable to afford the kit required to go onto this venture. /wanting to pursue a career in web design, i believed the freelancing to be a vital step in work experience and portfolio works, a dream that seems almost shattered, as i am now broke.

It is for this reason, that i believe i would be a good recipient of “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack”.

Smutchings

I’m hoping to start writing soon and that prize pack number one looks awfully sweet!!!!

Prize: 1# The Writers Pack

I’m coming up to the final year of my degree in English Literature, my boyfriend has finished his degree and has dived in at the deep end to pursue a career in website management and development. The business was set up last year and I have been working so hard writing website content and a whole bunch of other content. Not to mention all those long hours I have put in (unpaid)

With frequent emails from him containing website links with SEO tips, etc etc whilst writing that all important essay on Shakespeare! The writers pack seems like the perfect reward for all of my unpaid work, new found knowledge (with regards to web development lingo) and perseverance.

I believe the writers pack will better equip me for the future.
Happy Birthday to you.

Hi guys,

I would like to pick “The Web Coder’s Prize Pack”.
Why? I think you described it perfectly… becouse i want to upgrade my career tool-kit. I am student – webdesigner, basically working with home pc which is shared by my sister (i like her, but you know what i am talking about, dont you ?) I saved some money over the year to buy my own computer, but it will be enough only for the computer and things you showed are gorgeous. I think the segate is the best, but books are also very valueable.

Thanks and Happy Birthday!

Hi !

Web Coders Prize Pack.

Well for me driving my freelance business means creating a professional network with many experts. I think it’s the most important thing so I’m setting up a course in a graphic designer school : “How to become a freelance graphic designer here… in France “.
I got the idea reading FSW.

With an old friend we’ve created our own brand, and we always keep in mind that we just can’t do everything alone.. so we share our projects with many talented other freelancers. It’s pretty cool : projects are much more interesting and bigger than previouly… and everyone is learning new skills and also things about himself / herself.

I very often read FSW, I’m also listening to the podcast… and from what I can hear or read, I believe that we’re all not so different. I was very bad at marketing and now I did some improvements on my site and also in the way I deal with my clients… so thank you FSW for your advices, thank you for showing the world everyday that freelancers are not lonely, Happy Birthday and…

Vive la France !

Web Coders Prize

The reason I want to win this prize is complicated. It all started when Alan from accounting started busting my chops over some work he wanted done. So I thought to myself, how can I destroy Alan AND get some free stuff. The answer was simple. A Doomsday device. The problem is, even though my device consists of an old muffler, a can of baked beans, a lock of hair from John Howard’s eyebrows, and a small, but significant 10c coin, it lacks, for some reason, 3 web design books and a hard drive.

So please, if you give me this prize, I will put it to good use. I will finish my Doomsday device, destroy Allan and take control of the world. Also, if you give me the prize I will treat the staff nice in my new world, and I’ll bake you a tray of cookies.

But seriously, I just like prizes

For your birthday, I would like the Designer’s Prize-Pack. That felt creepy. Like asking Santa for something, but over the net. And yes, I’m 31 and I still believe in Santa. Anyway…

As you can tell from me goodly Inglish, I need don’t the writer5 pryze pak.

I don’t need the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack as I already know how to hack…. I mean, stress test the security infrastructure of an application. Good save Toddy. By the time they read this entry, I will have “stress tested” the Freelance Switch site and made sure I’m the only entrant. *insert evil laugh*

I need the Designer’s Prize-Pack so I can play with colours and the markers. Oh, and that orange notebook stand, can I get it in pink? I really like pink. Or maybe yellow. Blue? Nah, too…. what’s the word I’m looking for… blue. I’ll stick with the orange. Don’t want to seem fussy and high maintenance or anything.

Web Designer Pack

Venturing into the world of freelance, a big move and costly too. But to not lose focus, and be thankful for all the great things that come my way, I would like to:

…use the new tools to help develop some local charities and community projects that cannot afford my services normaly (or any other for that matte). This would give me the boost to make that leap and produce the much needed websites and material these deprived council-estate kids need in Tower Hamlets, London.

Give me the tools to help others. Just like you would teach a man how to fish, instead of just giving him the fish.

I’m positively swooning over The Designer’s Prize-Pack! You read my mind and went shopping for all the design goodness no one else would know to shop for. And I’ve been wanting to try out a graphics tablet! If selected, I’d be happier than a kid on Christmas morning.

Happy birthday, FreelanceSwitch!

I like your Pippi Longstockingesque approach of giving away presents on your birthday. I would very much like to get the Writer’s Pack. I deserve it for being a wonderful person, but there are also other reasons why you might be willing to give it to me:

1. The social reason
Were I to receive the Writer’s Pack, I’d give the voice recorder thingy to James Chartrand of Men With Pens, the guy who posted somewhere up there that he really craves such a gadget. So I’m capable of sharing, see? (But only the voice recorder!)

2. The tear-inducing reason
I am a single mother and support myself and my ten-year-old son with my freelance copywriting and translating business.

3. The future potential reason
Though I’m not starting out as a freelancer (it’s my fifth year), I am currently writing my first novel. The Writer Pack could help me write the Great German Post-War Novel (they need one, believe me!). That would have to be my second one, though, as the first one is not Great Novel material. Had to start without the Writer’s Pack.

4. The fun reason
For funny, amusing reasons, see the comments above. My own, personal fun reason is that I would have lots of amusing, fun times with that stuff.

Julia

Yes! Yes! That’s what I need!
2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack, pls
Because.. I’m a new born designer and by the way, how to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul?

I would be thrilled with the designers prize pack.

A few years ago (well past my bachelor’s degree) I completed a certificate program in Visual Communications with the intention of changing my career in web design. Now I am working full time as a web designer both for a company and with a small freelance business but I feel that my creativity is at it’s lowest point ever. My days are filled with web fonts and html as well as some interface design and though CSS allows me to “design” on the web, the demands of business web design do not allow me to take the time I need to really do the job I could do. For me, artistic ideas take time to refine and I usually just don’t have the time.

I miss the fun I had in my drawing, art and most of all, my typography class.

So….I’m not doing a good job of connecting the artistic side (whatever little there is) to the “production” side – I miss markers and the possibilities that lie within a sketch book on a sunny day under a tree. The view from the cube is just not the same

Thank you and Happy Birthday – you have a great site!

Happy b-day FSw!

I’d like the “The Designer’s Prize-Pack” because I’m a coder myself. This doesn’t make much sense, but, the truth is that, I’m already web programmer so I would like to improve on other area. And I find design so much appealing!

The Designer’s Prize-Pack please

Why ?

Because i am a young entrepreneur who is a regular visitor to this site and PSDTUT , In fact i am premium on psdtuts , I would like tis pack because it would help me in getting my first really grip on the market and idea behide making a business and living from freelancing , I am only young and i can not really afford to buy all they equipement i need to really get going when you think how much Adobe set me back . This back would help me get moving into the designing world and make me a better freelancer and improve my chances of really making it in the freelance world.

Thanks keep up the good work and Happy Birthday , Hope to see a happy 2nd birthday!

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

What I really need is more sleep, and I’m sure every freelancer here knows that money is inversely proportional to sleep. Not having to pay for such goodies would mean I could afford a few extra hours in bed. I would say it’s what I’ve always dreamed of, but I haven’t budgeted any time for dreams.

Think of me tonight as your head hits the pillow as I’ll still be at my desk working to pay for that graphic tablet.

1. Graphic Designer pack
2. Why I want it?
Because in the next two months I am going to have to go full time freelance due to the loss of my job. And because when I signed up to be a graphic designer no one told me I would have to include little children down the street as my competition or the countless numbers of photoshop masters. I kinda feel like when I signed up for graphic design some how, some where someone was laughing at me but regardless of the field or me wanting to live in the country that might consider my trade something more than CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE MY LOGO BIGGER? No, Sir. Your logo is a crap gif which should never be used at all! But instead of explaining much more I’ll leave you with requently asked graphic designer questions I would get..

Q: How do I use this coper?
My A: You put your paper on the glass, put your money in the machine and hit the big green button that says “START!”

Q: I have an idea for a logo could you possibly use the nike symbol just flipped around?
My A: *groans*

Q: So I need copy for my brochure, I thought I could just put pictures of what I do in?
My A: No, Sir. A brochure is suppose to tell a story NOT be a picture book.

Q: Well 10 year old Timmy down the street said he could do this for $50.
My A: Yes, that is because he stole the program and lives in his mom’s house. Could you possibly give me his address so I could report him?

That’s all I got. Thanks guys, great site.

the designer package.

Because i really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want the graphics tab.

also, people say i go into tantrums and jump up and down if i dont get want i want. (i dont believe them personally)

oh, and happy b’day freelance switch and hey, hi, hello & mio to everyone on the forum.

Happy Birthday! Here is my first and probably last attempt at Haiku

Web coder’s prize pack
Help an aspiring geek
Feed a hungry brain

Community rocks
I am inspired daily
Thank you FreelanceSwitch

Now go eat some birthday cake.

Well, first of all congratulations on your birthday.

I know I don’t post much, but I’m always reading and hearing your post and podcasts.

I would very much be glad to win “The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack” because sincerely I don’t have any option of acquiring such items here in Argentina due to the prices. Those, and specially the books, would really help me out on 2 upcoming projects that I’m working on as a freelancer.

That’s all, congratulations =)

Javier

The Designer’s Prize Pack – because although I could use all three (I do some writing some coding and some designing) my heart goes pit-a-pat for the designer’s prize pack…as a freelancer it helps to do a bit of everything but I prefer to do the design. Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for a year of tips that keep me coming back!

Apologies if this is a duplicate, I just got an error when I submitted.

Happy birthday Freelance Switch – it’s been a big first year.

I’d love to throw my hat in the ring for the writers pack. I just started freelancing last week and it’s amazing the freedom I feel. I always knew it in theory but to be distracted by myself is so different to being distracted by being in an office and sitting in endless pointless meetings, and then having to go to lunch with colleagues to discuss the endless pointless meetings and how endless and pointless they are – well forcing myself to sit down and write is like walking through a park in comparison (she says as she’s reading blogs instead of writing).

The writers pack would be great because one thing I do miss is being able to call over the cubicle “what’s another word for …” or “Whose or who’s… do I use the apostrophe or the possessive one?”.

I’ve also portrayed myself to clients as bigger than I actually am, so while I might sound professional and that I’m working from a huge office, I’m actually sitting at a wobbly desk on a slowly deflating swiss-ball with some sad looking plants around me. The proper chair and table have to wait until I figure out if I can actually make money outside of a corporate environment.

The prize pack would be a welcome luxury outside a pay cheque as at the moment I can only justify absolute necessities.

Thanks
Cheryl

Howdy

I’m a young freelance web designer… and web developper.

I’m in love with standards, accessibility and usability. With everything that makes the Web a better place for everyone… My work is my passion, and I try to achieve my goals with elegance.

I have a passion, but I also have a dream. In simple words: “embracing the difference”. I aim to travel the world, to live in the obscurest and lightest places, to discover new cultures, to enjoy new experiences, in search of some illumination. I want my life to be rich of sensations. I want my eye to capture new and exclusive feelings.

I also have an hobby: digital photography ~ to help me remember.

To achieve this goal, I’m trying to make my business grow and also making it portable. That’s why the webcoder’s package would come extremely helpful.

(my only wish would be to replace the CSS book by some moleskine stuff if possible, but even if not possible, a good reference would be definitely handy!)

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to help me make my dream true

Prize: Web Coder’s prize pack.

Why I deserve the prize? Basically because I am NOT a freelancer and you have to convince me that switching is a good choice.

I work in Italy, and here a lot of people (definitely a lot) go abroad to find better working conditions.
I want to stay in this country, but I have to change something in my working life. Freelance switching and your prize could be a good starting point. Or not?

p.s.:happy birthday

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack would help me out a ton. My little 2GB flash drive is getting woefully packed with website files, and my sad little 3rd-gen iPod’s headphones are getting frayed and making lovely popping and crackling sounds when I move my head.

Thanks for a year of wonderful advice, articles, and podcasts, and I look forward to years more!

I pick Designer Prize pack.

Because I really need the book “How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul” as I am losing my soul and shirt trying to be a graphic designer so hard.

Thanks Fsw.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I’m a young aspirant artist full of imagination that need a table to draw e learn. The Brazil need appear to the world!

Prize Pack #3 !!

I have been freelancing since October 2007 and have acquired a few good contracts. So good that I can now survive working only 2 days per week while the other 3 days I spend with books and online training to become a cutting edge Web Designer. I have passed up higher paying jobs to be a Web Designer because I love it!!

I would love the Designers Pack.
I’ve been an illustrator working for companies for over 12 years and have finally decided to go freelance. I’ve been selling stuff around the house to buy those necessary software/office upgrades so money is tight. I think this pack would be a great boost in my creative process and get me working off the computer a bit more. Thanks for your consideration and for the great site.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Because is my first week as a full-time (PHP-CODER) freelancer, and I am quite scared and don’t want to spend a single dollar not even in a coffee until I bill at least 3 times. And It will be nice to have those books.

I desire #2 – The Designer’s Prize-Pack …

because … well we all deserve our best and highest good … we just have to accept It!
I have been lettering, drawing, making art, designing all my life … after 15 years of digital design, I am FREE to be a freelancer!

Did you know that the microprocessor became commercially viable due to the entertainment industry? (Think PONG!)? I used to refinish pinball play fields (they put plastic on them now) and paint signs (they make vinyl letters now) … now I use a Mac or a PC (don’t really care) and the Adobe and Quark apps (still don’t care because they both work) to make my living. I only wash brushes when I want to and I never have to put Letraset sheets in the freezer … too cool! I have also personally sworn off EVER cleaning a film processor again. VIVA digital design!!!!!!!!!

Life is wonderful! Wendy

Prize pack #2 would come in handy.

I have just recently started as a designer and some new and updated supplies would be greatly appreciated.

The old honest approach here.

.mike

1. Web Designers Package.
2. Why do I want it?

I have been full time freelance for 6 months now. Finding Freelance switch was the catalyst for me to quit my cushy government job and jump into this world. By using the Freelance Switch rate calculator I determined that I could do it, and dove head first in.

Life is good, but would be better if I could get my F&^%^ing books straight. I NEED HELP!

Pretty please?

1. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack
2. Why?

Because I live in far far away small town. Search for “Pichilemu” in google.

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I’m a programming student at university, after studying theory and code for the majority of the degree, I took up an elective in Human Computer Interactions (or Interface Design).

Since then I’ve realised how much bad design is out there! I’ve also realise that programmers don’t understand the concept of a good interface and how it relates to the end users rather then the code they’re writing.

So if you send me this pack, I will use it create more ‘human friendly’ programs instead of flooding the world with more stupid/bad/horrible/ugly/boring computer programs! =P

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Why? Because I am a freelancer in a jungle and I could use the help. With the designer’s pack I’ll be Tarzan the king of the jungle instead of Cheeta the chimpanzee. I’ll be able to swing my way over the competition and still have all the bananas I can eat. (Fruit is good for us!) Plus with that tablet I can make myself way more attractive for Jane and when she comes over and see all those books she will know how smart I am.

Cheers
Ed

The Designer’s Prize-Pack.

Although I really don’t think I deserve a price, I would like to congratulate you with your birthday! I think it’s amazing that you have such a huge readers base in just a year. I read your blog regularly and think it’s one of the prettiest designed weblogs I know of.
For that reason I got “inspired” to give my weblog an overhaul. To be honest I copied your colours and some design things (Green links and these boxes). So you see I don’t deserve any prices;-)

I’m still in school and need all the help I can get to bust into a crowded market

Web Coder’s Prize Pack.
Well, just because I would love to have some good books (and of course some useful pieces of free tech ). I’ve got all of my web programming experience off the net, from bits and pieces of tutorials, and it sure would be nice to have something tangible ( I am more atrracted to reading from a piece of paper than off a screen)

I’d choose The Web Coder’s Prize-pack.
Reason: I think I get make very good use of the Sennheiser headphone
as my previous one got stolen while I was sleeping on train!!!

Happy birthday and many thanks to Fsw.

Because I feel like a lucky freelancer : )

Designer Pack

Well, as a designer who has finally broken free of “corporate life” and started freelancing, I have found your site has really helped me tunr my dream into a reality. I am excited about designing again and loving having more control to allow real expression. Why should i get the prize? Well beacuase the first year is though and every little thinkg can make a big difference I kow this prize would, and might be the difference between a successful year or having to go back “corporate”.

I love being a designer, but i love being a freelance designer more

1. The designer’s prize pack
2. Why do I deserve it?

I am graduating from college in two weeks with a major in Graphic Design. I am getting married in June. I am buying a house in May. I am starting a new career in May. I am doing everything everybody usually spans out over a few years all at once and I am broke. The prize pack would be extremely helpful for me to jumpstart my freelancing career and get started out on the right foot.

The Designers Pack

Why? Because starting as a freelance designer is pretty daunting and maybe this beautifull package will encourage me to finaly make the big step….and it will remind me that i got it from the best freelance blog in the universe

Marco

I could use the Designer’s prize pack, because I’d honestly like to know how not to lose my soul in this business.

I think I’ll go with the “The Designer’s Prize-Pack”!

I’m a freelance web developer who has been working hard in the past to get his HTML/CSS coding skills top notch in the beginning of my small career. That means reading the web, reading books, looking at others code and learning from that.

Now I’m working on improving my design skills and been holding on buying a graphic tablet for quite a moment now. Learning more from web design and typography is really something I’m looking for now.

So yeah, could really make good use of that designer’s pack

Can’t leave without saying : Keep up the good work, been following Freelance Switch for a while now.

Prize Pack #2: The Designer’s Prize Pack

I’ve been freelancing full-time for just over a year now (I had been freelancing on the side for about 4 year prior) and web coding has always been my thing, but now I’m working on more and more print design and illustration work, I realize I need the tools to help me develop my skills in this area and get the job done and Prize Pack #2 would certainly help me get there!

Happy Birthday!

A – the Web Coder pack would be great!

B – Being a Graphic designer, I already have most of the items in the designer pack (ie. tablet ,markers and pencils). I been a freelance designer for a little while now and people been asking me to design websites and have them work for them. I started out okay but I need this 3rd package to better my coding skills to make it in this crazy world of ours.

C – On another note, congrats on you guys celebrating your first birthday. I found you guys about 4 months ago and I been reading your articles everyday since.

Keep up the good job on the site.

I would love to win the first prize pack – the Writer’s Prize Pack. I am only just beginning my freelance career, doing mostly technical and ghostwriting. These tools would nearly fill my library and electronics needs.

Freelance Switch has provided me with tools, entertainment and information I have not been able to find anywhere else. Your posts with lists of links for freelancers are priceless and have helped me grow tremendously as a writer and as a business person. The Freelance Freedom comic, while funny, often serves to remind me not to sell myself short just because others may not understand the value of what I do.

