This is a transcript of mediabistro.com's "Get a Freelance Life" panel held May 17, 2006 in New York, in conjunction with its eponymous book. Moderated by Steve Friedman, panelists included Joe Bargmann, Cara Birnbaum, Wendy Knight, Liza Monroy, and Precious Williams. Register now for upcoming New York courses taught by panelists: Liza Monroy's Intro to Magazine Writing and Stiletto Boot Camp with Cara Birnbaum!

Host: Thanks. Yeah, and freelancers have many varied opportunities to burn bridges. My advice would be, work on one thing, that you really love. Because it really can be a tough, tough road, being a freelancer. Which is a nice segue into the crushing loneliness. So what I want to ask is, how do you deal with the isolation of being a freelancer? Because I know that everything I've thought I wanted to get away from—the office and the people—that's what I miss most. From other freelancers I've talked to, that's a not-uncommon feeling. Joe, how did you deal with it?

Joe Bargmann: Golf. Yes, when you're sitting around, and I found that I was being unproductive, I found that the lack of productivity only heightened the loneliness. And so it was, go out and take two or three hours and do something that I really, really want to do. Clear the mind. Come back, and then go to work. And being at work, you find that you're not lonely, that you're there with whatever you're reporting, whatever you're writing. And suddenly you look up, and it's five hours later and the loneliness is a moot point. So I would say, dealing with the loneliness is not to sit there and wallow in it, but to go out and do something you dig.

Cara Birnbaum: I definitely talk to my pets. But I think that seriously, interviewing does help. And while these people aren't necessarily my friends, they're conversations, and I'm engaging myself with people. And I think I set aside time, usually on Fridays, to spend an hour or two at the coffee place, where I go, and where I know other freelancers will be. And I make this little deal with myself: As long as I'm good Monday through Thursday, I can spend a couple of hours, usually in the morning, just kind of hanging out there until 10 or 10: 30 in the morning. I make plans at night and, often, these plans involve editors, which kind of serves a dual purpose because you're getting out there. But you're also discussing story ideas, and networking, and all of that. So, I think just make a concerted effort to get out of the house.

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