[hopeless]

Although I've just started out, my client came to me because I started a Ruby user group in our area. My name is still attached to "Ruby Cork" even though the group fizzled out 2years ago. Now I'm working with Rails full-time again, I'll be restarting the group this month.

In short: start or get involved with local tech groups

[bdcravens]

+1 on this.

I manage a user group for the primary language I use, and in over 3 years of full-time freelancing, I've never been without work.

[jnbiche]

Out of curiosity, which language?

[hackernews]

It's ColdFusion.

At a former employer we hired him on as a contractor and in the ~3 months he was on contract not a single line of code was ever produced even though there were promises made every week. Would not use again.

That said, as a past CF developer there is TON of ColdFusion work out there. Sure it is not glamorous but there are a lot worse things you could be doing for $$ :)

[bdcravens]

I have certainly had a few failed projects, as I've taken on too much work before. As some of the commenters to the OP pointed out, this is a challenge that many freelancers face. Indeed, as with any mistake, we learn and grow.

That said, I feel you are calling me out in a public forum is a bit inappropriate. To say I didn't produce a single line of code is a bold statement. As you called me out in a public forum, I'd be interested in discussing publicly. As your statement has the potential to cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars over my career, I realize personal litigation is an option, but I'm a civil person who would prefer healthy discourse, even when my character is attacked. However, that doesn't seem possible, as I have no clue who you are. I have chosen not to hide behind a made-up identity. You, however have the username "hackernews": I assume you are an employee of YCombinator? I doubt it, and to that extent, your username has the potential to be a libelous misrepresentation of Paul Graham's brand.

If you do not have the professional integrity to identify yourself, feel free to let me know who you are at a ColdFusion conference; I am a speaker at many of them.