I would also like to wish everyone here the best of luck winning. And continued success with their freelance careers.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

New web designer from Romania, trying to make a name here.
Starter as freelancer, but still a small 10 to 4 job. Those books are a great.

Ty freelance switch.com for all the effort, and so keep’em comming the good stuff.

Wish you happy birthday and many more years to come.

Gief cake

Definitely Prize Pack #3 -

As for why? I think I’m at a disadvantage for winning this. Oh come now, you say, you’ve got just as good a shot as anyone. Well, no – I don’t. I’m not funny or quirky or interesting at all! I can’t come up with some witty anecdote to sway you my way. My clients berate me, my computer has started spitting CD’s out at me and my monitor scrolls the words “You’re a loser” across the screen. I’m sad and pathetic and my self-esteem needs the boost that winning a FSw prize pack would give to me. If I won the Web Developer pack well, *gosh* I’d just be about the happiest gal this side of the Atlantic! I’d feel whole because, well Freelance Switch, you complete me. So please, oh please, make a girl’s heart soar and her ego take a step up! M

Happy birthday FSw – you guys have been an invaluable resource!

Wow! This is exciting! Well, I’m an accomplished designer/illustrator. So I already have most of the things on the designer’s pack. I also have designed some websites, but I would not consider myself a web designer, and have no desire to start doing that. BUT, I would like to write better. Every day I write something, and I don’t have the confidence to write more than I do. I just started a blog, and I would like to be more knowledgeable about writing.

I always told myself that I can’t write. Well, that’s about to change…

Designer Prize Pack please because I’m worth it!
Well the real reason is that I’m a web developer (code monkey) and want to improve my design skills (crayola monkey) so anything that makes me look more like a designer will help and it would nice to win something to cheer me up after being totally p****d off by one of my clients trying to tell me how to do my job!!!!!!!!!! ………… I need a cup of tea

Prize Pack Number 3

My wife is joining the freelance arena with me in her efforts to become a writer and pushing me to be a better developer. Ultimately we need to increase our income to help our newborn son Ethan, who was born without a left hand, obtain the best prosthetics available that aren’t covered under our insurance. We have both learned a lot here and would love to continue our endeavors. Every little bit that we don’t spend on supplies or needs goes to Ethan.

We also love your site. Happy Birthday!

Dan

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I badly need this pack as I know I deserve this If you wont give it to me, I wont be able to purchase it, I swear and then I cannot experiment with my creative skills and then this world will surely wont get from me what I can produce, and this world deserves

Hey n its not funny, I am just being honest

Thanks, ….ok when ?

Choice – the Writer’s Prize Pack

Reason – I’m a busy mom to three little boys and I’m preparing to launch a VA business in the fall when my mat leave is over. The writer’s prize pack has some wonderful stuff that will really help me out (almost as much as a lot of the info on your wonderful site – thanks!!)

Very cool of you to celebrate your anniversary this way!

1. Prize Pack #3
2. I need it because (thanks to FS) I dared to quit my regular job and started my freelancecareer a few weeks ago.

Price Pack #3 (but all are cool!)

If PricePack.Recipient = Me Then
Me.Happy = True
End If

Happy Birthday!

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack:

Why you ask? Because I’m a designer at heart trying to improve my coding skills and the color pallet of the images chosen for coder’s pack is much more appealing than that of the others. Yea that’s right, I have a problem and see everything in color pallets these days.

As freelance switch is celebrating their 1 year anniversary, I just celebrated my 1 year anniversary of taking the plunge into full time freelancing a couple week ago. I do web development as part of my freelancing gig and would love to have the Web Coder Prize Pack as a result of our joint celebration.

Another reason would be that yesterday, because of influence from great freelanceswitch articles, I launched my first commercial software product a simple tool to increase your memorization skills – UPurMEMORY (www.twomilessolutions.com/upurmemory) – a windows desktop application that prompts you at user designated intervals to test you on passages you would like to memorize.

I launched it as a way to generate a passive stream of income for myself.

So all in all, I have 2 great reasons to get this prize pack.

Happy Birthday! Thank you for all the great information you provide. Keep up the great work.

I am a writer wanna-be. Please pick me for your “writers pack.” Help my career really take off with all your great prizes! I am so tired of looking up Elements of Style online to find the correct grammar. I am a bit of a Renegade who wants to be Well-Fed and Wealthy, so the books are right up my alley. The rest of the supplies will look great on my desk, even my old laptop would look better with that stand!

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Throughout the last few years web design has been my job and passion. Recently, around 6 months ago, I began work to improve my design skills and subsequently fell in love with graphic design. I absolutely need a new tablet, but unfortunately I’m in a position where that isn’t a viable option for a while.

Congrats on a successful year of operation, I wish you many more!

I’m going for the Web-Coder’s Prize-Pack because I want to be free!

1. Prize Pack #1
2. If you visit my blog (puleen.com) you will notice that it is pretty mundane and boring, I have lots of ideas to write about just not enough experience on how to do it and how to get my message across. Prize Pack #1 will give me a way to capture my thoughts via the recorder and the books will most definitely give me some inspiration on how best to write and get my message across. All else is an added bonus.

Thank you Freelance Switch for giving away The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack to me!
You are very generous and I am very lucky.

Happy birthday!

Hi and happy 1st birthday!

Designer Pack please?

Why? Well it is because I spend all my money, buying domain names and hosting my websites. Instead of spending it on the really important things like paper, pens, and sketch books! Duh. I need on line oxygen…almost all the time!

What a great idea, giving away gifts for your birthday!

If i have to choose just one, I’d go with the Designer Prize Pack, because although i perform every function in my business, my true love is designing. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you…in the past few years my business has grown astronomically (at least in my eyes), and i’m thrilled. But i have very little time to do the fun things, like designing, sketching, reading Freelance Switch So anything that will help me do my job more efficiently (a tablet!! yes! sketchbooks? Awesome! a stand for my laptop? HURRAH!!) would be MUCH appreciated.

Happy 1st Birthday! and keep the great articles coming.

Please enter me for the writer’s prize package. Why should I win? Hmm. I spend 24 hours a day/seven days a week/365 days a year catering to the needs of my husband and four children. (We have chosen to educate our children at home so I don’t have much free time!) Every once in a while I think I deserve something special just for ME

Happy Birthday to YOU!!

3) The Web Coders Prize Pack

Hmm, I deserve to win because I am a new Freelance startup and am trying to get my first big contract with the Board of Education in my area. This would be an awesome addition to the portfolio and to be honest I need all the help I can get. Haha. Thanks for reading and good luck to all.

Happy B-Day.

Prize pack three please!

I don’t NEED any of this stuff, but it sure would make working on my up and coming web business much more fun after hitting the 9 to 5 all day :-/

Thanks for being Awesome.

David.

If chosen, I’d want the coder’s prize pack. Why should you pick me from any of the other faceless masses? I’m not honestly sure. I’m pretty positive that there are those who are more skilled, more talented, and definitely more experienced out there than I, but I’m just starting out on this path (got my first client this past Tuesday) so I figured I’d throw my hat into the ring and see what happens.

Are there any Childrens’ Illustrators reading Freelance Switch?

No?
hmmm.

Well I’m going throw my hat into the Birthday circle and say that “I’m a Children’s Book Illustrator and I read Freelance Switch!” So much so that I’ve improved my Business Plan!

Now, as an illustrator, one would think I’d ask for the Designer’s Pack. Well, I’m getting work with the stuff I’m using, and the last thing an Art Director needs is one of his or her illustrators changing their style because she won a whole pile of graphic designer stuff. There are plenty of trendy, designee-style illustrators out there already and they definitely do not want any more competition even if I could create wonders with Prisma-Colour markers. So thanks, but no thanks.

So, I asked myself; “Should I enter for the Web Coder’s Prize Pack?” Our website (my Husband Larry’s and mine) really needs an uplift ( http://www.underhillstudio.com ). It’s look’n so tired! I need to change the links and spruce up portfolio pages. But as Web Coder’s go, my coffee table could do a better job. I need a Web Coder more than I need the prize package. Again, thanks but no thanks.

So I’m entering for the Writer’s Prize Package! Why you ask? Because I have less than 5 months to get my book dummy out of my head, down on paper and mailed to my publishers! That’s why. That voice recorder looks sweet and I’m a Moleskine fanatic!! I’m finally putting down the hard earned cash and picking up a Macbook so that laptop cushion could get pretty handy too!
There’s everything in that Writer’s package that could kick my butt and finish my book dummy.
So, think about it. Think about the day when I walk up to the podium to receive the Govenor’s General award for children’s literature (yeah, I’m Canadian), I’ll be thanking Freelance Switch for my sucess!

Just think about it.

And for all those Children’s Book Illustrators who are not here reading all this wonderful information on self employment: You really don’t know what you are missing!

I’ve always had an interest in web design and my last year of college I decided to switch gears and learn up. A few books and many, many late nights later I was working as a professional in the field, and still am. I hope to go full-time freelance as soon as I can and winning the contest would definitely be an additional motivator!

I’d choose the web coder’s gift pack because out of the three, that’s where my strength lies, though I’ve been designer/developer/SEO/accessibility/usability consultant in most jobs since college. I’ve also been able to run my own freelance business part-time for the past 3 years, and it continues to grow thanks to hard work and tips from sites like this.

It’s fitting Dan Cederholm’s Web Standards Solutions is in the prize pack, that’s the book that started me in developing with semantic XHTML and clean CSS!

Thanks FSw!

Prize Pack #1 Please!

I’ve been keeping my head above water as a freelance writer for 5 years now and could really use any help I could get in building up my reference library and my tools. (My microcassette voice recorder is held together with duct tape right now.) Keeping my printer in toner is keeping me broke and last summer I coughed up for a new Mac – so funds are low. But spirits are high! I love the freelance life and look forward to every issue of freelanceswitch.

The web coders prize pack please!

Because I’m a video editor and I need the headphones for my next gig working for ESPN at the Indy 500. I won’t be able to hear when the cars are runing. Oh, and the other stuff is cool too!

AND!

Winning would really boost my fragile ego. I might even be able to leave the house if if won. My therapist says it would be good for me to win too… Oh! And my mom thinks so too!

HAPPY SMURFDAY!

I’d love the #1 WRITER’s PACKAGE

I’m not comfortable with the word “deserve” BUT I have earned my place in the freelance writing world by bowing to office gods for years: editors, professors, you name it, I’ve grovelled at their feet.

Now, one of my main clients involves helping newbie freelance writers break into the biz, and I’ve found it gratifying and a worthwhile endeavor- people have helped me get where I am, now I want to help them.

Also, you should choose me because I would give the Voice Recorder to my buddy Mr. Chartrand up there ’cause I already have that exact one!

Also, I wish to build a huge library of writing book reviews on my website to help newbies choose the most helpful ones, and you’ve got some choice texts there that are already on my “to read” list!

Lastly, my neck hurts- I need that laptop cushion.

Congrats on the anniversary!

I’d like the Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

Going with simply honest:

I deserve the prize pack because I have learned almost everything I know about code through autodidactism. Coding has been my passion since I was 8 (when I discovered BASIC), and it naturally led to web coding as the Internet gained popularity. I’m standards, cross-compatibility and accessibility oriented, and try to educate my clients about these issues.

I’ve been freelancing full-time for a little over a year now, as a way of making sure I can stay home with all three of my children (one of whom is special needs). As both a freelancer and a single mom, my budget is extremely limited and somewhat inflexible when it comes to purchases of new development or tech materials. To illustrate, last year I raised three kids alone on less than $15K in North America, without applying for welfare, so that I could ensure they had my full attention and involvement… instead of applying for any old 9-5 that would accept my resume just to boost our income, and having my children essentially raised in a day care. It was tough, but we managed without anybody lacking anything they needed, and I’m hoping to boost the number of contracts this year while continuing to keep the overhead minimal.

I’m constantly pushing to learn something new each day, about both freelancing and coding. All new information and materials are an investment in building both a better business and a better coder. That’s important when you have a serious drive for continuous improvement. That drive for continuous improvement is part of why my small-but-stable group of clients keep coming back to me, and why they often refer new business to me.

Also, I look equally cute with a pocket protector or high heels, and I make really great cupcakes, cookies and mint fudge. Those things must count for something.

The Designer Prize-Pack

Why?

Before my graduation, I decided to start my own business, in a country (Colombia) where the freelance lifestyle is considered too bad for professionals and the succes is determined only on how many years have you worked in a ad agency. I’m an outlaw , and I’m struggling to demonstrate people that this is by far the best way you can live (with hard work of course!).

Also I have a blog where i’m translating the best Freelance Switch articles to spanish, that’s got to be an extra bonus!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday, Freelance Switch.

I’ve love the Writer’s Prize Pack!

I’ve wanted to write my entire life. When I was younger, I associated writing with fiction only (and didn’t think I was any good at writing fiction, either!). Now that I’m a little bit older, I realize that writing is more about passion and experience and I’m putting all that I have into working towards a full-time freelance writing career. With three jobs (one full-time and two part-time), I find it difficult to get the bills paid (thanks, economy!), let alone buy myself extra “tools of the trade” (or even get to the store to browse for them, for all that’s worth). All of these prizes would be well-loved, well-used, and certainly appreciated.

Thanks,
Deborah

#2 The Designer’s Prize-Pack for me please

I’m an art school graduate who’s stuck (though thriving) in the coding world, and would *love* to get back into graphic design and illustration again.

Thanks!

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.

I’m a web designer/coder from Poland that felt undervalued while reading stories on Freelance Switch for the past 1 year. Earning much less than fellow freelancers from the West.
Until my recent screw-up with a major website. An outage that taught me about humility. I’ve spent the last 3 days pretty much only on coffee, working hard to fix it and lost all hopes for a raise. But at least I no longer feel like I deserve it, which is a very relaxing state of mind.
Still, I wish my hard work and learning were awarded. By The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack for example.

Cheers,

G.Bober

Hi,

Its my B’day this weekend on the 19th of April. So It corresponds well with your 1st B’day very well! I become a big 32 years old.. Man how time flies! Well, I’m going to be a sucker and say that I need/want “The Designer’s Prize-Pack” cause after a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design and 5 years of in the field I think I deserve to get this since you are giving away… and because we share the B’day I will always be reminded of your company and your first B’day. Plus I think your site is awesome and the best freelance resource I have yet found on the net (great Design!).. Great work guys and I wish you many more years of success. What your doing is adding to the community of Design and sharing great stuff!.. Giving is better than taking!

I live in India now as a volunteer for a Media Organization for no salary and I do websites the other half of my time via freelancing to support myself. My big idea is to share my freelance skills to the poor in India…!

Sincerely,
Obed Tewes

#2 — DESIGNERS PRIZE PACK

In an effort to stop bad ideas from plaguing potentially good design, I’ll need these very resources to combat trite concepts and weak typography—all while doing it in comfort and style. Once I’ve created kick-ass design, I’ll need to make sure I bill the clients, painlessly and effortlessly!

Only then, will I be a design hero.

First of all, Happy First Birthday and I hope that you have many more!

I choose the web coder’s pack #3

I might not have a reason as clever or funny as some of the other posters here, but I am going to be brutally honest.

The reason why I think I should win this pack is that I am getting to the point in my professional career that I am getting really sick and tired of working for a company for a few years, put a ton of energy into what I do, only to have the company dissolve the department I am in or move it to another office out of the area. I am in a unique situation where I am not able to move (and no it’s not for legal reasons ) .

I have family members that had gone on to start their own successful companies after they were sick and tired of dealing with the frustration of working for someone else. I feel its about time to start finding something I love working on and laying the foundation to go freelance myself.

I always had an growing interest in developing for the web and the possibilities that it offers as a development platform. In the past I have made a few sites for people such as family members and friends, nothing really hardcore. I have also dabbled in PHP and other web application technologies. I want to start expanding on this love for web development and turn it into something I can make a living off of full time. I feel with some of the items in the prize pack it will help me start building a solid foundation for developing on the web.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack sounds awfully nice…

Why? Because I’m a full-time graphic artist for an insanely busy printshop and publishing company who also is trying to run a part- to full-time website design studio and consultancy in my spare time — without enough capital to really do it right. This often results in 100+ hour weeks, migraine headaches, sore wrists, talking to inanimate objects, and assorted other ailments. The book “How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul” sounds especially relevant right now.

Hi,

I would love to get the book Price Pack #3.

Why? I started freelancing a couple of months ago, with zero in investment and never having read a single paper book on php coding. I used put demos on free web-hosts, but soon had enough projects to require and be able to afford a paid web-host (and a laptop).

I am not exactly rolling in cash, but I am getting more than enough projects to keep me from working on my own site. So maybe if I get those books, I will be drawn away from the computer, and that would prevent me from dying over my keyboard, and thus securing freelanceswitch my undying gratitude for saving my life.

I probably will have found e-book copies by the time this competition ends, but it would be totally awesome to hold books.

. ++MMMMMMMMMMMM +MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMM. MMMMMMMMM
MM MMMMM
MMMMMMZZZZ MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
+MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM ~MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
+MMMM.. MMM ….. MMMM
MMMMM MMMM+
MMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

(FS Rocks !!!)

The Designer’s Prize Pack because..

I don’t have the money to buy all this great stuff.

I went to school for Fine Art / Illustration so I never got a chance to use these Design goodies I admire so.

I need these Design goodies now so I can finally make the leap to becoming a Freelance Graphic and Web Designer. Along with the inspiration from FreelanceSwitch articles of course!

The Writer’s Prize Pack

I’m pleased to say I have been doing my homework in preparation for my own switch to freelancing for some time, and this blog has been a great tool. I’ve cut back to part time in my regular job, convinced my boss to give me unprecedented flexibility by proving I can be most productive when I set my own schedule, cultivated relationships with a few clients to get things off the ground, and set aside sufficient funds to weather the financial ups and downs. I’m currently in the process of investing in some tools, so winning this prize pack could not come at a better time! I would love to celebrate the anniversary of this blog with my own “freelance switch.”

Happy Birthday to all!

Happy Celebrations !
I’m in for the #1 Writer’s Prize-Pack.
Everything in it is designed for my pleasure/needs/learning ! And I’m right now in the middle of the writing of a new concept with my management/services cie.
Thanks !

2 > The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Why? Well because my Molesquine is almost full, the two books are in my amazon wish-list at almost two years, I have a little 7 years old girl that would love to impress her teacher with beautiful Design Ebony pencils drawings colored with the Prismacolor box, my laptop is hot and burn my legs at night when I am working (freelancing) in the bed at home, the genius tabled would allow me to work better, at the moment I cant track and manage the billing process so a freshBooks acount would arrive just in time, it would make my whole family happier and finally, because I am portuguese, I work and live in Portugal, for (boring) portuguese clients, but I aspire to be a global design, living around the globe, for worldwide clients.

