Successful Freelancer Spotlight: Robert McGarvey

Good Monday morning readers!

Today I’m shining the spotlight on longtime freelancer Robert McGarvey. Robert has successfully freelanced for more than 30 years and has written more than 1,500 articles for leading national publications, including Reader’s Digest, Men’s Fitness, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and American Way. Robert covers a broad range of topics in his writing, including travel, technology, CEOs, real estate, the energy sector, sales, and career development.

Robert also is the author of several books, including How To Dotcom (Entrepreneur Press, 2001), and The Complete Spy (Perigee, 1983). He also is the coauthor of Start Your Own E-Business (Entrepreneur Press, 2005).

After 30 years, Robert has managed to survive several economic downturns during his career as a freelance writer. I thought his perspective would be especially helpful to freelancers with less experience in weathering economic tough times.

What’s your main advice to freelancers about getting through the recession?

Slow down, be here now. No need to panic, no need to rush. Enjoy the is. This afternoon I was at the end of a walk when a middle-aged Asian woman carrying a bag of food approached me. I brushed her off, brusquely as is my wont because I am a man in a hurry. Then I realized: a hurry to what? I walked back to her and soon realized she was delivering take-out food, she was on the wrong street, and she spoke very, very little English. I made some hand gestures, pointing to where she wanted to go—the delivery address was handwritten on a menu—and then gestured that she should follow me. I walked three blocks out of my way but I took her to the apartment building. Why? Why not? Yes, I could have been home putting out 50 queries in those few minutes, but this way I helped somebody (actually several somebodies because the customers got their food!). I have been in Hong Kong, in Greece, in Russia where I could not read the alphabet and it is so frustrating. Maybe next time I’m there, somebody will help me. Karma comes to get you and, as I said, I have the time.

So, what aren’t you doing?

That’s a good question. I am not sending out 100 LOIs because 10 got no result. I am not sending out 1,000 queries because 100 got no result. Doing more, harder, of what isn’t working is not a prescription for success. I am digging in for the long struggle. I am doing more work that really matters to me because I have the time to do it right (see below), and I am also doing more things I’ve wanted to do but “didn’t have the time.” I am meditating daily, doing a yoga session (I really like the Kripalu Gentle Yoga DVD), walking for 45 minutes daily, and spending an hour a day doing German drills because I’m determined to relearn German (a language I knew well several decades ago). I am so busy with these activities I scarcely have time to work! I am also going to be prepared to really make the most of the recovery when it comes in 2010 (or 2011).

So you say you aren’t working?

Actually I’m kidding about not working. I may be working less but I am doing a lot of pieces that genuinely interest me. In the April Continental, for instance, I have a “Been There” first-person travel piece on Berlin.  I’d been declining travel assignments because they are time intensive but this was an assignment I very much wanted. In the same magazine, in March, I have a “Go Eat” write-up on Momofuku Ko, probably New York’s most interesting new restaurant. In May I’ll have a piece tied to the Tony Awards and live theater is a long-term enthusiasm of mine. For the February issue, I co-wrote a “Been There” on Frugal New York. This is all writing that matters to me.

I’m doing a fun chapter on green offices in a book, The Whole Green Earth Catalog (Rodale Books, autumn 2009).  I’m also doing a stream of advertorials for The New York Times, pieces I like writing because everyone at the Times is so wonderfully professional.

There’s other stuff I’m forgetting. I’d say I’m operating at around 60 percent capacity.

Aren’t you looking for work to fill that gap?

Am I looking for work? You bet. I saw a Mediabistro ad for an NYU magazine, sent off an email, the editor responded with some truly dazzling samples from the pubs and I asked to get an assignment which I did. That’s just one for instance. I am staying busy looking for new leads, but I am very, very picky. If anything I am more picky now. Right now, in this economy, it is very easy to be so hungry that the hunger devours good sense.

What I’m doing very little of is sending out blind queries. Editors I know tell me they are overwhelmed with unsolicited queries (which is why more magazines are asking not to get any at all). My advice is: if you must query, “warm” it up. Use LinkedIn and writers groups to find degrees of separation and query saying, Joe Schmo thought you’d like to see my query on XYZ. Warming up an initial contact works in writing, just as it works in all selling. Doing more of what is not working, however, is just plain unintelligent.

Have you noticed more of a dog-eat-dog environment among freelancers?

I haven’t noticed it, but I am not looking for it. I’ll tell you this: The other day, an editor I know asked if I could recommend anybody to do a piece on XYZ. I could have said, sure, me, me, me! Instead I pointed her to a writer whom I know will do a very good job. In times of hunger it may seem harder to give away work . . . but do it, it makes you stronger and better.

What else are you doing to get work?

I make it very easy to find me. My Mediabistro Freelancers Marketplace listing has brought me at least $20,000 in work over the past two years. (And some people say: I’ve been there four months and haven’t heard from any editors. So?)  At $15 per month, be patient. I’ve also had a website for 10 years (www.mcgarvey.net).

Oh, and I also subscribe to a number of jobs tips services such as the Editorial Freelancers Association, Freelance Success, Travelwriter Marketletter, and probably others. Particularly in this economy, know who is looking for writers (fish where the fish are, not where they aren’t).

How long do you believe the downturn will last?

This downturn is the worst I have seen in 25 years (only the downturn of the early 1980s seems comparable). We are going to be in a down economy for at least 18 more months. At least. Advertising is a lagging indicator of recovery; I’d bet we have at least two more years to go, but I’ll be optimistic and say 18 months.

Can you get through 18 months of this? There is no shame in surrender. Do what you have to do. But know that this slowdown will persist. Makes me want to throw up, the folks who post on message boards about the good times a-coming. Ain’t happening. Not this year. Accepting reality is a building block for doing well.