3. Go Back to School - As a Student

Let's face it: the job market isn't turning around tomorrow. And you've been so busy with contracts over the last few years that you really haven't kept your skills up. Sure, you got CS4 the day it came out, but you're still coding in a nasty (if functional) mix of AS1 and AS2, and you still think polymorphism is what that chick in X-Men does.

There's never been a better time to sharpen your skills. Sure, it's an investment. It will cost you time, and possibly money, but your fellow freelancers (read 'competitors') are probably doing it, and when the market turns, they'll be outstripping you with their reusable classes and fancy shortcut skills if you don't keep up.

4. Go Back to School - As a Teacher

Take advantage of all the suckers who are following my recommendation above, and become a teacher! Sure you can! Don't forget -- you do this for a living.

There are plenty of people out there - perhaps looking for a career change after having been made redundant - who are dying to learn how to make a ball fly across the screen, or a text box show "Hello World". You're their saviour!

Teaching pays well, and is often flexible in terms of hours. Maybe you can't land a full-time gig, but if the local technical college has an after hours Flash course for beginners, you can offer your services as a sub. You could even offer your services as a guest lecturer of sorts.

You specialise in games? I'll bet a lot of those beginners would be really keen to hear you speak for 45 minutes about the Flash games market, and learn your tricks of the trade. If you become a regular feature, you can hit up the college for some cash, but until then, the worst you're doing is expanding your network, both with the students and the teachers, who may be able to hook you up with work.

If the local college doesn't have an after-hours Flash course, even better! Why not start one? Write up a syllabus for a Flash 101 course, and head on down to speak to the director of courses. If you've posted a few articles on ActionScript.org to prove your expertise, these will definitely help prove your expert status.