Happy Birthday and success for the Freelance Switch project!

The designer pack.

Because I want it.

Honest enough?

To be completely honest, I haven’t “paid my dues” as a freelancer like most of the readers of this site. I left my job as a consultant last July to pursue my Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. In order to make up for some of lost salary, I started a freelance writing company and a freelance engineering company to help pay the bills. Since these are my two intellectual passions, I thought this would be a dream job. I was wrong.

The Ph.D. work takes approximately twice the time I thought it would and keeps me away from my writing and engineering practice. The Writer’s Prize-Pack has some tools that would enable me to capture my ideas while working in other areas (in particular, the Moleskin notebooks and the voice recorder would be exceptionally useful). It will be another 2 solid years until graduation for me, years that I don’t want to sacrifice potentially great ideas to.

Thanks for the opportunity best of luck to all of the other entrants.

-scm

Definitely the Designer Pack!

Why? What designer doesn’t need inspiration and great tools to keep fresh?!

Of course I’ve fallen in love with The Writer’s Package, but that is nerd love between me and shiny new things.

I’m not sure if I deserve anything right now: I’m currently half-twenty two and half-sixteen years old in my mind, it has been a month since I quit my first job, and I am in a hard place because my parents are forcing me to go “corporate”.

I think, though, that for once it would be nice to be picked for something I love. It reinforces my belief that wishes and dreams do come true, that choosing a path that deviates from the norm can work, and that I have enough gumption to continue what I do – and that is to write and write and write.

Nevertheless, hey — it’s all a matter of luck and grace, yes? Happy birthday, Freelance Switch. May the best man, woman, dreamer win.

Web Coder’s Pack please! it was a toss-up between that and the design one because I do both, but then I realized pencils won’t do much for me when I’m in front of a keyboard. Prismacolors are pretty though…

I deserve it cause my poop smells like chocolate.

Congrats on an amazing first year!

The Writer’s prize pack is off the hook!

I’m just starting to get into freelance writing and if I won this it will definitely push me to write my book giving students tips on saving dough in college. Good luck everyone.

2. The Designer’s Prize-Pack
why?
because passover ( jewish holiday) is coming in a few days and i will be working days and nights straight till the passover dinner begins because everyone of my clients just have to have everything done before the holiday (cause they don’t want to work during the holiday ) and of course i will continue working after the dinner while everybody will go out, go to the beach, meet friends and family…,
please help me help myself with this awesome pack that will make my life a little bit happier and comfortable, thanks, love your blog, number 1 fan of the podcast,
greetings from Israel, happy passover and holidays in general, happy birthday,
hagit

Web Coders Prize Pack

I’ve just set up as a part-time freelance web coder, looking to go full time eventually. I’ve just spent all my money on a new laptop and will be skint for the foreseeable future! The prize would help to ease the pain however

Writer’s pack.

I’m trying to develop several business ideas into plans while doing freelance writing and marketing jobs, helping to take care of my 4-year old daughter and 1-year old son, setting up an office in a closet, and holding a full-time job.

Congratulations on your first year!!
I like the Writer’s Prize-Pack.
I am in debt with you, since I have been living the last 5 years in the 9-5 routine, but after reading your posts everyday I have planned my way out.
Your prize will be part of my freelancer’s kit, a side activity I will start pretty soon. Even though it is a little bit scary, you have showed my it is feasible even in an unstable country as Venezuela.
Congrats again, and remember you have a faithful reader in South America.

I would LOVE to have the Designer’s Prize-Pack.

Both that and the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack are great and I would use, I’m working on two different typefaces at the moment, and everyone who’s ever drawn a letter knows you can’t get the same curves and subtleties with a mouse as you can with a pencil. I also sketch A LOT and supplies dwindle quickly.

I would also LOVE to get rid of this laptop stand my grandmother gave me, and that one is SO stylish. Just imagine how clients would like my office then!

Billing is one of the hardest parts of the business and I’m a designer, not an accountant.

Also, and lastly, I love books and can’t get enough of well written, inspirational literature.

Thank you.

I’d love to win the second number “The Designer’s Prize-Pack”.

I have always longed for a tablet since the time I started to understand the meaning of Computers and Designing. I always had an aim since then, that one day I would own a tablet.. And maybe, this is the time, when my aim or rather dream would come true.

This pack is the best pack that anyone could ever dream of. It’s got what every other designer wishes for. Hoping for the best.

Thanks & Regards,
Sonali Agrawal

I’m a sucker for shiny things. Could I please have all the shiny things in the Writer’s Prize Pack?

Whoa loads of comments already, this is going to turn into a real lottery over the next 7 days. Posting a comment would be futile, perhaps silly but why not just give it a shot. I’m going to ‘Keep it simple stupid,’ after all “Simplicity is the key to brilliance.”

Simply because I just had a kiddo, and want to provide him with what he needs, I’m in a foreign country without a job but taking things positively, I know I have a talent which I try to squeeze the most out of it, so just to make this long story short , I know these could be my tools to start a successful freelancing career here in Spain. Thanks guys!

Package #3 Please!

Started my own company last month! I have a ton of work and no time. Those Sennheiser Headphones would sure be nice while I’m busy hammering out kickass websites. I like the laptop stand too (in silver though).

Thanks and Happy Birthday Freelance Switch!

I don’t deserve the Designer’s Pack.

Hi–

I would love, love, LOVE to win the Writer’s Pack, because I am at the point with my business where I need to either go bigger (Woo!), or go home (“Get a Real Job”).

As a single parent, I really enjoy (and let’s face it, NEED) the flexibility and increased earning power that freelancing gives me, so obviously I want to buckle down and work to strategically expand my business in order to maintain that flexibility and earning power for the long term

Anita Williams
Poppermost Communications (Yes, I’m a huge Beatles fan)
http://www.poppermostcommunications.com

The Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

- laptop fan burns my leg hairs (plea for stand)
- just lost an internal HD a few weeks ago with tons of unbacked up stuff (plea for Seagate External)
- just got married and my wife is going to college. she always bugs me with questions about her homework (plea for industrial size headphones to play dumb that I can’t hear her)

oh yeah … Many Happy Returns of the Day Freelance Switch!

and

already told 10 people today alone about this site.

[/brownnosingfortoday]

1. The Designer’s Prize Pack would suit me well.
2. The reason I deserve it, well, I have to be honest, there are probably more deserving souls out there. However, your site has inspired me to start my own business. I am in the very early stages, but want to do something that I enjoy and that has some positive payback on society (in some way). Anyway, this little prize pack would give me a little jump start!

Thanks for the opportunity!

Ryan

I would love to have the Designer’s Prize Pack.

Reason: We are both celebrating our 1st birthday…and it could be your gift to me. Beginning of May celebrates my 1 year birthday of being out on my own as a graphic designer.

Happy Birthday to you…
and Happy Birthday to me.

The What:
Designer’s Package

The Why:
2 Words: Seed money. And every little bit helps. Your cash will help me get that much closer to bringing my big idea to fruition! And when it launches, you can bet I’ll remember where the love came from.

Happy 1st Birthday Freelance Switch! Well I have to say I stumbled upon your site sometime around last May. You were fresh on the scene but already captured my interest and have continued to hold it to this day. I’m always looking forward to what advice and help your articles will offer me next.

Most recently you’ve made me drool over the Wacom Cintiq 12WX and made me realize I must have it. Time to start putting aside my money now for that purchase!

Hourly vs. Fixed got me to switch my mindset in the way I charge and consider more often charging fixed rates with a tight scope and signed agreement.

More Surefire Ways To Get Yourself Fired By The Readers Of FSw made me laugh hysterically and consider doing several off them just to see what would happen.

Freelance switch I feel as if I’ve grown from a freelance baby to a freelance babe. I may be a freelance web designer but I still don’t even own one external hard drive! It’s a sin, I know! You can save my soul though by awarding me the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack. Help me continue to rock on in the freelance world. Pick me, pick me.

I would like the Designer’s Pack please.

I’ve recently “gone freelance”. Right now, my husband is on his third tour in Iraq and has no say as to whether I get a real job or set out to produce income as a freelancer. It is my intention to succeed at the latter before he returns from Iraq next March. This website has been an extremely valuable resource in the so-far success of my business and the Designer’s Pack will be as well. Thanks!

Designer Prize Pack

I deserve to win because I never win anything. I always enter prize drawings thinking – someone has to win, it might as well be me – however, they always end leaving me disappointed. I am a graphic designer working part time and starting a freelance business. I don’t have enough clients to make the whole jump yet, but maybe if I win the prize it will be my key to success.

1. The coder’s package.
2. Because I am number 171, baby!

I am a commercial photographer, specializing in portraiture of indigenous cultures. I recently went to Darjeeling, India with Mercy Corps and met the director of a Communications school who is in desperate need for supplies. (Their photographers have to decide which images to delete from their flash card every morning so they have space to shoot more images because they don’t have a laptop.) Their designers are creating a book of images to show how waste management needs to be improved in that area. I would LOVE to be able to send them the designer’s prize.

2: Designer’s Pack

So, I have to ask myself, what is an archaeologist doing as a professional artist? I liked creating art, but doing to make money? The Fates apparently had other plans. After a few months (well okay, more like a year) I could not get a job out of a college with my archaeology degree, but I did find that my work as a freelance designer and painter yielded more impressive results. I stumbled into a dream. Grant it, a dream that still feeds me with ramen on occasion, but with each cold inquiry and opportunity, it becomes more fulfilling. Besides, sitting in my studio is tad more comfortable then digging in a cold, muddy pit.

If I were to receive this package, I could not help but to share the wealth with a few who are considering freelancing, but need a little encouragement (maybe not share all of it.I have never had the pleasure to experience moleskin…or a complete set of makers). Nevertheless, someone gave me a hand up and got me into the business, how can I not do the same for another if given the opportunity?

P/S We are collecting money to surprise them with a laptop, so yes, those related items will be used!

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I would like to get this because i am a single mom who just had my car repossesed and my only chance is to get this business up and running and these tools can help.

1. Sennheiser HD 215 Extreme DJ Sound Headphones.

2. Becuase the closest i have come to winning any competition ever in my awesome existance was a dance competition when i was 6, in which i out danced the other contestants for 40 minutes striaght (on the dancefloor). But i was later disqualified becuase they finnaly realised i wasn’t a girl… =/

1) The Writer’s Prize-Pack

Because lets face it, I’m going to die alone. Alone and curled in the fetal position with an empty ice cream bowl within arms reach. I’m going to die alone and everyone will say what a strange, unlikable loser I was.

But if I had a fountain pen, a real old school fountain pen, things might be different. Especially if I use it to write in my nerd-core moleskin notebook. Then I’m not a strange, unlikeable loser. Then I’m an abrasive, reclusive literary. Instead of searching my pockets for change they’ll search my illegible scrawl for nuggets of deranged wisdom. They’ll talk about how they always ‘got me’ and that I was unappreciated.

I’ll still die alone, but afterwards I’ll have all the friends and adoration I’ll ever need.

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Fresh out of college, I chose to make a career change and follow my heart into a creative field instead of sticking with my completely unrelated major. I need some help to catch up my skills with everyone else!

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why? A long time ago, I was working on my laptop and noticed it was getting very hot. So I had a great Idea. I invented what I call a “Laptote” table. It was amazing. 1/4 inch Medium Density Fiberboard and had bevelled round corners, could be manufactured to fit any laptop, had strips of Home Depot Metal/Tin Tape to help conduct the heat and I spray pained it with a sort of rubber spray paint which allowed the grippy feet on the laptop to practically stick to the platform.

This was the best invention since sliced bread… I thought “If I can use this, anyone can use it!” The best part about it was that since it was custom fitted to each laptop, it would also fit in the carry case you chose since it was so thin!

So I went and registered http://www.notebooktables.com, created a website and waited for the sales to roll in! You could even choose your color and they were $10/each + Shipping!!!

But unfortunately, the idea failed. Nobody saw the value… Why would I place my laptop on a table if I could easily put i t on my lap… Until 3 years later when some guy BURNED HIS WILLIE!!!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/11/22/man_burns_penis_with_laptop/

The notebook table concept took new life and the manufactures started to build complex solutions for a simple problem. Units that unfolded and had air channel systems. Others with mouse pads and some even had legs… but none were as simple as my little “laptote.”

My idea died after an exhausted effort that was three years before it’s time.

I see that as part of the contest, there is a Belkin Cushtop Notebook Stand – Chocolate… I could use it since my 10 year old “laptote” is starting to wear down…

Here’s to those who have ever had a great idea to those before the market was willing to accept it!!! I know it happens a lot with us Web Coders…

Oh yeah, And I’ve supported FreelanceSwitch since it’s first day Providing feedback in the forums, Reviews on products, An Interview Cyan arranged with me, and I’ve even donated for cups of coffee..

But, if nothing more, keep up the excellent work guys!

The spiffy Writers Prize Pack (#1) please:

I’m a word-smith at heart. Sometimes I feel like a bard. There is something about language that lends itself to expressing the indefinable. Through language, an artist of words can reach out and weave a new reality with nothing more than these arcane symbols. I am an artist, and this ink, digital though it may be, is my medium.

I often write by hand, preferably in a moleskine (of course). I don’t have pretty penmanship. In fact it’s abhorrent and sometimes illegible. But there is something magical about the dance of characters that move across the page. There is something visceral and experiential about writing by hand, and the instrument you use to write is vitally important. No matter how quickly you type there is a beauty in holding your pen or pencil. In focusing your thoughts through this instrument of creation, and seeing your child born upon the page.

Bleed my ink upon the page,
words arise that sigh with age.
Binding heart and soul with truth,
Or making dark eyes bright with youth.
Muses sing and are uncouth,
but always make of me a sage.

Happy Birthday, Freelance Switch!

I would like to enter for #1, the Writer’s Prize-Pack because I am a lowly graduate student who is a freelance writer and designer on the side. Thanks!

First of all things, Happy Birthday!

Pack #3
Well, let me begin by explaining that I have 3 jobs. Each one of them has it’s own personal importance. I work for a web-development company, where I do all graphic design and interface design for our clients. But I don’t go to an office, because I convinced the owner of the company to be my mainstream client in my current journey into freelancing .

The second work, is my current home-based Visual Communications design group (informal company and current cover for “2 people joined freelancing”). Me and my wife, who is also a Graphic Designer have started it and we are currently trying to get this giant project ahead. We are trying to get more clients and get our website online asap.

The third work. I work for several universities as a teacher. I currently have lots of courses (direct translation for Spanish, maybe the word “classes” is more suited for this), many of them are technical some other don’t. But I mainly try to encourage my students into freelancing, to let them know there are some alternatives for a “9 to 5″ job.

As for the pack, I could use it to be better in my first job, implement some of those nice books services for my second work (I already have some knowledge around those subjects, but it could be better), and hear some nice music with those headphones. That subscription to FreshBooks seems very nice too.

Keep this site going.
On some hard days its very nice to disconnect of the world into a nice reading.

Regards,
Daniel Pástor

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

….

I should win this cos I’m a straight up G*..

*Graphic-Designer…

….

Hmm better continue with the motion graphics piece I’m working on.

The Writer’s Package – #1

I can’t bake (not much, anyway). I can’t draw clever pictures, sing opera, eat record numbers of hot dogs or shoot a basketball. The only thing I can do is write. I sit, utterly alone, in front of my laptop for hours and slip into a fantastic world that’s all my own (well, sometimes my clients come along, too). Then I make (small amounts of) money. How wonderful! Really, it’s the only dream I’ve ever had.

I believe writing is the most noble of pursuits, and I can’t imagine ever doing anything else. My true calling is helping other people find their words, to adorn their marketing or product ideas with a new vocabulary, a creativity that’s all my own.

FreelanceSwitch covers all the topics that I need in order to run my business (which I just started this past fall, and is going well, thank you very much). I’ve gotten several nice leads from your job board, and listen to the podcasts in the car to my “regular” job. But the daily posts in my Google Reader are the most valuable. I always hit them first, (even before the job postings). I love them.

So, yeah. I want the writer’s package. It would be the proverbial cherry on top of my freelancing cake.

1) The Writer’s Prize-Pack

With my brand-new Olympus VN-4100PC digital voice recorder raised to my lips at the coffee shop, peers will only assume another excellent idea was recorded for my new book. And later, the Sennheiser pen will help me scribe those ideas into my Moleskin notebook, illuminated with soft halogen light from my new Tensor gooseneck desk lamp.

While listening to the Freelance Switch podcast with my new Sennheiser headphones, I’ll read (from some great new books) how to get filthy rich using all my brilliant, new ideas. My toasty PowerBook Pro will rest on my new, silver Belkin Cushtop notebook stand beside me with Freshbooks open, so I can see all the paid invoices adding up to millions!

Prize Pack #1

I’ve set a goal for myself: To be a full-time freelance writer by January 1, 2009. It’s a long way off, and I’m taking the slow-but-safe route. But ever since high school, I was the person who was never going to get a “real job.” And for a while, I didn’t. But it’s a little harder now when you’re not in college and you don’t live in your parents’ house anymore. Living in an apartment with my girlfriend, our 2 dogs and our 3 cats, it’s not easy to convince my better half to allow me to give up my steady 8-to-5 job with a salary, insurance, and cool bosses, all so I can freelance. But it’s what I was meant to do.

I need to assure her that we’re going to be safe; that I’m taking this very seriously. The majority of 2008 is going to be spent freelancing on the side and researching in preparation for the big move in 2009. My girlfriend and my family needs to know I mean business. Winning the great literature, the recorder, and the other items in the first prize pack will go a long way to helping me convert the room that our dogs currently sleep in into a bona fide office — a legitimate place of work.

The Web Coder’s prize-pack please

I am a design student from South America -I live in a skinny little country named Chile, maybe you have heard about it… – and i have been working as a freelancer for some months now and i love it.

I WANT THE BOOKS BECAUSE IT’S JUST SO IMPOSIBLE TO GET THEM DOWN HERE!!!
Also, for some strange misterious reason, books in Chile are incredibly expensible

I deserve to win because I have gigantic balls. try finding pants with those things… winning the FSw prize would be the whimsical soothing kiss my scrotal pain so desperately needs.

Designer’s Prize-Pack, come to papa!

The Designers Prize Pack

I want it cus I’m a kid looking for a break! But hey, who’s gonna read all these posts?! If you do, congratulations, you’re the most dedicated person on the web!

One Web Coder’s prize pack for me, please. Why? Because I didn’t get any of this cool stuff for that recent year-that-ends-in-zero birthday that I had.

Besides, I’m a music loving Web Standardista who enjoys learning new things. And I like to have some good tunes going while doing so.

