When I’m Not Writing

Given the boom/bust, feast/famine world of freelancing, there can be periods of downtime, especially right now while the economy turns to rubble around us. So what does one savvy freelancer do with that downtime?

I schmooze. I hobnob. I gadfly. I charm many local business people into taking me for many lunches (a cost saver in down times How to Eat When You Can’t Afford Food). I go for 5 à 7 cocktails with people that make more money than me. They pick up the tab (or, How to Drink Well When You’re Broke). I put on jeans and go for coffee, or a suit and get my butt on TV. I work on my podcast.

I go to political and social events in my area and meet people who know people that know people.

And then I email the hell out of everyone. I don’t spam them, but I make sure they remember meeting me. I make sure they know what I do, who I do it for, and what I can do for them.

Do they immediately jump up and start throwing money at me? Er, rarely. And if they do, I can betcha next month’s free cocktails that it won’t be for my writing services! But regardless, a relationship is formed. We are aware of each other; perhaps we follow each other’s work. And that means when the day comes that we can be of use to each other, the connection has already been made.

Personally, I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve needed something (business cards, tech support etc) and said “Let’s keep it in the family”. I’ll choose one of my own regular contacts to do the work long before I’ll source a stranger. Why not, really? It benefits both parties – one gets a job done, the other gets paid to do a job – and it shows ongoing support and loyalty to those in your inner circle.

So, what do you do if you are an antisocial cellar-dwellar who would rather cut their own hands off than go have a drink with a casual acquaintance?

You get the hell over it.

No one lives in a vacuum, no matter how hard they try. You want to make a living? You’d better start charming the pants off the people who will be paying you (not literally, unless you’re really pressed for cash). I’m prone to panic attacks and suffered debilitating shyness and separation anxiety as a child. But you know what? I grew up. My mother died, leaving me with the stark realization that I didn’t have a mommy to hide behind anymore, so I’d better learn to deal with the human race. If I can do it, you can, too.

One will often hear me say how every contact/opportunity/gig/travel destination has been a result of my blogging life. And that’s true. BUT… eventually I had to walk away from the keyboard and meet the people on the other end of the Internet.

So invest in a haircut (or befriend a stylist and get one for free or at a discount), cut your nails, put on a clean pair of pants, and get out there. The world is waiting to discover you.