• Freelance Switch: If you are a graphic designer, web developer or publish anything online, then there is always that little bit of fear in the back of your head that your work may get ripped off. In the event this does happen, how do you prove that the infringed work is your own? Well, there’s a new service, called Myows, on the block to help protect your work.
• Freelance Switch: It’s easy to take for granted, but being organized with your record keeping saves you a lot of time that can be used for working on projects. So here are seven great tips to get you started. I can’t stress #7 enough: back up your files as much as possible.
• Feedgrids: I stumbled upon one of the best articles I’ve ever read that deal with protecting yourself from clients who may decide to screw you over. The lesson: get everything in writing and be as detailed as possible.
• Kyle Wiebers: And while we’re on the subject, learn to bulletproof your contracts. Includes a sample contract.
• Web Worker Daily: Lists other sites that you haven’t heard of, besides Linkedin, to network and find new clients.
• DesignM.ag: Better than a January sale… 29 resources for graphic designers operating on a tight budget. Curiously interesting: Fivesecondtest, where you can upload user interface designs and have others give you feedback on them free of charge.
• Inspired Mag: Passive income is a great way for freelancers to supplement their income  but, set up correctly, can also get you through those lean times when there isn’t so much work. Here are 7 essential readings to get you familiar with passive income and generate some ideas. Note, the title implies that the readings are for designers but apply to other freelancers as well.
• Plugin ID: Read Glen’s five ideas that he has put to use to get more work done. I’ve personally tried the first two which has helped me quite a bit.
• Copyblogger: Has a great idea that I never heard before to break that writer’s block… reading through quotes for ideas and inspiration. Worth the read for the writers.
• {Grow}: OK, it’s 2010 and you finally decided to start that blog. WordPress or Blogger set up? Check. Your theme design in place? Check. Wrote your first post? Check. Now what? Well, here are some tips for the beginning blogger that I couldn’t have said better myself.
• Freedom Education: How to believe in your dreams, put into 3 steps that make complete sense. It will make you wonder why you haven’t done these in the first place.

More on the author, Johnny Spence
Johnny is the founder of The Freelance Rant and a freelance web programmer with 8 years in the business. Have a visit at his company Oscarrr!web or see what he's up to on Twitter.

And while we're on the subject...

• The Week In Freelance: June 15th
• The Week In Freelance: January 29th
• Around the Horn: Week of January 19th