1. The Designer’s Prize-Pack
2. I choose this prize-pack because …

\\\||||||////
\\ ~ ~ //
( @ @ )
______ oOOo-(_)-oOOo___________
I LOVE

FREELANCESWITCH

_____________Oooo._____________
.oooO ( )
( ) ) /
\ ( (_/
\_)
I’m a designer !

3. E-mail … ok
4. Waiting … cannot !

1. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

2. As a designer who specializes in print work, I am now starting to get a lot of requests for web work. I could really use the tools that are in this package to help me deliver a quality product to my clients.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I recently moved into an office with a graphic designer. I agreed because the rent was cheap and she seemed keenly interested in sharing ideas and work. There was a 3rd office to fill and we thought it would be a good idea to fill the other office space as soon as possible. Eventually a woman was interested and it turned out she is a pregnancy councilor. Fine I thought, whatever helps with the rent. How wrong was I, our (my) new office mate is always coaching woman (no offence women) super loud on the phone and in her office. All I here is talk of sex, relationships and birthing.

The other designer took on a job as a waitress and is rarely in the office and now im stuck here with all this crazy talk while I just wanna develop websites. Sometimes you have to make interesting sacrafices to get ahead as a freelancer.

The headphones would be awesome as maybe I get put my head down and get some work done!
The rest of the prizes would rock too!

I choose the writer’s prize pack.

About two years ago, I was facing certain unemployment due to a permanent layoff when the company I worked for closed practically all their U.S. operations. I put some thought into going freelance at that time, but instead I found a job offer in the weekly classified ads and didn’t take the chance. The benefits were better than the previous job, the pay was much better, and it seemed very secure. One year, two managers, and several firings later, I chose to leave the stress behind and walk away.

Now, I am working part time, studying for Cisco certification, and planning to launch my own blog. Reading the articles here at Freelance Switch, as well as listening to Freelance Radio, has inspired me to take the leap of faith into freelance work, and has taught me a lot about both dodging the perils and reaping the rewards of working for yourself.

Happy birthday, Freelance Switch, and best wishes for many more!

Aloha! While all of the prize packs are wonderful (and I would use any of them), I’m going to go with prize pack number three (3). I have just started freelancing (encouraged by you guys!) so I still need plenty of help and have a lot to learn! Please share your knowledge with me! Thanks!

*;; Delilah

The Designer’s Prize-Pack would most definitely help me out. I started my freelance career exactly one year ago, so I guess we are somehow related? Working in the concrete jungle of Johannesburg, South Africa, this prize will help me dive even deeper into the creative world of digital design and in turn help those around me to understand how useful and powerful design can be.

I am vying for the coders prize pack.
——————————————–

It was the year of our Lord, 1893.

Long before I was an advisor to kings and the father of princes, before I commanded the armies of the north – long before I became one of the wealthiest HTML barons in American history and lost it all in the mad money dust bowl code hurricane storm tornadoes of the winter, I mined HTML. And I was the best you’d ever seen.

My family cheered the dull days and supported the good. The log cabin I had constructed near the HTML wells kept us as warm as it could, the shades of blue on our toes at night the lighter the better. I had two men working with me, a shady bearded man named Cousins and his brother James. They were good men, James always good to crack a joke about standards compliance late into the night, and James with his grand supply of backwoods alcohol with only two side effects, inebriation, and possibly permanent blindness.

On one unusually cold night we were pulling buckets of HTML to the surface and laying the out in a shallow pool not thirty yards away. The fumes sometimes induced delusions of earth toned color pallets, sometimes silver coffee cups, sometimes mustachioed dancing grapefruit. We were competing with a lot these days, hoping to lay an HTML pipeline all the way to the Google and rake in the spoils of royalty. We had been huddled to the radio in the town saloon recently, and Freelance Radio mentioned a storm – a big one. We shouldered our packs, gave a nod to Leo Laporte, the barman, and headed out.

Fingers numb. Beards frozen. HTML dry. The mad money dust bowl code hurricane storm tornadoes were on their way, and they sang my name. Cousins was standing near the well when he turned to me and screamed something I could barely make out. He either screamed that about our HTML was stolen, or that I wasn’t wearing any pants. I’m pretty sure it was about the HTML.

The storm came swiftly, pulled our HTML straight from the ground. James was in the well when I heard the first boards snap on our CSS rig tower, and they came tumbling down to his post below. I tried to warn him. I tried to save him. I tried hot pink and green in a design once. Nothing took. I started to look down our well when in a flash I was on the ground, Cousins on top of me. One of the stylesheet boards that fell punctured the ground, releasing an ocean of HTML exploding from the earth, catching fire and starting to destroying our rig. Cousins held me down as flaming HTML rained down upon us. I glanced down, and saw one of the CSS boards had fallen on both of his legs. Trapped. Cousins wasn’t going home anymore.

The HTML fire lit his eyes but didn’t thaw his beard. When I told him to hang on he closed his eyes and squeezed tears down his cheeks. “Take the HTML. Take it. Become a rich man. Tell the world of proper CSS. Swirl minds and tickle desires of proper coding. Tell the world…” – his last words muffled as his ghost passed into the ether, his last breath warm.

I come to you today ladies and gentlemen, not with hat in hand, but with warning. Check your CSS, support your HTML and keep an ear to the ground and eye to the sky. When those colors run wild think of James, Cousins, and your families. Run wild into that night, scrolling marquee mad and animated GIF fancy – you’ll taste what I’ve tasted. The cold will envelope your mind, freeze out your will, and bring your sites down below.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I’ll leave you now with a smile and a wish of good HTML’ing.

Pack #2 (Designer) would best suit me.

I am a Graphic Designer currently working for a small mind-numbing production design firm. I have been expressing to friends and family my desire to quit since November; but only recently making the decision to jump to freelance part-time. I plan on making the full-time freelance jump this coming June; once I have the proper finances. Within the last month I also decided to take on a non-profit project/ministry creating tasteful chapbooks featuring art from those in need (ie: homeless.) I am going to have to foot the bill for the first pressing and am unsure how that is going to happen after cutting my desk job hours in half and moving to a more expensive apartment in the city. It also turns out our first featured artist, a poet living on the streets, has had his identity stolen by someone else who bought some poems off of our guy and is calling them their own. gah.

The FSW podcast has been incredibly valuable in my recent decision to break out of the hopelessly boring corporate design world and carving my own path. Thank you.

1) I want the Designer’s Prize Pack!
2) I want it because I can sell it all on Ebay, put the money towards a boat, sail away, and become legend.

Congratulations!!
For a year in the web space, for your style writing on web and for your smart and clean web design. And, of course, for being a source of inspiration.

My choice is “3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack”. And if you ask me why I deserve the package?
I don’t know. I think that the prize has to go to someone who help you in your site, someone who provide comments to you, someone who respond to your questions …

Hummmm … Ahhhh!!! For instance, myself?

#2: The Designers Prize-Pack, pleez!

Because I’m almost done with my website that I’ve be procrastinating about for 9 years of freelancing! Almost finished! Yes! Just have to finish up client projects first, yet again.
(The one up now is only a temp site so that doesn’t count)…
Dank you.

The Web Coder’s Prize Pack

Why do I want it?

I just finished my schooling and have been freelancing try to get by for the last half a year. I am on a very tight budget and this stuff would really, really help me out as I am in need of ALL of it! This stuff could help me jump start my business!!

I’ve only recently stumbled upon FreelanceSwitch and I give my props to you! This place is full of useful information for freelancers.

I’d like the prize pack #2 for designers. I am a photographer/graphic designer. That prize pack would really help out my growing business.

I currently maintain 2 sites.

First is my photography site (http://www.ayfoto.com) where I provide product photography through the mail. Check it out and hey if you need or know somebody that may need product photography, then let me know! =D

I also maintain a site that offers free flyer templates (http://www.freerealestateflyers.net). Basic styles are free. This site is going to be a continual work in progress.

Hola, saludos desde México. Primero que nada felicidades por su aniversario. Segundo, quiero agradecerles por este poco tiempo que llevo de conocer la página web me me han guiado en el trayecto de ser un diseñador independiente, dandome fuerzas, consejos y hasta premios como este. Siento que voy de la mano de ustedes. Sigan con su misión en el mundo del diseño.

Me gustaría el premio del Codificador WEB (WEB Coder’s Pirize), pero no lo quiero porque no lo merezco. Lo quiero porque creo que la gente que me ha apoyado se lo merece. La gente que ha creído en mi se lo merece. Gracias a ellos y a ustedes poco a poco me convierto en un punto en el gran mundo del Diseño.

Will

Why I Should Win The Writer’s Pack (#1)

By all rights I should choose #3, as that is my current profession. I’m waving that off, not because I don’t need the stuff in it (boy, do I ever!), but because writing is what I am trying to do, and what I hope my profession will be, full-time, in the very near future. Yes, naturally I could use a spare external hard drive. I could also use a sock monkey, but that’s not stopping me from following my dreams and tossing my hat in the Writer’s Pack ring!

[Alternate title: PICK ME!]

Hey guys. Grand website; thank you for the guides, your wisdom is definitely helping me.
Just like to say Happy Birthday~ And… that’s it, ok, here’s my thing:

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Please please pleasE please please please please please pLEase please please please pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe please please pLEase please please plEasE please pleasE pleAse please please pleaSe pleaSe please pLEase please please pleasE plEasE Please please pleasE please pLEase please please pLEase please pleAse pleasE please please please please please pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pleaSe please pLEase please please pleasE plEasE Please please pleasE please pLEase please please pLEase please pleAse pleasE please please please please please pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase please please please pleaSe please please please please pLEase please please please pleASE please pleAse please please please please please pLEase pleAse please pleAse please please please pleaSe please please pLease please pleAse please please please pleasE please pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleASe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pLEase pLEase pLEase pLEase please please please pleaSe please please please please pLEase please please please please please pleAse please please please please please pLEase pleAse please pleAse please please please pleaSe please please pLease please pleAse please please please pleasE please pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleASe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe PleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe pleaSe PleaSe pleaSe pleaSE.

p.s. I’m not a webcoder, I’m a graphic/motion designer! Ew, css book.. If I win, can I not get a css book? ~(‘.V

Happy B-Day Peeps!

I’d love to win a prize (don’t we all) and would prefer the designers package. But, I don’t know that I have a better reason than any other of these great people and God has blessed me tremendously… so I think there may be others who need it more.

I would say that I never buy these types of things for myself and I am dying to go back to where it all began for me which is freehand art and illustration. I made a decision to shut down my main business site to pursue a passionate calling that God has put on my heart and to just be “myself”. This may mean I end up broke again (but it’s absolutely worth it) and will have to start from scratch but at least I would be able to draw and color with my new gear!

In any case, that’s my “not so creative brain fart” of an answer. It would be sweet and a blessing but if someone else can gain more from it, please give it to them.

Keep up the great work!

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Oh man I could really use those goodies! I can’t afford nice stuff like that! OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE , CAN I HAVE IT?? cherry on top? sprinkles? chocolate chips? whip cream??? 2 cherries!! ok ok 4! ^.^ come on be my hero ^.~

Enter me for the Writer’s Prize Pack, please, because I’m not quite sure how to get this freelancing party started without some help. And Moleskine makes me curl up and purr like a kitten.

On a more serious note, I’d love to win the WPP because I’m aiming to start a freelance writing business this summer and the tools here would be a huge help.

Thanks for all you do, FreelanceSwitch!

I would love prize pack #1.
I’m sure you’re thinking,, “But wait?! Isn’t Fred a designer!?”
Yes, I’m a designer, I’ve got the designer stuff, but I need to be a better writer. I need to improve my writing chops so I don’t make mistakes like referring to things like “Ambercrombie and Fitch” “Anyone that thinks Darwin is wrong” or “Max and Bernie being useful humans.”

With your prize pack, and amazing blog (seriously, you guys do great work here, it makes it to my shared and starred links on google reader daily, and sometimes even delicious!)

I hope I win, if I do I’d like to thank that it was as if an occult hand chose me.

I’m a newly minted freelance writer and therefore would choose prize pack number 1 for writers. Your site has provided some inspiration for me over the past few months as I have taken this fun, exciting, but a little bit scary step into the world of writing copy for money – outside my 9-5. Things haven’t been easy, as I was expecting. Still, you have to have the right tools for the job.

Prize Pack #1

Wow, has it only been a year? When I first started reading Freelance I was a new entrepreneur barely surviving. Then slowly new posts entered my rss reader encouraging me to stop what I was working on and read this or that. Filling my world with comic strips, podcast announcements, and 10 part articles about the social media I try to stay away from and now where am I? I’m still a barely surviving entrepreneur, but I have a marketing plan, a cleaned up workspace, and balanced financial accounts.

So let’s get beyond the small talk, I really like the silver cushtop.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack!
I ´d love it to create and work ! I´m from Argentina, here this prize is very very expensive.You couldn´t imagine it!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREELANCE SWITCH!
The newsletters are great!

Writer’s pack–
for I am a writer, unknown but hoping,
abrim with ideas, awash with words,
overflowing with pristine images and pure thoughts
(though less-pure bubble up at apt times).

And I know when to stop pushing an image
or metastatizing a metaphor–
and when to delete a dumbheaded phrase.

And when I sell my book,
I can thank you in print.

gS

1. The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack
2. Well, I was working for 15 years as an accountant, but for the last 10 weeks I’m working as a freelancer Drupal Developer. Of course, things are not easy,my best client until now is my bank , so I need something to boost my optimism.

Wondering which take I should tack,
Wondering if I will stack,
In metal I craft,
Some think I’m quite daft,
What I wish is the Designer’s Prize Pack!

1. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack

2. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack is a must-have list of stuffs … because … my hard disk is at the limit, I broken my old headphones, my laptop is lonely in my legs, and I want to keep learning about this crazy thing called web development.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Basically because my neck kills from looking down on my laptop, my sites are horrible because I’m still coding in tables and do not design interfaces – I steal them, I still write out my expenses in my checkbook and my invoices on carbon paper, my backup drive is my brain, my headphones are from my Sony Sports Walkman and I need to figure out how to fix all of the above with the subscription to Freelance Switch!

Hi! At first, Happy Birthday!
My husband (a freelance software programmer) tell me about the prizes. I did not saw it cause today I only read Freelance Freedom, and forget the rest, sorry. I prefer #2 pack.
I´m a Communication Visual Designer from Argentina, but my best goal was deffend him when my husband decided to be a freelancer. We are really happy for it.
But we learn every day about this new “work style life” reading the FreelanceSwitch’s articles.
()

()
- Cause I am a Programmer’s Pet, and this is so cute!
- Cause I dont have money (until the programmer becomes millionaire)
- Cause I love to scribble on the edges, and the Graphic Table can procastinacion change for productivity…
()

Daniela

i just hope the winners are active community members (in the forums or comments) and not first time posters

i don’t deserve any of the packages but ill take the hard drive and headphones from the developers pack – you can give the rest out to someone else

Designer Pack!

This week is my first week of design freelancing. This is a huge risk for me and any support (ie. winning prizes) will help the transition go smoother.

Thanks for considering me.

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Because I’m now (thanks to harsh downsizing) a freelance designer and fledgling illustrator. I could use ALL the products you’re giving away, in this category.

Thanks for all the valuable tips on your site. Just checking here often is a prize in and of itself!

:: begin transmission ::

I will take your Web Coder’s Prize Pack as it suits me best and I’m a dirty robot that is trying his damnedest to make a living on your world.

If this request is not taken seriously, I will be forced to take measures into my own hands. Your world is but a mere stepping stone on my journey to the next galaxy and means nothing to me! If you’re not nice… I will just leave! And you don’t want that.

(Sorry about that previous outburst… I believe I may be malfunctioning as these emotional outbursts are happening more regularly as of late.)

::end transmission ::

I’d love to win the Designer’s prize pack. I come from a family of Prismacolor enthusiasts and I’ve been shopping around for a decent USB tablet to use in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Thanks for all the articles!

Designer’s Prize Pack please

um why?

I don’t have a valid reason if I am honest… got the moleskine, got a table to draw on, got some cheap colored pens, got a mechanical pencil, don’t like putting my laptop on a stand, use a computer because i’m rubbish with paper and pens so probably be just as rubbish with that tablet, don’t think I need those books because I’ve got an internet connection and can find out about things using google and finally, as I’ve already stated, I’m rubbish at designing, this comment proves I’m rubbish at writing and I’m really not a web coder so i won’t need a subscription to an invoicing service… because any freelance gigs I manage to snaffle would never get to the payment stage.

However it states earlier in FAQ’s – shiny presents in the post are brilliant aren’t they?

I would love some shiny things! is that a good enough reason?

1:: designer’s package
2:: first off, i would like to say that i don’t like using the term “package”… it makes me feel like i’m in the girls locker room in high school and overhearing gossip about … uhh.. “packages”…

but in all honesty.. i think that the design winnings would find a very good and loving home with me. i’m always careful to use correct type for the situation at hand, and never leave my design equipment out in the cold Wisconsin winters. i will make sure that each and every piece of the designer’s stuff will receive equal treatment, and will all be used with love. they will bring as much joy to me as i to them. and this is perfect timing for such an addition to my household, since i just had a recent loss of… well.. a lot of things. (but i wont go into detail… since that’s a whole blog entry itself.) and thank you for putting on this contest. as a freelance designer i appreciate your presence on the web.. even without giving away stuff (but it never hurts to actually winning something.) so thanks!

3:: did that.
4:: *waits*

Happy B-day FS
Designer Prize Pack #2
I deserve this prize because I like everyone else is a young designer trying to build a reputation and knowledge of the design industry. I am working on my freelance company trying to set myself apart from the rest, I am a web designer before a graphic designer, but I am trying to better my graphic design skills and I feel that these great gifts will assist me with that goal.

Thank you, Good Luck to everyone.

The web coders pack

Why do I deserve it? Probably no more than everyone else however as a freelance designer I have to keep up with technology and coding is my weak point so that pack will help me get a leg up in the industry and get more work

2.) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Oh Yeah?

Having nearly lost my eternal ectoplasmic soul to a big, greedy, corporate zoidosphere, I am in recovery and need to replenish. Having The Designer’s Prize-Pack will be like a cool IV drip returning nutrients and strength back into by flattened, schlock and cubicle encrusted veins. I want to throw open the windows of my yellowed soul to the fresh air of Spring and a new dawn. Out damn corporate spot!

I’m. like, also pretty broke and could use the sweetness of The Designer’s Prize-Pack to get my eternal mojo back to bidniz.

Why, oh why, would I deserve the Web Coder pack? I’m a writer and a photographer, not a web designer. But web design and coding is the best way for a writer and photographer to make it in the freelance hussle. Journalism is the web. Photography is the web. Art can, and should be, in web design. Help me, Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope!

