Ask HN: Resources for finding short term projects?

  whosreppin.me : A site to connect voters with their local reps (django)

  hckrn.ws : A mini hacker news targeted for mobile devices (node.js / couchdb)

What drew you to these projects?

I would try attending some meetups on the areas/languages you want to work in as there are always non-tech people turning up to them looking for people to help build a prototype for investment/etc.

To be honest, it's a good idea for anyone who regularly has up-and-down work (eg freelancers, independents, etc) to attend these types of events as you can always have work lined up.

First, realize that the search process is totally different from a job hunt. Good tech companies hire for talent, not skills. However, developing talent into something comercially useful isn't a short-term proposition. Unless you have extensive project management experience/have shipped several impressive things, your best bet is to become expert at a particular skill/tool, and sell that expertise, than being a good "back-end developer".

You need to get comfortable around non-techies. This means: explaining how your contribution reduces expenses/increases revenue, realizing the client often doesn't know, or frankly give a damn about the technical merits of the project ("python? you mean, like, the snake?"), and that you'll have to network a lot with non-technical people. Tech people might be a source of referrals, but most of them default to "building" vs "buying" (paying you) to get the job done.

Get off the internet. Seriously. Business-to-business commerce is still very telephone, referral, and relationship-driven. Elands, craigslist, etc. puts you head-to-head against undeniable idiots, offshore guys whose cost of living is about 1/10th that of oakland