I've never been quite sure how they find me, why they think I have all of the answers, or how to answer them, but I do my best to tell them what little I do know. Everyone works differently, especially when it comes to writing. Some people work best with outlines and strict word counts. Others work best with no direction at all.
Some people work best in silence, alone, or in the morning.
Some only write by hand, while others require a computer. A desk big enough to spread things out on All else is pretty much optional. If you want to do freelance work, you need to be able to make your muse work for you, rather than the other way around. I know, that's difficult. I certainly prefer to let my writing take me where it wants to go.