I want the writer’s prize-pack, please.
I’m a stay-at-home dad who’s stuck at the tail end of a M.A. in journalism because I can’t seem to finish my professional project, a former newspaper and wire service reporter who is watching with increasing horror as newspapers go down the toilet in a fit of Ludditism and stupid business decisions, and is left wondering how I’m going to ever be employable again. I’ve been trying to figure out how to transition into freelancing, Web work, or some darned thing while working on various personal Web sites to polish my skill set and create proof that, yes, Virginia, I can work in “new media.” Lately I’ve been suffering from epic writer’s block, photographer’s block, and idea-generator’s block while fending off utter despair with the pointy stick of sarcasm. There isn’t room even on the infinite Internet to list the ways the prize-pack can help me, but suffice it to say, I think it would be a great boon to my efforts. Thank you for your consideration.

Congratulations to everyone making up Freelance Switch on your first year anniversary! Keep it up guys!

Anyway, I wanna join the contest and I wanna win prize number 3!

Why? Simple. This website and everything written on it got me brainwashed to quit my day time job and go full time freelancing since July last year! With no more boss peeking on my shoulder and no company controlled network, I finally found all the time on the world to download my favorite TV series!

The External Hard Drive would be a welcome storage for my ever growing
download collection enough to keep a stack of blank DVDs away for 2 mos;
the headphones, ohhhhh! perfect substitute for that digital surround
system!; the Notebook Stand, geee, ever heard of Lazy Boy for the head?!
Freshbook subscription? Great tracking tool for reminding me that I’ve been watching too much and working a bit less.. And the books, I’m a freelance web developer by the way .

Prize of Choice: Designer Prize Pack

After graduating school last year, I attempted working the corporate environment, but found that y soul was more important than a steady income. Since then I have gotten into freelancing for similarly socio-economically positioned friends. I don’t have much money, so I have to work wherever I can find a cup of coffee and a plug for my laptop. Needless to say, many of the items in the Prize would go very far in making me a much happier and productive freelancer!

Happy Birthday, and keep up the awesome blogging.

The web designers pack:

Lets face it. I really, really need this thing. Not only am I horribly lethargic at working on my site because of two jobs and school, I feel like i’m losing my soul delivering pizza. It’s like being a caged animal, you’re stuck and all you want to do is sniff the bush a few yards over. I don’t have all the necessary tools… well check that, I don’t have the necessary hard drive space (3 of these damn things are FULL. FULL.) to properly work on my music, my speakers are busted on the computer (i’ll sell you some logitech speakers, only the left channel works!), and I can’t seem to do anything without having some proper music.

Furthermore, my interface skills are… lacking, at best and the only thing maintaining my sanity is actually working on something challenging, which is making my site correctly render in Opera, Firefox, and Internet Explorer using CSS (hey, pizza delivery isn’t hard, it’s just pride-draining).

Also, my girl lives in Montreal and I hope to travel up to see her soon, to which I would love to grow a large beard, carry a small black case (portable hard drive) with wires hanging out of it, a few books, and see how long I can make it through either Tampa International Airport, or Miami International before being placed on the terrorist watch list. Then as i’m swiftly escorted away by members of homeland security, i’ll turn around to see the person that was in line behind me and say “THE PLAN IS STILL ON!”, just to keep everyone on their toes.

Then, as i’m jailed in Guantanamo Bay, i’ll find/steal a laptop for a short period of time and write a post to include a picture of me and my books (the hard drive will be burned by that point) to leave here at freelanceswitch, although because of security regulations, I may be nude in the photo. Sorry guys, nature of the beast.

In doing this, you help me, and i’ll help you. Freelanceswitch will be ALL OVER Fox News (whether that is good or bad, i’m not quite sure yet), and i’ll have a pair of headphones to listen to the tape recorder i’ll purchase in the pen for 4 packs of cigs just to listen to the self-titled album by the Foo Fighters, “This is a call” has always been one of my favorites.

1. The Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

2. It is as charity! Realy, I make in my time job only €8.000 a year and I shake my wife and colleagues when I said that I will quit and freelancing! This was yesterday! And as I am a poor guy this tools are very helpful for me! And the support of this site too, never let it down! I love it!

Thanks
Rogers

Congrates – and thanks for the input for us Freelance Graphic Designers who are not working out of a cubical

I choose:
No. 2 The Designer’s Prize-Pack

You would choose me because:
- I’m listening to – http://www.goldfishlive.com/ as I work – music from Cape Town
- I’m a expat sitting in Canada – waiting for the warm weather to kick in. I need some time outside.
- While in studio I have my three year old daughter interrupting me telling me she wants to use my computer as she wants to “work” (play games to be exact).
- I don’t have a graphics tablet and would love one.

Grant

1. Web Coders prize pack =3

2. I’ve been a lurker on FS for the past year and this site has help me out a lot with starting freelancing, as well as my productivity with my work in school & life. I’m almost out of college…erm….trade school *ahem* and it would be nice to have something of value such as the pack above (Besides my education, and the laptop I’ve had for almost 6 years now -_- ) I’ve been interested in doing web design since I was 12, and started to work towards that career since 16 (I’m 21 now), and this has been my bread and butter. I can’t do anything else, this is my life, and I love every second of it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything =] Happy Birthday FS!!!!

d(–_–)b

Web-Coder’s Prize Pack PLEASE!

Why do I need it? Cause I don’t have any of the items in the prize pack. Not a single. Not even an external hard drive for backups. DVD’s are annoying, but they work.

Prize: The Designer’s Package

Why Me:
(Cue Violin Music)
I started freelancing back in 2004 while on unemployment. I had recently been fired from a career gig in news, had moved all alone to NY from California, had a $30,000 credit card/loan debt, had sold my beloved Jeep to pay my rent, had no design degree or experience in the field, and of course I was emotionally unstable. Despite the circumstances, I decided to save up what little I had left after paying rent, bills and all living necessities to buy books from Lynda.com and teach myself how to use web and print design applications. 4 years later, I can proudly say I’m still a freelancer, still in debt (now down to $21,000), but a FREElancer nevertheless. So why should I get the prize? Well, I think the my struggle and overcoming of obstacles is the quintessential story of the freelancer…Plus, if I had to buy this stuff myself I would have to use my credit card.
(Fade Out Violin Music)

I want the coder’s pack!

And why should Freelance Switch pick me? Well. I’ve been reading and visiting this website since the end of my high school senior year (June 2007) and since I got my job at a bank doing repetitive work I didn’t enjoy. Reading about the world I wanted to follow through with, the day-job I wanted to leave and how I planned out my life has been phenomenal.

I have been helping my community out with websites and contracting computer repair work as well. In less than a month I will be flying to Russia to stay with my uncles for over a month and a half.

A web standards book, CSS reference and an external hard drive are EXACTLY what I need.

In fact, I will trade you that package for some awesome pictures of the former Soviet republic!

Happy birthday, Freelance Switch!

Writer’s Pack, please! I need a voice recorder so I can stop scribbling on my arm on long road trips, I need a desk lamp so my mother stops bemoaning my slowly dwindling eyesight, I need Strunk & White because my uncle always gets me their latest edition, and has ever since I was a wee lassie, because he wanted me to be a grammatically correct sort of writer when I grew up. And I lost the last edition he gave me, in the move, and I am Strunk & White-less. How will I know whether I’m using a preposition properly, Freelance Switch? How will I know, bereft of my Strunk & White? I won’t know. I will sit in my office and keen with regret.

Everything else, I want to pry for the secrets to success. I just started my copywriting business a month ago, and anything I can use to distract me from seeing how far down the rabbit hole I’ve gone would be delightful.

Also, I heart Moleskine with a burning passion. I use one as a wallet. And my current Moleskine wallet is getting shabby, and will need replacing soon . . . do you want my missing credit cards on your head?

Continue making the awesome. Much love, and happy birthday again!

Ok, firstly, if I won I’d have to choose the web coders prize pack, because I can’t design to save my life

I deserve to win the prize for a few reasons. I am a college student, and have no funds to get myself any of this stuff. Also, it’s my 16th birthday on 21st April, and it would make my birthday!! I learn best through books and this could be the start of a career in freelancing. Plus I’m using up all of my 250GB hard drive space, so that external would come in handy too!

Thanks.

I want to enter for the web package (#3).

After a year of coding in an office, I finally landed three freelance jobs for the summer season! And I’m still getting inquiries for work. This package would really keep the momentum going!

1. The Web-coder pack

Reason?
I’m a super webcoder, with huge amounts of money, but the only thing missing in my life are those 7 items.

Well, truthfully, I don´t have a lot of money. I’m a pretty decent web-coder with zero design capabilities, and those books could really come in handy. Also, everyone around me seems to be listening to a very shi**y music so the headphones would be great too. And the harddrive… well, you never know when you are going to need 120 GB of extra space, right?

Lastly, the freeshbooks account would be *great* because I work with a lot of people (designers, other coders, team managers) outside my city (hell, even outside my country!) and payments and billings are always a PITA.

Well, I think that would be the real reason.

PS. I don´t really care about the coushion, you can give that to somebody else ; )
PS2. Sorry for my lousy english

1) The Writer’s Prize-Pack

I’m a designer who loves to write w/ ink and who wishes to be reborn as a famous writer because I love to read (that’s why I’m w/ the books in no.1). Besides that: my headphones are broken and I really love to write w/ ink (didn’t I said that before?).

Short note: the prize-packs no. 2 and 3 are great but I already have more or less these items (besides the headphones).

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I am an ape descentant with a magpie-like fascination for shiny new things that help me get even less sleep at night.

Help me scratch my urge.

Arghhh…

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

Because I need it!!!!!

Happy Birthday

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why Me?

I am almost ready to become a full-time freelancer(some of that thanks to you guys). The posts you have written have helped me think outside the box about going full-time and helped me realize what needs to be done(and not done). In the next few short weeks I will be making my move into a full-time freelancer and this would be the perfect kick start to my new found job. Not to mention a new backup hard drive would be great and I could use a book on CSS, lol.

Thanks for everything Freelance Switch and happy birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Well… I am eyeing the Web Coders Prize-Pack.

Why do I deserve to win.. I have 7 kids. So after food, cars, gas, allowance and soon college.. I will be freelancing until I am over 100 just to pay for it all. I will be farming out work to them once they are skilled enough.. that’s for sure.

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack for me please!

I really could use the information in the books, if I would actually read them

Also, the portable HDD might encourage me to backup more often.

Happy Birthday, FreelanceSwitch!
• Designer’s Prize Pack
• The chapstick monster who resides on my desk looks up at me day in and day out with tear filled eyes as if asking me “Why oh why, Lyn, don’t you have a Genius MousePen 8×6 Graphic Tablet, Prismacolor Premier Double Ended Art Marker Set 48 Colors, Desk Pad With Wood Pencil Ledge, 12 Sanford Design Ebony Sketching Pencil, Moleskine Large Sketchbook, Belkin Cushtop Notebook Stand – Orange, Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors & Students, How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul and One-year Shuttle Bus subscription to Freshbooks?” And I just have to look away from him in shame, because I don’t have an answer. But now, here you are giving away these exact items in honor of your birthday! So after this, I can either make my chapstick monster proud or finally have an answer as to why I lack such items (that answer would be, “I didn’t win.”) Here’s hoping the outcome isn’t the latter.

This entry is intended to be a test of the validity of karma. Trust me when I tell you that I’ve got some good stuff due, and, as we speak, I’m visualizing that writer’s prize kit. I’m closing my eyes, and…. wait, there it is now, up in the sky…. in full color. Have to go now…. it’s hard to type with my eyes closed.

web coders prize pack

in the time it’s taken me to read and write a reason why I should win the prize pack, my boss has walked by my cube twic…THREE times and even stopped to see how my ‘project’ was going as I frantically alt-tabbed away from freelanceswitch. He’s sure to check the internet logs now and see the absurd amount of time I spend on this site. Which of course will lead to the dreaded ‘You’re on the Internet too much’ meeting in which I’ll hear about company manifesto’s and creating synergies….I think you owe it to me now that I’ve got 45 minutes of corporate BS to listen to

Wow, down on the list. I should start checking my feeds more often.

Anyways, for the past two years I have been working to perfect my craft. Unfortunately since I own my own business, there is not much time to just do the nitty gritty design stuff I would like to or enough capital to invest in getting cool stuff like in the Designer Pack. It’s not a remarkable story but it is an honest one. I could just use a break so I can get better at what I love to do. Design.

designers prize pack.

Why I deserve it?
I am a student on the brink of graduation and I need all I can
get to be a great freelancer. I also am a solid supporter of freelance switch. I am an avid lover of buffalo wings and I enjoy a good back rub.
I need a waacom tablet and would love to win this prize pack. You know when you were younger you would be wishing to win this too. So take yourself back 5-10 years and remember your beginning times and how you would have loved to be graced with such a great prize pack from a great site. Then remember me, and say ” I want him to win.”

Prize: 3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

And I want it because:
1) I’ve been doing web work since I’m 14 (23 now) and it’s what I really love to do, but everyday it seems I know less and less, so I have to keep up learning more and more!
2) I’m unemployed right now, I live in Brazil and there’s no way I would get it otherwise. Maybe in the future (when I will get rich doing freelancing work)… =D
3) And my mom says I’ll never win, so I can surprise her when the gifts get home! xD

Congratulations on your 1st birthday and thanks for the great work! =)

WOW!!!! I dont know who will win but I’d like to write my thoughts…

why I need that?

Being a Web designer my heart beats for “The Designer’s Prize-Pack”.but I’d appriciate if you exchange diary with CSS book.Well I’ve its E version which I read on my PC… now I can read this book on my bed…and can practice on laptop.(ops I see laptop is not included) no problem….

Then I need headphone with replacement of “Desk Pad With Wood Pencil Ledge”

and pls replace “Cross Century II Black Fountain Pen With 23 Carat Gold Plated Appointments” with Desk Pad With Wood Pencil Ledge.

and rest is ok!!!!

so my choice is “The Designer’s Prize-Pack”

best of luck guys!

2. Designers pack

– I think i deserve b/c I have been trying the whole “freelance” thing now for 8 months and have gotten only one client O_o

I would love the designer’s pack.

I’m a Scorpio, a designer, and I have a strong background in development that I like to keep sharp. I put in notice this past Friday and am counting (and twittering — http://twitter.com/andrewle) the days until freelance freedom. In the meantime, I’ve been working until 3AM and getting up at 8AM. Just 9 more days until a semi-regular sleep schedule…

FSw has been invaluable in helping me move forward. Thank you and happy birthday!

Ah well, some very good comments. So, I’ll assume that my chances are almost 0 and be honest.

I’ll love the Writer’s Prize-Pack, because of several reasons. For one, I’m a budding short story writer, and would love a few of the items shown there. Also, I come from India, and have never ever used any of the stuff shown there, nor read any of those books (apart from Freshbooks, I guess). Also, this pack has the largest number of books, and believe me, rather than getting a cash prize, I’d rather get a prize with the stuff, as there’s more value attached to the stuff, in my opinion, than to cash.

Here’s to many more years of great content from FreelanceSwitch! Have a great one, and kudos to you guys.

Oh ya, I also forgot to mention that I’d share one of the moleskins, heck most of the stuff with my girlfriend.

Designer’s pack

I’m freelance and loving it.

hey good, Happy birthday Freelance switch. Hope you would grow more and more to help people in various fields.

Prize: Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Honestly, there is no reason why I’m more deserving of a prize than the next commenter. I’m just starting to break in to freelance developing (developing with a little design), and if anything it should be I giving you something for the inspiration and motivation you have given me since I discovered Freelance Radio and Freelance Switch.

But with that in mind, I have to mention that is was Freelance Radios’ John Brougher that forced me (via tweets) to switch from a PC to a Mac.

He gave me no choice…. He was both the Angel and Devil on my shoulders, encouraging me to freelance but at the same time encouraging me to spend money on a Mac. (Supporting evidence below)

While I don’t regret giving in to Johns bully tactics, and joining the Cult of Mac, it means I can’t buy all those lovely prizes, or make my billing process simpler using the outstanding FreshBooks service. Instead I’ve resorted to write senseless rambling comments in your competition thread.

Thanks again for the first year of Freelance Switch, may you, and all the freelances you inspire on a daily basis, have an even more fruitful second year.

James

PS: Supporting Evidence:
http://twitter.com/jbrougher/statuses/704528192
http://twitter.com/jbrougher/statuses/704903262
http://twitter.com/jbrougher/statuses/773457416

PPS: I really hope John has a sense of humour! Love you really John

The web coders prize pack.

Why?

Because i am just getting started with free lance web development. I am graduating from high school in three weeks and i am going to be a very poor college student. so along with my current job i will be doing some freelance work. i love web design. it is the only thing that has kept me sane since i live in a house with three women for the past 10 years myself. (mother and two sisters after my father passed away). i am just starting to get a couple clients and already know this is what i absolutely love to do. the headphones would help me enjoy my 8000+ song collection even more and the books would expand my knowledge even further. not to mention the laptop pad would keep me in comfort while reclined on my couch )

Thanks,

Tom Schlick

Congratulations to FSw on their first year! I love this website and i hope it has many years to come.

Prize Pack #2: The Designer Pack

My name is Jim and I have just broken into the design world with a job as a production artist. Production is a terribly detailed yawn-fest of a job. Although my ability to work with type and copy-fit have greatly improved, I feel like my creative juices are being drained from me each day as I required to use other people’s templates and specs. I have been doing freelance on the side to try and save my soul, but a man only has so much time. A tablet would definitely help me with my time issue seeing as i could draw on my screen instead of constantly scanning and refining art.

I tend to do a lot of drawing and using hand-made elements in my design, so the prismas and the pencils would definitely come in handy as well, but the tablet would be amazing. I can always use more sketch pads, as well. The books on type would look great in my cube, too.

The designer prize pack gear would definitely improve my little freelance set up and re-spark my freelance fire that burns deep within me.

Can I revise my entry? I still want the web coder pack, but now I think you should pick me so I can write a function for you so your site doesn’t turn firefox into a steaming pile when you’ve got 350+ comments!

1. The designers prize pack
2. Why I think I deserve it? I want to further myself as a designer and work to help my business grow, I have already gained a world of knowledge from your great site. I also feel that this prize package would help me reach these goals. Thanks!

1. The Writer’s Prize Pack
2. I need this prize pack. I have always been a terrible writer but now…now I am being told I have to write. You see there are these people, some call them podcast fiction authors. Well I listen to their fiction and the authors seem really cool at first. But then if you express any interest in writing your own story, they demand it from you. They break out whips and threaten to beat me if I don’t work on my story. The only way to appease them is to write, write all day and all night. Please, you have to help me…oh no they are here…

The Writer’s Prize-Pack

I’m a freelance web & graphic designer who is forever indebted to my friend Patrick (a freelance writer). Without him I would not have the large clientele I do now.

