Any good places to start?

Sounds like you're in the same boat as me. I've heard from quite a few people that getting started in graphic design, especially freelance, is often challenging. I really think it'll take perseverance and dedication to improving your craft to get to where you want to be. Since trying to go pro earlier this year, I've taken a step back for a while to sharpen my skills and learn new software. It's very competitive out there.