How freelancers can survive, even thrive, in the recession

In another of its occasional, laudable get-togethers for its members, the Toronto Freelance Editors & Writers group had a panel about how freelancers could best survive the recession. The panel included four freelance editors and writers (Kim Pittaway, Astrid Vandenbroek, Jason McBride & Nina Boccia.) A very good summary was made of the event by freelancer Jennifer McPhee who gave me permission to share it:

When I first started freelancing, I sent out query letters every week. My family and friends found it amusing (okay, annoying) that everything they said turned into a potential story idea. Eventually, my efforts paid off and editors started calling me. But the more work I got, the less I pitched. Then, last month, my phone stopped ringing. It's time to get off your butt, said the panelists at last night's TFEW event about surviving the recession.

Okay, they didn’t put it quite like that. But they did say freelance writers can't rely on their regular clients survival means working harder, diversifying, networking and constantly pitching. Jason McBride said he started pitching to magazines outside his comfort zone after his work began drying up last year. Astrid Vanderbroek now accepts work she wouldn’t normally consider. Nina Boccia, a recent j-school grad and Azure's intern, takes on freelance fact-checking and other assignments in her spare time. And Kim Pittaway is actually busier than usual right now, partly because she’s so reluctant to turn down work.

Of course, networking is also crucial right now. Keep in touch with obvious contacts (current editors, ex-colleagues. ex-employers)said Pittaway, and with not-so-obvious contacts (for instance, people you went to school with). McBride added that keeping in touch with lots of different people is smart because you never know where your network is going to come from. He should know. Way before he became a freelancer, McBride worked at Book City with future Toronto Life editor Sarah Fulford and future senior New York Magazine editor Adam Sternbergh. He now writes for both magazines.

Volunteering is also a good way forge new connections, said Pittaway. If your volunteer efforts are unrelated to writing, the people you meet likely won't know many writers -- so they'll automatically think of you when they need one. Pittaway did lots of volunteering early on in her career which inadvertently led to a newsletter-writing contract that became the "backbone" of her freelance income for the better part of a decade.

Finally, remember that good relationships follow you around, but so do bad ones. “Don’t be an asshole,” said Pittaway.

Here are some other points from last night:

• It’s true that more companies are hiring freelancers due to layoffs. This applies more to corporate work than to journalism. Some publications have cut their rates, but corporate rates remain the same or better than usual. Pittaway revealed she spends 40 percent of her time on corporate work, but this work accounts for 80 percent of her income. “It’s time to sell your soul,” she joked.
• Corporate work seems harder to get (tends to come from contacts). And it's important to avoid working for companies/industries you report on to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Be nicer to editors right now because they’re overwhelmed with work. Plus, they'll be nicer to you. But it's still okay to ask for more money.
• Pittaway doesn't fret about newly laid off staffers competing for freelance work. Most people freelancing out of necessity spend the majority of their time looking for fulltime work, she said.
• Face-to-face networking is best, but online networking is helpful. Pittaway uses Facebook to find sources and Twitter to market herself to the corporate world. Just be careful when looking for sources on Facebook if your editors are also your Facebook friends, said Vandenbroek You probably don't want your Globe editor to see what you've got cooking for the National Post.
• If you're new to freelancing, don't feel like a failure if your career doesn't take off immediately. It takes a year to 18 months for freelancers to hit their stride. Don't feel discouraged about needing a part-time job. Use your job for story ideas. Every new skill you acquire or expeirence you have will only make you a better journalist, said McBride.
• Don’t tune out news about the economy, but don’t dwell on the recessionary horror stories either, said Pittaway. Work harder, be proactive, diversify and network. This recession won’t last forever and all the work you’ve done in the meantime will pay off.