His amazing writing skills have helped me land several large clients and he’s never asked for anything in return. From those large clients several more have been referred to me. I owe him a ton and figured this package would be a good start in showing him how important he’s been to me and my business.

If nothing else, this can be a public shout-out to Patrick, thanks buddy! I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me!

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack

why you deserve your chosen prize-pack?
Because I’ll be running around in the woods if I don’t get the prize. Why? Since I don’t got anything better to do without the pack. And who would like that?

#2 The Designers Pack

I have been reading (and listening to) Freelance Switch for almost the whole time it has been published… Your advice along with support from my friends, family, and clients, has propelled me into taking the BIG step into the world of full time freelancing myself. This month marks the first month I will be completely on my own, and I need all the help I can get! Keep up the great work!

1. The Web coder’s prize pack
2. Because, thanks to Freelanceswitch, i made the move to freelance, and as a result of long hours and bad moods caused by endless struggles with bad clients, i am now single !

This blog has been an inspiration for some time now, way to go Freelance Switch – happy birthday.

I’d like the Designers pack please. Why?

My coding is hot, my design is not…

Ta muchly.

Howdy!
#1 Web Coder Pack
#2 Since i’m just a french canadian I deserve some consolation prize Just kidding…
Seriously, because of the ever increasing gas prices (much pricier here), i will have to stay home all the time instead of moose hunting in the far away mountains, so with these prizes I could more easily bear the suffering of isolation. Plus, my computer got stolen last summer (with no backup, I had my lesson), so that precious external backup hard drive could be bolted to a concrete wall thus discouraging those pesky thief next time they break into my house!!

The designer’s prize-pack. I don’t have any of those things, and it would make a difference. My fiancée, family, and friends are vocally supportive of my desire to freelance – but it’s obvious that they are skeptical. Of course, I know that it’s possible. I want to prove to them that I can do it.

I’d like the Writer’s Prize Pack,
My reasons might be funny,
but my current fountain pen leaks bad,
and leaves my work inked up and runny.

I think that I deserve it because my entry’s original
And I’m the only person on this list
who found a tenuous rhyme for ‘dirigible’!

Rob

1. The Writer’s prize pack.
2. Because I am about to graduate from University after 5 years and I am setting up my own freelance business. I am ready to upgrade my office supplies and really dig into the freelancing way of life. I am eternally grateful to Freelance Switch for introducing me to all of these great ideas along with giving us opportunities to push ourselves past our previous bests.

Thanks again in advance, I really appreciate all of your great content and advice.
Nathalie

ooh, either 2 or 3- I’m one of those ridiculous designer/coder combos.

The fact that I just drooled all over my keyboard should tell you all you need to know about why I WANT. I WANT. I WANT!!!… um.. I mean… I DESERVE a prize pack. lol

1. The designer’s prize pack
2. Why? I’m like Clark Kent (except that I’m a very attractive black woman in DC rather than a homely white man in Gothom). By day I’m a mild mannered web developer working on accessibility in the Federal Government. But deep inside I’m a super artist ready to bust out at any moment and save the day. The pack would give me the tools to make a bigger difference, learn some new skills, and ultimately gain the confidence to design for the sake of designing rather than as a means to an end. Oh and did I mention I’m volunteering my web development skills for 2 months at an organization in Zimbabwe starting in March 2009. With this pack I can really shine and bring more than exquisite standards based code to bear for building peace and prosperity on the continent.

Designer’s Prize-Pack? or Coder’s Prize-Pack? hmmmmmmmmmmm? What to choose? They are both oh so good.

eeny, meeny, miney, mo
catch a prize-pack by the toe
if it hollers, let it go
eeny…
meeny…
miney….
…
…mo

Coder’s Prize Pack it is!

Why? It did just win my little contest above, so it deserves it.

Writer’s Package, for sure!

As someone who has been pussyfooting around starting out as a freelance writer and just recently started sending out queries, I could really use a starterpack such as this one. All the packages are pretty awesome no matter who you are, but for me, pack 1 would be an enormous boost and kick in the rear.

I’m entering for the Web Coder’s Prize Pack because I’m a full-time librarian and part-time speaker, and that pack will definitely help me transition to being an Online Librarian. I’m currently talking to my bosses about making the switch to telework, and this Prize Pack would help make that happen! My freelance web design jobs would no doubt benefit, as would my freelance photography and bookbinding gigs! THANKS!

1. I would love # 2 – the Designers Package!
2. BECAUSE I WANT TO BECOME A ROCKSTAR FREELANCER!
I’m a newbie at freelancing and I learn ALOT from you guys. These items would really help me jump start my freelancing career!

Have a fabulous birthday Freelance Switch!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Congrats on the first year. You have made tremendous success with your website. I have just begun my freelance career and would love nothing more than to get a boost with the Designer Prize pack (#2). Those few tools would save me tones of time, money, and hopefully procrastination, in the creative processes for website design. Anyway, Thanks for the great articles and I look forward to many more.

The Writer’s Pack. Because I would keep a few pieces, and ration out the rest to 2 writers that I would love to see get a good start on freelancing. Spread the wealth!!

WEB CODER PACKAGE

Because the name of the game is: I WIN

I’m actually diving into a lot of Interface Designing right now, so that book would help build upon that.

I should also mention that this site has consumed many hours of my time so instead of invoicing you, just send me the package.

Wait wait… Please send me the package.

Writer’s Pack #1

Even thoe I am the most best writer I no, I cant seme to get anny biziness. I think if I cud win the prize, I mite find out if their is a problem. So I wud appreshi– apreesheat– oh, crud. So I wud like it if you wud giv me the prize.

P.S. I don’t actually write like this.

I would absolutely love and appreciate winning the Web Coder’s Prize Pack.

I deserve this prize pack because I would actually use it. I used to design and code web pages from 1994-1998. Then I left my career to raise my kids. My coding is stuck in old-school mode and I *really* want to ramp it up now that I have more time to do that (kids are in school now). I run Blogging Basics 101 and I give newbie help, but I’d love to enhance that site with more intense instruction.

So, I bet you, pretty please, to let me win the Web Coder’s Prize Pack. Thanks!

I really think I deserve this because I have just started freelancing and I’m going through the doubt stage, so it would just be nice to get a boost from winning something.

(The Designer’s Prize-Pack)

Since I had my first computer and Internet I’ve been fascinated with all tremendous evolution held in the web, how can this work without any legal order or hierarchy?
When I made myself this question I started gathering information about the process in website creation. I started with frontpage, i worked with flash, and tried PHP. But it was only when knew about CSS when my creative mind and my technical knowledge became one and couldn’t stop imagining possible website for possible targets.

I think in web design as the new version of industrial design: a useful and creative design process that enables people to move faster throughout the web and gather more information, not just good-looking images.

Following my objective to create a better and more useful net I’d like to have the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack.

I would like to celebrate your birthday by recieving the Designers Pack.
Happy Birthday.

I’d love the designer’s prize pack. Why do I deserve it? Well, so far I’ve stumbled along in my freelance career disobeying just about every rule that a freelancer is supposed to follow — instead of carefully planning for my switch, I got laid off and was forced into it by virtue of not being able to get a “regular” job. Instead of being selective and targeting, I take too many jobs, say “yes” to things I should have refused because they end up being half billable hours and half staying up until 2am learning how to do what I’d just offered myself for. Instead of pricing projects based on market value, I pick rates capriciously and often based on how sorry I feel for whoever I’m contracting with. I don’t know how to promote myself or my business, instead I just take the jobs from whoever happens to call me and ask me to work for them. And of course, I end up doing designing projects despite having no training, tools, or talent. So far I’ve skated by on sheer willpower, but anything that would help me further delude myself and keep fooling my clients would be a big help.

The designer’s prize pack.

Because I am unemployed illustrator/designer who is being forced into full-time freelancing. The fewer studio supplies I have to buy the better my bottom line will be. Plus my Spanish Orange PM 123 marker just quit working on me so I could use a replacement.

Cheers

Back in Jr. High and High school, Prize Pack #1 would have been pretty sweet. I was obsessed with writing poetry and short stories and getting all of my youthful angst down on paper. But seeing that I didn’t do so well on exams and proofreading was such a b$@ch, I switched to art and design.

Prize Pack #2 would have been perfect for my developing college years and probably the first 3 years out. Design seemed like it was in my blood. I wanted to learn everything there was to know, so that’s exactly what I started doing – taking on any project I thought was interesting and anything that was a new experience. I quickly learned web, Flash, and programming and honed in on those skills.

Now while working full-time as a web developer, and taking on many web (as well as print and illustration) -related freelance projects, Prize Pack #3 would suit my current situation.

However, after many long, arduous hours behind the computer finding that taking any jobs that come my way is not making me the most happy in life, I feel like it is time for a change. This site, in its year of existence, has taught me to focus on what I like to do and what I do best. Therefore, I will have to go back to Prize Pack #2, for I’m always itching to design. The graphic’s tablet is making me drool as well as the Prismacolor markers. The ideas are flowing through my brain and these tools would help me get them out into the world for everyone to enjoy.

In conclusion, Prize Pack #2 – The Designers’ Prize Pack will not only benefit my current situation as a moonlighting freelancer, but will help me build my future as a full-time freelance designer.

Thanks for hearing me out

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

This pack would really help any web developer out its just so awesome. I would love to win the specific pack because I am starting to build a brand for my work. It is such a tough thing to do in a very competitive and saturated market. Being a student makes it hard, in between balancing schoolwork and my business things can become very hectic, so for me all the items in this prize packs are luxury as I cannot really afford them anyways! Thanks for hearing me out and good luck to everyone!

Chris

WEB CODER PACKAGE (or WRITER PACKAGE)

What can I say that people haven’t already beaten me with? Let’s see:
- “I just deserve it, OK?”. No. Where is the body? Where is the compelling case?
- “I need it.”. Well, I’d like it, but I won’t die without it. It’s not as though I am going to slump to the floor and start dragging myself across the room reaching for an external hard drive, before gasping and collapsing – still.
- “I want it.”. By simply posting this comment, everyone has proven that. Unless I missed a couple of “reverse-psychology specials” who have tried to convince you that they _don’t_ want it.

My case?
I have been breaking myself in two, working for one of the major Australian Telecommunications companies (there are only about two of them) as everything from a glorified customer service consultant through to my current gig as an engineer. Throughout this time, and for an hourly rate which, according to your Calculator, is abysmally low, I have been tasked time and time again to build new intranet tools, database systems, etc. all with a budget of absolutely zero. To get these systems to work, I have coded in my own time, turning my bedroom into a computer lab, missing sleep, having a bad diet and all those other side-effects which I am lead to believe are the hallmarks of freelance work.

So, why do I need a hand?
Because, realising that I have been burning myself to a crisp for little more than chump change for the better (or worser) part of the last 10 years, I have drawn a line. A line which will hopefully keep me from snapping and coming into work one morning US Postal Service stylie. I have decided to save and scrimp and mentally prepare myself to sever my umbilical at the end of 10 years in purgatory and to dive into the world of freelance full-time.

This is why I read FreelanceSwitch.
This is why I now troll Del.icio.us and Digg to try and keep myself current on the latest trends.
This is why I am training to live off 2 minute noodles for the first 3-6 months.

This is why I need this prize.

But, that being said, so long as FreelanceSwitch is around for another 12 months, my life will be a better one. Just maybe not as relaxed and luxurious as it may have been with my head wrapped in a set of posh headphones, my mind deep in a book and my laptop comfortably perched on a Belkin Notebook Stand.

Happy Birthday FreelanceSwitch!

To answer your questions:

I’d take the Coder’s prize pack #3

Because two weeks ago I left my full time job to pursue my then soon-to-be mobile and flexible freelance lifestyle. Because I just celebrated my birthday recently AND because I finally followed my heart and pursued the freelance lifestyle (and it’s a struggle so far, but I know it’s worthwhile!), I am every bit deserving of this prize pack.

The books are awesome, and I’d love to delve more into user interfaces – get much better at it… Also, I’d love to have that sexy-looking harddrive… talk about form AND function!

Who am I? I am a in-debt, no-more-meals-on-my-food-plan, just-enough-cash-to-buy-dinner college student, who has been making his money to buy his dinner through freelancing. On the technical aspect of being a student, I am a math major with a CS minor, which puts me at an interesting position where I’m not sure what I would like to do for a career, and my career advisers feel they don’t need to work with me, because my opportunities are endless, and they have too many business students to work with. On the freelancing end, I am a first-class web developing (design, code, implement) “you need it? you got it” kinda guy.

I felt the freelancing has been going quite well, which is something I could attribute to reading the articles of this site, until recently. I was doing well enough to do more than just survive, but within the past few weeks, I had a series of incidents (end of semester projects, my power supply dying, climbing accident resulting in broken bones) which came down on my faster than a CEO out of his “unbreakable” office window, and threw my availability out. I’m squaring away most of the projects, and I’m getting over this broken bone thing, but until I have the money, I’m afraid my power supply is going to remain broken.

This is why I would go with the prize pack #2. It comes with all great goodies. Books on design and typography to inspire me. High quality sketching pencils and markers, along with a ledge and sketch book, to hone my skills. It even has a notebook stand to give my loaner laptop a little lift. I can’t forget, it includes a tablet, which would be a great treat once my computer is fixed.

It is a great opportunity to be able to apply for a chance to win these prizes, but then again, that’s what this site has been all about. It helps us giving us tools, tips, and inspiration to capitalize on the freelancing opportunities. I want to wish you a happy birthday Freelance Switch.
Keep on keeping on.
B$

I chose number 2, the designers package.

Pick me, I’m Romanian and I never won anything in my life.

Happy birthday FSW!

Prize Pack: Web Coder’s

Reason:
FreelanceSwitch has always been my one-stop shop for all kinds of advice I’ve needed. Not only is the blog great, but the supportive community in the forums is always ready to help or give input. As an aspiring web developer and entrepreneur at the age of 17, the web coder’s pack would be a launch pad of success for me. Seeing as how I only have 1.21 gb’s left on my hard drive, the external HD would benefit me greatly! The reading material would also help me out a lot since I’m still learning the many tools of the trade. Maybe you could even send some clients my way to break in the billing system, eh?

Many more years to come!

Thanks for the great opportunity to get an awesome pack,
Sawyer

1. The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

2. I recently got into web development and design. Winning something like this would surely get me into the mood of things
Good luck and happy birthday!

1. the web coders prize pack

PICK ME cause I have been freelancing for over a year, and refuse to back to a 9 to 5 job. Spent 3 years in a dead in office job, and loved the people but not the creativeless management. Oh, and I am on this site religiously.

I’m using 5 dollar headphones that have lost the fuzzy protectors, can’t really afford some good ones.
I’m running out of space on my harddrive, and I am always bringn my big external to the girlfriends to watch some Battlestar Galactica, Lost, or old Xfiles episodes. I have a kid on the way, you will be contributing to that and giving me the soon to be needed headphones. Also, while I am catching her up on the old episodes, the laptop gets really hot on our laps or on the covers.

Thanks for picking me

The writer’s prize-pack. Because.

I would like pack # 2 please. I just started as a graphic design freelancer and I do everything on computer and I would really like to start getting back in the habit of drawing again and being more creative on paper. These tools would really help a lot.

It seems everyone wants the Web-Coder Prize Pack. So do I.

Reason?
I’m a fresh out of college “grown-up” trying to manage a real job and freelance on the side, and those things would make life so much easier and more pleasant.

You guys have been a favorite of mine for the last six months, I love reading what you have, both here and on the other Eden Creative Communities. Keep up the great work, I hope I can grow up to be like you.

** The Designers Prize Pack **

You might want to give it to me so you can help make the world a better place. No, seriously. I’m a freelancer who’s venturing out from a company that tendend to thing coding in CSS and PHP are pretty much the same thing. So I’m teaching myself design as a way to bring art and color to pages where the code is also elegant and functional. I mean what could be better than that?
On the other hand, you probably don’t want to give me this prize. You’d be contributing to the wedding of visual and programmatic design in a person who would be able to grok them both. You’d be creating a monster… a monster who’d probably end up pleasing too many clients and taking too many opportunities from the rest of the world. It would be like mixing the raw coding power of the Indredible Hulk with the brilliant cunning of Bruce Wayne. Such a monster should never be unleashed on the world.
No, on second thought you should probably give it to the guy below me instead.
I mean there’s nothing more dangerous than a brilliantly competent web-designer

Oh, and happy birthday

Designer Prize Pack

A little about me first:
Hi, my name is Ibrahim Al-Rajhi I live in Gainesville, FL and I just started my freelancing career recently…I set the goal for myself to do this 7 months ago, during that time I honed my coding skills, practiced new design techniques and most importantly frequented this website for advice on your blog posts and answers to my “newbie” questions from the amazing community here. Without this site I can surely say my journey to becoming a freelance web designer would have been much much more bumpier, thank you!

Why I want the designer prize pack is that I really want a lot of tools to help me with my work but am stretched thin on my budget. Currently you see I live with my two brothers who live on a scholarship stipend from the Saudi embassy and I don’t want to burden them by asking for money. I have been craving for a tablet in particular because it expands on so many things you can do in photoshop that are very hard to do with a mouse alone. Also I love reading books, from business to self-help and some fiction, I think the two books included would be great reads. Last I love to doodle, any sheet of paper left with me will be sure to have pictures for new ideas or designs (there might also be the occasional robot with lasers too).

Thanks again FREELANCESWITCH and CONGRATULATIONS!!! As ALOKI would say…

KEEP ROCKIN’!

The Designer’s Prize-Pack, please, ’cause I rule!
d

I can’t draw, and I don’t code, but I do write and would like to do it more. So the writer pack would be perfect for me. Thanks!

Happy Birthday FreelanceSwitch!!
How nice of you to give away presents for your birthday…

Aren’t they all gorgeous? How to choose? Because in today’s online world, every one of those is a gold mine of information, just like this site!

But I’ll put my hat in the ring for # 1 the Writer’s Package.

Because I’ve just started emerging back into the real-world after 5 years as a stay-at-home mom… and boy is it hard to remember how to use Adult-speak without devolving into discussions about Disney, potty-training, and kid-centric stuff!

Besides, my old copy of Strunk & White that I’ve been lugging around since undergrad school isn’t illustrated – c’mon man!! Illustrated!! I don’t even know how you would go about illustrating the correct usage of commas in a list!

It’s not so much that anyone ‘deserves’ to win – it’s that I know I’d put it to good use – otherwise I wouldn’t eve bother to enter.

Again, Happy Birthday!!

Designers Prize Pack for me please.

I’m just starting out as a freelance designer and the goodies would really help. I graduated art school 10 years ago and sold out to the IT field to make some money (so I could pay back the loans for the fancy art school degree ironically). I finally quit my corporate job last month. I am determined to do something I love, design and photography, and to do it working for myself!

Oh Skellie, you really tease me,
With birthday packs one, two, and three,
For me it’s a Two,
I’m a designer right through,
And a poet, who knows it, you see!

I’d quite to have a rummage through Nr.2, because I probably already lost my soul by posting this meaningful comment.

Happy Birthday!
I would appreciate the Designer’s Prize Pack. Designing has always been there for me. A creative outlet, a quiet relief, a colorful playground…you name it, desinging is my third arm. In times of darkness and unexpected occurances, designing has always been there to put my time and skills to something good. Life is much happier with creative outlets. Whether it be writing, coding , or desiging, the greatest thing in life is the creative product you create! This pack would greatly add to my creative outlet that brings a smile to my world everday.

2) The Designer’s Prize-Pack, please!

First, I’d like to say, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Freelance Switch!”

Why should I be the recipient of your generosity?
Here are a few reasons:

• I’m celebrating this month as well! I’ve officially started my own business and am LOVING it (no more in-house for me)!

• I LOVE what I do! I am very lucky to be doing what I love and getting paid for it. There’s always something new to learn and/or be inspired by. Luckily, the tools that go along with this career path are just as exciting and I definitely need some new ones!

• I’ve been so inspired by your site and check often for tips and insight. In all honesty, I came across your site one day while I was bored at my in-house job. I’m not trying to kiss butt here, but Freelance Switch definitely gave me more confidence to dive head first into the freelance world.

So, pick me! Pretty please!
Thanks!

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I can think of no better winner than me. Before I started reading freelancerswitch.com (and purchasing how to be a Rockstar Freelancer) I was stuck thinking I could never find the money etc etc to go out on my own. But thanks to some excellent daily reading and a fresh keen attitude I believe I will be full time freelancing by October/November now all I need is some equipment to complete my home office!

would have to be #1..i love doing children books and my son writes fiction..this would be great..HAPPY B-DAY!!!! AND MANY MORE………………..;)
Thanks for this sweet contest.

Prize Pack 2

Why?

To be honest i’m broke and i need kick start on my full time freelance business.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Its perfect for me!!!!!!! I am satrting my bachelor in graphic design, and i have a very good ideas for a business about kids design, but i can’t wait ti finish my carrer and starting to earn money. Please!!!!!!

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

I should be a winner, just like everyone else here for being part of you succes. We love you guys. I read you since your 1 month birtday. Now 1 year, WOW, you are an amazing succes to my eyes and give me hope about same business for me. Thanks and I wiil read you again daily/weekly.

The Designer’s Prize Pack would be just lovely. Why? Because freelancing rocks, and this package would make it that much sweeter.

Happy Birthday.

1.) The Writer’s Prize-Pack

I am a struggling neophyte in the world of freelancing and I would like to be more informed more of the ins and outs of this business. This prize pack is a great opportunity for self-teaching. I am also dying to buy your Rockstar Freelance Book but I don’t have funds for a credit card yet (Mind you, I will buy your book as soon as I get my hands on a credit card).

I live in a third world country and it will be interesting for me to know how an Asian like me could seep into the freelancing world. If I can, I will surely contribute an article on how to be a freelance writer in a third-world setting.

Again, congratulations on another milestone of your blogging career, Freelance Switch. The first time I stumbled upon your site, I fell in love with it and I think I always will be.

Oooo, can I have number 2? The best reason I can give is because I really want to win something! Oh and because I support Freelanceswitch by being active on the site.

You guys rock, even if I don’t win

I would absolutely love to win The Designer’s Prize-Pack.

Two reasons:

1) I recently launched The Hope Revolution site — http://www.hoperevo.com — which provides visitors with the tools to create hope notes to spread in their communities. The pencils, marker set, and tablet would enable me to create better templates for the site, as well as handmade originals for my own community.

2) I am both web designer and developer, and recently I’ve been finding myself drowning in code. This prize pack would help me break out of my creative block and focus on the design part of my job, which has been seriously neglected recently.

I really, really appreciate your considerations (and the year of classifieds and resources you’ve given us so far!)

2. Prismacolor Premier Double Ended Art Marker Set 48 Colors

Being an animator, I am kind of fed up of looking at my drawings in standard, Col-Erase red and blue. Being Argentinian, I am kind of fed up of limiting my buys to what I can get around here. I would like to try these markers which everybody is talking about.

Package #2

Because I am a designer.

My Birthday is very close

I LOVE FreelanceSwitch!!!

#2 Designer’s Prize Pack

While reading about the give-away, my mouse scroll-wheel came to a sudden halt when I reached the Designer’s Prize Pack. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the wonderful prizes! Unfortunately, I began to drool and accidentally drooled all over my old graphics tablet. Since I was eating a chocolate bar at the time, the drool was quite messy and made my old tablet non-functional because I forgot to wipe off the chocolate mess. I looked over at my old box of broken and dull crayons and sighed at the thought of using real color markers. Then I glanced over at the cardboard drawing pad that I use, and day-dreamed about having a real desk drawing pad. I looked for a pencil to write down the instructions for entering this contest, but all I had was a stubby #2 pencil with a broken lead and no eraser left. The moleskin sketchbook would look so much more professional than the stack of used office paper that I use the back side for sketching on. The orange Belkin laptop stand would make it easier to find my laptop in my cluttered home office. I keep misplacing it. The “Thinking with Type” would be useful, as I need all the guidance I can get. “How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul” would be a much better approach than selling my soul for my next project. I need my soul. And the One-year Shuttle Bus subscription to Freshbooks would be so much easier than using my broken crayons and stubby pencil to keep track of my invoicing and time tracking. Besides, my clients keep asking me why everything I send them is on the back side of used copy machine paper and I worry that they may not take me seriously. Oh – I almost forgot to mention that my clock was bought from a military surplus store, but it keeps time using the military 24 hour clock instead of the standard 12 hour clock. It gives me a headache whenever I have to convert the time. I don’t want to come off as being needy or anything like that, but winning the Designer’s Prize Pack would make my life so much brighter!

Well, {A slow drum sounds in the background} other then the fact that I love you guys to death and the fact that my desktop backgrounds always come from your site, or for the fact that I tell all of my coolest friends (ask facebook, they will tell you I have a ton of them) about how awesome your site is… I believe I deserve the designer’s pack (Pack 2) because I am influenced by your site to further enhance life of myself and the lives of those around me through my graphic design. {Crash of symbol} {Inspiring music starts now} Over the last year, your site has helped me help the world through different posters I have posted, class’ I have conversed in, teachers I have teetered towards your side, department heads I have covertly converted, or just the regular old people I have populated your site with. These are the people that I have helped you with and I hope you will recognize this amazing accomplishment and award me with your fabulous flirting of prizes! And as if that weren’t enough, {Lights dim and spotlight shines} I am begging you to do me a favor and allow me to win this prize.

P.S. My dog is also begging you, because he is the one who keeps eating my invoices. (I am hoping freshbooks will fix that problem.)

Thank you. Thank you very much!

{Theatrical music ends in great symphonic finale!}

- Kevin and my dog Shiloh (my 2 year-old lab)

P.P.S.- Here is my dog eating my last invoice for $130!!!!!

http://www.zittle.com/fsw

The Designer’s Prize Pack please..

Do you know why? Because designing is my blood.. really.. I’m bleeding right now.. bleeding of colors..

Anyway.. thanks FreelanceSwitch for the all great posts.. You guys really help me on becoming the Rock Star Freelancer.. )

Thanks!! Happy Birthday!!

Writer’s Prize Pack

Two reasons
1) My ex-husband just told me that I should not quit my job to freelance full time. And that I would be stupid to leave my government position (that I despise) to do so because the “economy is so bad” and “things are tough out there.”
2) My current husband supports me unconditionally and is excited about my switch to full time freelancing. My current husband believes in me and knows I can do anything I set my mind to.

3.5 months until I freelance full time!!!

1) Web Coder’s Pack
I think I should win the prize pack because I started shifting over to strictly freelance work about a year ago, so I think it’s only fitting that I win the Freelance Switch one anniversary pack!

Prize pack #2

I would really appreciate being the “chosen one” for this package because no one sends me anything in the mail besides my bill collectors and credit card sharks. Occasionally I’ll indulge myself in a good “weekly shopper’s guide” just to see what goodies are on sale at my local grocers (V8 low sodium 6-pack, are you calling my name from that red tag on the shelf? I miss you…)

I’ve spent countless hours designing and mailing out thoughtful, personalized handmade mail for my friends and family and no one ever returns the favor! Even when I flat out ask for a simple postcard or a “hi, hello, I’m still alive” letter, I only receive broken promises. My drawer of pretty stationery, stencils and colored pencils have sat untouched for months due to this lack of reciprocation from my loved ones.

Other reasons I’m probably a great candidate:
*I know how to spell entrepreneur without using dictionary.com
*I love Rick Rolling people and I have the best collection of weird/funny videos found on ebaums world, youtube and college humor.
*I have a really nice rack…?

I tried to read through all of the other comments so I could upstage them but honestly, I couldn’t get through more than 5 of them before I realized it was quite a big waste of time.

Please, be a good friend and send a gal some mail. Thank you.

in the fesive occasion like this i will be satisfied with any prize pack with moleskine product.
and sometime i feel like someone is forcing me to sell my soul while designing.

The Designer’s Prize-Pack
I deserve this because in the last two and half years I’ve quit my boring and poorly paid administration job impulsively, started full-time distance education – (I get a degree next year!), lost 20 kilos, turned 40, quit smoking and drinking, was nice to my teenage children nearly EVERY day, and built up a tiny freelance graphic design business with a turnover too small to support a decent tablet. Oh and I also made it to the finals on a national TV breaker animation competition and I never got my 40 CDs. Plus, and probably more importantly, I spent ALL yesterday rearranging my files, both paper and electronic, and I’m still not done, and that’s the real tragedy here.

Oh, I forgot to mention I was Australian, just in case that seems exotic.

Happy Birthday FS! It’s mine too – I was born on April 9th

I’d like to get the Web Coder’s Pack.

The reason you should give it to me is – I’m probably the only one who has actually read ALL THE COMMENTS FOR THIS POST Just to spend more time with you and celebrate your birthday!

The Designers Prize Pack,

I’m a designer ninja, and designer ninjas’ needs all the sophisticated weaponries of the modern world to stay ahead of the pack. If I press “up up down down left right left right B A B A select start” would you give me 100 prize-pack? : )

Happy Birthday FreelanceSwitch!

Hi Freelance Switch!

I would like to win the writer’s prize pack.

I’m 26 years old and I’ve recently gotten into the habit of hand writing all my web design notes and blog drafts. I find the most relaxing part of my day is sitting down with nice journal and writing a few words with a high quality ink pen.

I didn’t always have this love of paper and ink however. I believe from the span of 2005 to approximately mid 2007 I barely used paper and ink – all my notes where stored electronically. Then I sat down one day to hand write a client a thank you letter and noticed my penmanship looked as legible as a plate of spaghetti.

Since then I’ve taken much more consideration of the quality of my words in both electronic and paper mediums.

For example, years ago I balked at people spending over $1 for a pen. I thought those $1 for a dozen pen packs found at office stores were a gold mine. Yet now I own a relatively small collection of designer pens, each with a different acquisition story. The same can be said of my current collection of notebooks as I previously did not value high quality paper to write on.

Yet, I’ve never owned a moleskin or a fountain pen. It would be nice to add the moleskin notebooks and the Cross Century Fountain pen to my collection with the amazing story of winning them via a FS birthday bash contest.

Thank you for listening!
- Auron

Prize Pack # 1.

Why me? Why Not?
I Work Hard! I Write Lots!
But still I have a way to go
Before I can catch up to Skellie’s blogging level.
The Writer’s Pack sure would help me learn
How to become a freelance writing pro.

Cheers,
Liz

sawubona fsw!

I would love to be the grateful beneficiary of prize pack number 2. That is of course, if you can get it to me here in AFRICA! I sometimes think that I am the only South African participating in this blog – are there any other Saffas out there? If not, then I would love to be rewarded for flying the FSW flag here in ‘deepest darkest’, technologically disadvantaged Africa. (We do have pencils though.)

Web Coder’s Prize-Pack for sure!

Why? well I’m really in need of an external hard-drive right now. You see I made the huge mistake of buying one of these cheap-ass external drives some time ago, and yes… it failed.. long story short I lost many many hours of work that I’ll never get back, and now I need a better quality one. BUT that’s not all, I’m a musician, and will real soon go on tour with my band, but still want to freelance and blog, soooooo… I need an external hard-drive!

And I could really use the Sennheiser Headphones… they’re ‘closed’ headphones, meaning you can reeeaaally focus on your work when you’re listening to music (or the FSw podcast!), you will not hear your kids or spouse with these on. You know these things can go from 12Hz to 22kHz hertz, and at 112db, that’s way more than anybody could possibly need, in fact most of us can’t hear frequencies below 40-50Hz and over 16kHz. Since I’ll be stuck in a van with my band mates for a couple of week I could really use those, I’m sure my clients will be happy to know I can still work on their projects (thanks to the these headphones, I’ll be able to just stay in my little bubble and work on designs and blogs) even though I’m on the road, I’m even willing to not drink before, during or after shows! So, I guess you need my mailing address now?

PRIZE PACK #2 –

I spend all my creative juices working for some sort of monetary return. But since this prize-pack is free, I think a simple – I want it! should suffice, yes?

I want the designer’s Prize pack (#2). I might not deserve it but i would really like it, as a self taught designer trying to break into fulltime into freelancing I do believe that tyhe prize pack #2 will assist me in my journey… not to metion the fact that it will be one of the few times I’ll actuall win something substantial.

Happy Birthday FreelanceSwitch!

Honestly this is my first comment! Though I’m a big fan of FreelanceSwitch, I had never commented before in any posts. Thats probably coz I’m not at all a good commenter IMO!

I would pick ‘Designer’s Prize-Pack’.

You’re celebrating your birthday & giving away prizes for making other happy.
Likewise, If you pick me as the winner then I would present that prize for my friend who is a newbie freelance designer. I consider that the Designer’s Pack would be really useful for his freelance startup and it would make him happy. And if he is happy then I would also feel happy.

Happiness is not perfect,
Unless it is shared.

I really enjoy reading all the articles which you have here. Its more worthy than the prizes being offered. I appreciate you guys!

Good luck for your future!

I started out as a freelancer trying o build my career online through various freelance sites for project bids..But later when i got to know about Freelance Switch my career gotta a real start…Since then i have been a very dedicated reader..the articles posted here help me build my freelance career in the right way…I take this wonderful opportunity to thank the Freelance Switch team for posting great articles and filling the blog with opinions and advises… Awesome prizes…

Ok now coming to what prize i will go for, its the web coder’s pack since that’s my career field .Simply honest…great contest..Cheers to the one’s who organized it..:)

Regards
Azeem

3) The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why?

Cause I am a Web Designer using Free (as in Freedom) Software (Debian GNU/Linux, Gimp, Inkscape, Scribus, Quanta+, …) and there are no much ones like me.

Last months I starts to work for freelance seriously, and I think this pack will be a nice help to me.

Thanks for your webpage!
I’t is very helpful to me.

Salu2 a to2 de jEsuSdA

Because I am probably the only one from Singapore who is entering into this contest…
Because I am a web designer who is too poor to have my own web site, so I am using a tumblr site…
Because I am a poor designer who is also a poor student who wanna be a design teacher…
Most importantly, I am me. I think I deserve it… I will gladly take any of the prize pack, preference? Erm… designer’s pack. Oh wait… I like the writer’s pack too… oh, whatever…

What
2. The Designers Pack

Why?
I deserve this pack because it is my firm belief that I am heading in the right direction. I am currently a design engineer trying to bring more creativity into the office and getting a lot of resistance. A co-worker and myself are borderline starting a new buisness and this would be a great boost to our start.

Thanking you, Davy

I deserve to win the Writer’s Pack because I’m the oldest girl! Of all the entries, only Jim admits being older.

At 53, I decided to use more due diligence about making the switch to freelance than I had for any of my many previous career changes. I began freelancing in January and could scarcely believe it when I quickly landed a long-term communications gig. I was led to your site at the same time. You have provided a wealth of information: many tags and page saves!

One would think I’d be used to the shoestring at this age — having had much practice at the approach, but fine tools and accessories can never be unappreciated. The items in the prize package would have me soaring. Next gig: my husband and I are making a trip to Denali and environs on a collaborative project (he’s a wildlife photographer). Filling the moleskines with a fountain-penned impressions from Seward’s folly? Luxurious romance! Cushioning the laptop ergonomically? My aching wrist joints and fading eyes would be so thankful! Up to date writing guidance and reference? Unbelievably grounding! So give the old girl a hurrah, would ya, and keep up the good work!

Prize Pack 3

Hello from Spain!!!

Because I am beginning and I would very well to keep learning. In addition to free something is not said that no…

It would b r3ally aw3some if I could win the Writ3rs priz3 pack… why?

As you may hav3 notic3d, I have no ” ky (drat! can’t 3v3n writ3 th3 stupid l3tt3r!) I lost it in an unfortunat3 sm3lting accid3nt back in ’06 that involv3d thr33 Tahitian S3a Monk3ys and a buck3t full of molt3n aluminium (don’t ask, it will b3 b3tt3r for all of us, lol).

As th3 contact tips on my ’3′ k3y ar3 fast w3aring out, I f33l that my k3yboard do3sn’t hav3 long l3ft to liv3. For that r3ason I hav3 s3riously b33n consid3ring making th3 switch to mol3skin not3books and voic3 r3cord3r… your g3n3rous comp3tition could not hav3 com3 at a mor3 opportun3 tim3, I mayb3 sav3d from insanity y3t!

The writer’s Prize Pack!

Why me ? Well, I am very happy to have received approximately 3k clicks for my first post on the net. http://liferedux.wordpress.com. My blog is about reviving old hardware and software. Whilst the world chases the latest and greatest in technology, my humble intention is to reuse stuff, provide cheap yet quality solutions and if possible, save the environment!

I hope to blog full time for the next 6 months, PS: Yes, I quit my job for a well deserved break for this.

So, I think, I could some how “SECRET”ly attract the writer’s pack to my backpack. If not, atleast prompt a few to click on http://liferedux.wordpress.com and read “How to run WinXP on a 486 / Pentium I”.

Happy birthday! Gosh, you don’t look a day over 9 months – however do you do it?

I’d love the Web Designer package! I’m focusing my freelancing on being a Social Aps/Online Media “enabler” of sorts, so would probably benefit more from trading the books for other subjects – but also would be happy to share them as a “second prize” of sorts if they’d be a meaningful addition to another commenter’s toolset.

Why do I deserve it? Let’s see.

I could share a long, violin-music-cuing story about how a late-in-life diagnosis of some learning disabilities led to my subsequent lay-off from a six figure job. (I might even mention that this happened one year ago – in April)

I could also go on about how I made the decision that instead of finding a secure-ish job with a high paycheck, I’d give myself a year to try to start something on my own that would be more in-synch with my creative needs.

And I could write several lines about the pep-talks I gave myself as my savings account dwindled away, and the numerous times I reaffirmed my need to “trust the universe” and “set my intention” and that in doing so I’d be bound to be on the right path and find success.

Among those sentences probably would even an appropriate place to mention that it was during one of those moments of letting go and looking for a sign that trusting the universe was a sound choice that I happened upon an invaluable website called freelanceswitch.

It would be entirely appropriate for me to write a few sentences in closing, sharing how after I continued to keep faith, subscribed to freelanceswitch via rss and read it religiously, and had a couple of fizzled starts, I had one final “pep talk” with myself and decided that as long as I could get just one paying gig before my self-imposed deadline month of April was over, I continue to try grow my freelancing business instead of going back to my “former” life.

Potentially, without having gone into any of the above, I think I’d have a decent shot to illustrate that I am deserving by sharing that the very next day, just as we entered the beginning of April, an email – sent on a whim – resulted in laying the groundwork for THREE opportunities which show promise of being consistent, profitable, eventually passive, and above all enjoyable!

I believed in myself, stuck to my goals, learned from Freelance Switch and am officially embarking on a freelance career! In my heart, I believe that any of the above – all true, by the way – could be sufficiently described to convey my “prize-worthiness”. Not to mention that, now that I have (insert unmistakable sound of glee here) CLIENTS, I could REALLY use an invoicing service!!!

But I’m going to go with the honest approach Again, everything above is very much true. But the reality is, in the past 6 months I have had not one, but TWO external hard-drives crash on me. Each rather devastating in its own right – but made worse by the fact that my beloved macbook took a bit of a spill, that has rendered the warranty void. This being especially bad, as my optical drive no longer works either – leaving me in a pretty tight spot for disk space and backups.

Ah, what I wouldn’t give for a bright shiny new hard-drive. And with a protective case! One can only dream, and trust the universe that if it is meant to be so . . . .

Once again – happy birthday! I’m looking forward to years of helpful articles (and hopefully perhaps submitting my own contributions) and celebrating many more to come

The Designer’s Prize Pack is my favourite.

And why?

Because I’m started to feel really seriously about my own business. My profession (illustration) isn’t easy to deal with but I now believe in it, want to make it grow and shine. I work hard to make it as good as it can be. The tips of freelanceswitch.com gave me much inspiration to improve my workmethods. With the new tools from the prize pack I could work even more efficient and, most important of all, enjoy them by knowing I deserved them.

Lots of love,

Sanne

Hi,

I am interested in the Numero Uno – 1st pack of prize.
I have been a free lance writer for over 5 years. I would like to be a part of freelance switch and make a difference. Writing is my passion, and I would give my life for it. Its a weapon that can be used to change anyone, just about anyone’s attitude and thinking towards life. Not to forget, in the dynamic world, if at all the people from different locations have got to know each other is through writing. Ofcourse media like Freelance Switch has helped deliver it. I wish Freelance switch Happy Birthday. It would be great if I could get this pack. It will certainly make my life. Thank you.

Regards,
Honey K. Balani

1) Web Prize Pack

function whyMe() {

if($win == ‘Chuck’)
{
$outcome = giggleLikeSchoolGirl();
}

return ‘FreelanceSwitch Rocks My Socks’;
}

//God forbid any of this code has a syntax error

(Begin Honesty)
Hi! At first, Happy Birthday!!
My husband (Freelance Programmer Software) tell me about the contest, cause I only read Freelance Freedom and forget the rest, sorry
I’m a Visual Communication Designer from Argentina, but I deserve the #2 Pack for one of the best goals of my life: I support my husband when he decided to be a Freelancer. And we are really proud and happy for it.
(End Honesty)
(Begin Excuses)
- Cause I´am a programmer´s pet, and this is so cute!
- Cause I can´t buy it (until The Programmer becomes a millionaire freelancer)
- Cause I love to scribble on the edges, and the graphic tablet turn into productive work procastinacion.
(Excuses never end)

I should win the designer’s prize pack because I’m still designing on my trusty TiPowerbook 800 (henceforth referred to as “Old Betsy”) which, for the last year, has been making “strange-creaky-I’m-having-a-very-slow-and-painful-brain-aneurism-and-don’t-think-I’m-gonna-make-it” sort of noises.

At least we could give “Old Betsy” a few toys to play with before she goes.

I desperately need the writer’s prize-pack due to the incredible amount of bullying I endure from freelance peers for having inferior materials. It’s a constant chain of jeers including “Nice non-collapsible headphones,” and “I bet his Cross Century Fountain Pen doesn’t even have gold plated appointments.” Please Freelance Switch, be my Mr. Miyagi and help me to fend off my proverbial Cobra Kai. Happy birthday you crazy resource for freelancers!

Prize Pack: Designer Prize Pack

Well, You have heard it a few hundred times already from this post but anyways here it goes… Happy Birthday!

Now that that is out of the way I just want to take a second and say how much I like and appreciate your site. I started my own freelance website design business about a year ago and a few months ago I discovered your site. I wish that I would have found it sooner because of the great posts and advice on how to deal with clients and the fantastic forum. The main reason I really love your site is that during the day I have a full time job and I also have my website design freelancing micro business (I think that is the appropriate description) that I do. I hope to take my business full time someday and your site is helping me prepare for that next step.

Your site provides a great community feeling for a person looking to learn more about the “in’s and out’s” of freelance. Being a freelance website designer there aren’t many people in my circle of friends that I can talk website stuff with so this site is a great way for me to feel like I am involved in the community of webdesign and have an idea of what is fresh and new.

Again, thanks for all you do and I think the site is a great tool for anyone involved in the world of freelance.

Honestly I don’t deserve one, but I sure would like one. The Web Code Prize Pack (3) is definitely right up my alley. Actually I’m kind of salivating – yikes. I have been reading this basically since you launched, and I have to say, I have a small man-crush on Collis (and all his projects). Hopefully that doesn’t disqualify me for one of these prizes. Chao!

It all looks so good, which prize back to pick…

Well let’s scratch the Designer’s prize pack Because of a recent post on Freelance Switch, I made a list of things I’m not good at. Here’s how it looked:

1.DESIGN

Despite the fact that the Designer’s pack contains the Prismacolor pencils that I so coveted in my youth, I doubt that the products contained in said prize pack could elevate my skills enough to scratch “DESIGN” off my list. Maybe, at best, the pack could help me drop it to number two or three.

Scratch the Writer’s prize pack. I write in my spare time, and in my experience the only prize pack a writer needs is a 4×6 note card that says:

QUIT STALLING AND GET BACK TO WRITING

So that brings us to the Web Coder’s prize pack, which I hereby apply for by default. Thank goodness I’m freelancing, because if I walked into my old office carrying a CSS book with fish on the cover, I’d get laughed out of the building by all the snooty Java engineers. I can’t knock them, because I’m one of them. And what is that on the cover of the Designing Interfaces book? A pheasant? Maybe it is some sort of test “If you can figure out what this animal is, then you’re sure to be able to design an interface that your customer won’t destroy with stupid suggestions like ‘Cornflower Blue.’”

Just kidding. The book can’t say that because that is not possible. Crazy talk, I tell you.

The book on Web Standards Solutions, is that printed on newsprint? Standards will have out paced the book by the time it arrives in my hands. I can, though, use it as a monitor stand since my cat has commandeered my monitor stand and repurposed it as her bed. Though, I just caught my cat eying up that Belkin Notebook stand. Looks like we can go ahead and pencil in a UFC-style fight between my MacBook and cat for rights to sleep on the cushy laptop stand.

Someone get Freshbooks on the phone. I love their service, but if they can move on from “Painless billing” to “Painless payment of income taxes” or “Painless collection of outstanding invoices via Sopranos-style hit squad” that would be great.

I’m excited for the external hard drive and sexy carrying case. Right now my backup system is “remember everything,” a setup that is neither highly technical nor one that my wife is comfortable with. Everytime she asks where the backup is of our finances or the backup of my client list contacts, I laugh and point to my head. Then I take a shot of Jack Daniels and punch a vagrant. She doesn’t sound too comfortable with the situation by any means. I’m not too comfortable sleeping on the couch either.

The solution to our family strife lies in those uber-stylish Sennheiser headphones, which I can put on to drown out her complaints. Putting my fingers in my ears and singing “la-la-la-la-la” has proven to be only marginally effective. I’m confident that the headphones would noise-cancel 90-95% of commands to clean the kitchen or change the baby’s diaper. The baby is fine. I checked on him yesterday. I’ve been too busy reading this book with a Llama on the cover. I’m almost finished with it, though. I need another book, quick.

That, FreelanceSwitch, is why I need the Web Coder’s prize pack.

I fancy the Designers pack. Why?

I must have that Desk Pad (it has a wooden pencil ledge, did you notice that!)
the other stuff is cool too

Cheers, and Good luck.

I would like “How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul”, cause I’m a Graphic Designer and I’m very afraid my soul could be lost. Cheers

Designers Prize Pack:

Why: Because I recently made the leap to freelance only and need all of the above… also because my wife and I now BOTH work for ourselves and can always use the extra/free help… Because I pimp FreelanceSwitch to all my friends who freelance (or want to freelance)…

But mainly because This is the designer you want to give the Designers Prize Pack to.

awww… the last line was supposed to be…

(jedi mind trick)But mainly because This is the designer you want to give the Designers Prize Pack to.(/jedi mind trick)

…but the ‘s and everything in between decided to dissapear… maybe that’s a new tag and it’s already working… hmmm.

>> Prize-Pack #2 (please)

I don’t really presume to deserve any of this stuff, but I sure do think I could use it. I’ve never felt like college was a good investment of time, and so instead I moved to Nashville with my band, hoping to eventually make a living as a bass player.

Anyway, the task of paying the bills in the meantime has lead me to teach myself xhtml/CSS, ASP, PHP, etc. and I’ve gotten rather interested in starting to do freelance web design. I really enjoy the coding, and already have good resources for that stuff, but I’ve really lost touch with my more visually creative side since my last art classes in school. Not that I’m not a highly creative person, but I’ve really just lost track of the mindset and visual perspective that graphics work demands. At any rate, I’m starting to focus more on re-invigorating my graphic design skills to make it easier to plan the visual aesthetics of the sites I’m working on, and this toolset (particularly the drawing tablet) looks like exactly the kind of thing I need to get my mind dwelling on imagery again.

BTW, I’ve only just recently started reading up on FSW, but I’m loving it and really appreciate the help it provides.

– Brandon Dees

I would like to win the designer prize pack. Because even if I do work in a small town in Pennsylvania. I am not bitter.

I would like the The Designer’s Prize-Pack. I think I deserve it because I’ve been trying my hardest to be a good little freelancer! I’ve started to charge what I should be charging, only taking on clients that are the right “fit” for me, managing projects more efficiently, keeping on track with invoicing, etc.

My career has literally taken off and this would be a nice reward for my hard work!

Thanks for holding such a cool contest. Congrats to whoever wins!

Skellie! Hey!

Wow, okay there’s some fierce</em competition here, but I have to try for it! I’d love the Web Coder’s Prize-Pack to help me improve the level of results I’m able to give to my blog development clients.

Why do I deserve it?? Well, I’ve been following Collis & Cyan here at FreelanceSwitch for a long time, and I’m an absolutely zealous Skellie follower (LOVE all your work, but Anywired particularly). Also, I am dedicated as hell to my clients, because they are awesome and they keep clothes on my back. I am not the world’s best designer/coder, but you will never find a more dedicated project manager! I was just up all night putting finishing touches on two projects, including some nice design touch-ups and SEO improvements for Rajesh Setty’s great Life Beyond Code blog. I got 3 hours of sleep (!), and frankly I’ve got to be in the Bay Area in an hour to meet my dad and grandfather–but here I am at FreelanceSwitch!

Having the great tools you guys are offering, and an awesome Freshbooks subscription, would increase my ability to deliver great results and convey a high level of professionalism. All of my knowledge is from the school of hard knocks–learned over 5 years of trial and error–and it wouldn’t hurt to have the real-deal design library on hand to back it up!

Thanks guys for inspiring the freelancer community. Keep up the hard work. Congrats on the blog anniversary.

The Writer’s Pack.

Why? Because struggling writers struggle. And they’re poor. And I’ve just discovered why I’ve never completed National Novel Writing Month. I didn’t have these items! With them, I would be able to finish my first novel and I’ll dedicate it to this site. Along with the thousands of other people I promised I would dedicate my first novel to. lol

Plus, with those headphones, I can blog out the noises the designer next to me makes when he’s designing and I’m sure he will make a lot with the pack he’s going to win. You know how those designers get when they’re in the zone. =)

Happy Birthday!

The Coder’s Prize Pack. Why? You rock. The last time I was asked to pick a prize between a designer’s suite and a web coder’s suite, I picked the designer’s suite because it had more must-haves than nice-to-haves. This time, I’m picking the web coder’s suite because of the same thing.

Congratulations on your anniversary. ^_^

Designer’s Prize Pack

Basically, I am a graphic designer trapped inside a film-maker’s body. After four years of a liberal arts/film degree I am heading off to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco to study every possible graphic/film/writing art there is. I simply can’t get enough and will starve creatively without this prize pack… Okay, that’s not true, but I will be working on my MFA this starting this fall in hopes to start a production company that works on all ends of advertising/film production including web/print/video or film. These tools would be a great start.

Peace,
E

Pack: Designer’s Prize Pack

Reason: I am a beginning freelance designer, and I have a family to support. That being said, the majority of my income goes to food on the table and clothing on the back. Having the tablet would greatly increase my productivity. I’ve looked at these for some time, but I simply don’t have the budget to acquire one on my own at the current time. Quite simply, moleskin and prismacolor rock! And there’s a guide to being a designer without losing your soul? I wish I’d known that a month ago. Just picture me as that 8 year-old at the back of the class waving his hand frantically and doing the pee pee dance – pick me, pick me!

The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Well first of all I don’t know if I am a coder or a designer, it seems you have to be both these days in the web design industry but I am probably a better coder so I’ll go for that package, although deep deep down I wish I was a better designer because its much more enjoyable.

Why should I win this prize? Honestly I don’t know… but I do struggle for inspiration sometimes, so the books would come in handy. You know I read a lot of design blogs and they always say go outside and work if your struggling for inspiration in your designs, I live in Scotland it rains all the time. It was actually was snowing yesterday! Oh and btw don’t think I haven’t noticed how many times you’ve mentioned how hot it is where you guys live in those Podcasts! So if you could through in a weather proof mac pro and maybe a big warm jacket as well that would be great

and here’s why I shouldn’t win it
I have a terrible attention span and seem to work 3 minutes on 5 minutes off. Does anyone else do that?
Despite living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world I moan about the weather.
All I’ve done in this competition entry is rant about weather.

But on a more serious and less weather ranting note, Id like to take this opportunity to thank you for helping me become a more confident freelancer especially on how to deal with clients.

Also a big thank you for those of you who setup PSDtuts, great job.

I would like the CODER’S PACK, thankyouverymuch, because that’s what I do.

I’m a freelance coder from Argentina, doing my first baby steps into the big unknown of freelancing.

On daytime hours I do technical support and some programming as an employee.
But after work hours I’m a mad coding machine for hire!

Kudos for the first birthday!!!
This website keeps getting better and better.

YOU ROCK!!!

at first enamored
clients sometimes are fickle
shinies bloom relief

The design prize pack would satisfy this Spring haiku.
shinies: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Shinies

Happy birthday by the way!

Because I read Freelance Switch since the first post and thought then already they were quite established.

Oh sorry, forgot the pack The writers pack. And I really deserve it because I am so forgettable.

I would like the designers prize pack. I need this pack because I am a coder but I need to learn to be a better designer “without losing my soul!”. The worst part is the all the graphics I have created or photos I have edited have been using a mouse, very bad. Besides my favorte color is orange! Great Podcast and Blog thank you for your help.

I’d like the designers pack. I think I deserve this pack because the designer markers and sketchbook alone will bring me back to reality every time I stare into my monitor for more then 8 hours. A few of these items are ones that I can have with me at all times which would be great. The pack seems like one that will keep my creativity going beyond the desk.

Happy Birthday FsW! You guys are an AMAZING resource and I don’t know where I would be without you guys (and the community message board!)

I pick the web-coder prize pack.

Why should you give it to me?

Because I said so!

But for real: I’m a young eager designer who is looking to advance my web skills. Ive been slowly picking up more freelance work thanks to this sites suggestions.

I think this is just a sweet package and whoever ends up winning it is a lucky duck!

Happy Birthday Freelance switch! Keep inspiring people!

1. Designer’s price pack:)
2. Why? Because i has couple of books that i am dying to get:) And i think winning it will give me a huge kick to move in direction of freelancing much faster. So far i am trying to get into it, with a huge help of your articles and tips. But i am sure that winning this lovely price will give me much needed confidence:)

Thanks a lot for all your great work!

The Designer’s Prize-Pack

I’m not really funny, so I can’t go that route.

I work in the video/film industry and more and more an fumbling my way through design for non-video projects. Websites like yours and some other design sites have really helped keep me on track. I don’t know if I’m the most deserving person for this prize, but I’m throwing my hat in none the less. I would be interested in learning how to be a graphic designer without losing my soul, that would be nice as I venture further and further into this industry.

Anyway, thanks for a rocking website.

I’d like to enter for the prize pack for writers, please! Why? Because I am two and a half months into freelancing as a communications consultant/writer and yoga instructor and you don’t have a yoga pack!

I can’t tell you how useful your site has been as I get my business up and running (and doing great)!

We Coder Pack

Do I deserve it? Probably not more than anyone else. But I don’t have any of that cool shwag. Never bought (or was given) a web-dev book, never had a portable HD, and I’ve never even had a pair of fancy Senni’s. If I won the prize, then I would have the stuff!

Which prize pack: #3 The Web Coder’s Prize-Pack

Why should I win?
Being a father of 3 small kids and working from home, anything to make the work day and home life easier would be great. The headphones would help to cancel out the various crashes, bangs and booms heard throughout the work day, I could work away in coding bliss. The external HD is always handy, with 3 kids, digitial storage for pics, vids etc is always at a premium ….. err I mean for backing up important business data and projects. The notebook stand would be perfect for my youngest son who is just learning how to walk. Looks nice and soft, a perfect spot to crash land on, plus it’s brown to hide the various fluids that come out of youngsters. And the Freshbooks subscription would provide an easy way to run my business and not worry about who smeared peanut butter on my last set of invoices.