It’s been quite the month, but I can finally breathe again. Thursday was the last day of my temporary, on-site proofreading gig, and Friday was the due date of a legwork-heavy magazine article. Since then, I’ve (finally) signed up for a career coaching certification program, and also turned my attention to another legwork-heavy magazine article (and by legwork, I mean traveling all over my home state and drinking lots of wine; tough stuff).

I’m about to head out to two more wineries today but, before I go, I thought I’d leave you with this past week’s link love:

• The Freelance Writing Jobs Network’s Top 10 Ways to Tell You’re a Freelance Writer
• Copyblogger’s The Dark Side of Authority
• Yahoo! hotjobs’ 10 Ways to Make a Bad First Impression — and How to Recover
• Associated Press’s Tweet for Hire: More Big Businesses Hire Tweeters
• Income Diary’s 20 People Who Started as Bloggers, Who Are Now So Much More
• Balkhis’s How to Launch a New Blog Successfully
• Shine’s Do You Have Trouble Saying No?
• Problogger’s 9 Things to Do to Make Sure Your Next Blog Post is Read by More Than Your Mom
• Copywriting Success Summit’s 10 Ways to Make More Money as a Freelance Writer
• TwiTip’s 10 Ways to Create a Community Around Your Tweetup

[Photo via]

For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on an article that has required me to interview various luminaries in the NYC-based sex-positive world. This kind of thing always makes me…nauseous. I became a writer, after all, so that I could communicate with others while simultaneously remaining isolated. I even take medication for social anxiety.

But I can’t always get away with merely speaking what’s on my mind. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Over the years, my writing has enabled me to meet some fascinating and fabulous people, and to have some incredible experiences.

Yet I still get nauseous pre-interview.

For everyone who suffers as I do, here are 10 interviewing tips for introverted writers:

1. Don’t Take the Easy Way Out:

The least scary way to interview someone is via e-mail. This is what is known as “pussying out.” When you send someone questions online, you don’t get their immediate, gut reactions. You can’t discern tone or inflection. You can’t follow delightful tangents. The best way to interview someone is in person, preferably in a place where your interview subject feels comfortable (though not necessarily in a place with too much background noise). When an interview starts to feel like a casual chat, that’s when the best stuff comes out. If an in-person interview is out of the question, a phone interview is your next best bet. At least that way, you can let the conversation meander where it will.

2. Do Your Homework:

Researching the hell out of both your interview subject and the topic at hand will go a long way in making you feel less, well terrified. Simply put, preparedness equals confidence. Your interviewee will appreciate your preparation as well.

3: Have Pre-Prepared Questions On Hand:

Just as it helps to have at least an outline in front of you when delivering a speech, you should also write up your interview questions beforehand. There’s nothing wrong with deviating from this list of questions, but it’s nice to be able to refer to it when the conversation seems in danger of flatlining. It also helps ensure that you don’t forget to ask your most crucial questions.

4. Check Your Equipment:

Last week, I interviewed a popular sex therapist/author over the phone. I didn’t notice until after we’d hung up that my tape had stopped rolling soon after the 8-minute mark. Oy. You should totally check things like battery power and available tape space before starting your interview.

5. Have a Plan B:

Technology is far from infallible, contrary to popular belief. Um…take notes, even if you’re already recording the conversation.

On real paper.

Wth a real pen.

6. Remember — This is a Conversation…Not an Interrogation:

As mentioned above, the more you treat this like a comfortable conversation, the better it will be, for both of you. And as you let the conversation wander, you may find yourself hearing information you may not have initially thought to ask about. So don’t cling to your prepared questions too closely. Become adept at listening, and sensing when a tangent may bear fruit. If a comment your interviewee makes only ceates more questions in your mind, delve deeper. And, for the duration, strive to keep your interviewee at ease. Those who feel complacent tend to reveal more.

7. Also Remember — You’re Speaking to a Mere Mortal:

I’m always the most terrified when speaking to the authors I most admire. In my mind, such conversations are as exciting and nerve-inducing as a Johnny Depp sighting. But dude. They’re people, too. Just like you. People with self-doubt. People with nervous tics. People who often feel grateful just to be asked about their lives and their work.

Shy people are always told not to worry, because everyone else is feeling just as self-conscious as they are. Shy people never listen. (I…um…know this for a fact.) But they should. It would totally make them feel better.

The same thing applies to interviewers and their subjects.

8. Don’t Rush:

I’ve mentioned it before. Don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Be loud, clear, and slow.

9. Be Polite:

After the interview, send along a thank you e-mail. It was so nice of them to take the time out of their day in order to help you with your piece. And when the piece finally comes out, let them know. They’ll get a kick out of seeing their name in print, and be relieved that you didn’t misquote them in such a way that makes them sound ridiculous or awful.

10. Collapse with Relief:

Phew! I need a nap.

…

Oh! Ive mentioned this before but, if you’d like to read more about conducting a successful interview, you should totally check out Lawrence Grobel’s The Art of the Interview. Good stuff!

Related: How to Avoid Flubbing Your Phone Interview, Product Placement: Audio Recording + Transcribing Resources, Home-Schooled: 20 Books To Build Your Freelance Life Upon

[RCA Rp5022 64 Mb Voice Recorder With Usb, $19.98, Amazon]

[Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device, $17.71, Amazon]

I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately and, to get the job done, I’ve been using the items above.

My voice recorder (new versions are available) has a ton of storage place, allows me to place markers within my sound files, and includes a USB port for uploading to my computer. My telephone recording device also works like a charm, one end plugging into my recorder, the other going into my ear, allowing me to record all of my telephone interviews. Both of them being quite cheap, I’d recommend them to any writer on a budget.

But once the interviews are done, the worst part still remains: transcribing.

After the jump, a few resources for those who wish transcribing could be easier, or for those who’d like to outsource it altogether!

Voice Recognition Software:

Dragon NaturallySpeaking, $89-$649:

Lydia Dishman first recommended this software to me and, upon conducting a web search, I found that the rest of the world was apparently gaga over it as well.

Basically, Dragon’s software is supposed to be tops, even with recorded conversations. Buyer beware, though: Some users insist that it still works best as a note-taker, for use by one person speaking to it over time. These tough customers insist that no software exists that can work as well as human transcription outsourcing services.

Virtual Assistants:

(prices listed below are estimated averages)

• AssistU, $20+/hr.
• International Virtual Assistants Association, $20+/hr.
• Virtual Assistant Association, $35-$70/hr.
• Virtual Assistant Networking Association, $35/hr.
  

Check out this book my husband bought me for Christmas!

(I decided not interpret it is as a commentary on the fact that he’s supporting me, as it was on my Amazon Wish List.)

Allison Hemming — founder of the Hired Guns — wrote Work It! as an antidote to the times…times in which an increasing amount of people are losing their jobs, or are at least worrying about the possibility.

While the majority of the content in her book is aimed at those in the full-time, corporate work force, I found that the lessons therein — especially as they pertained to resumes, networking, and correspondence — were applicable to anyone looking to make money.

And the number one lesson I learned from reading Work It!? It’s never too late to review the basics.

Other lessons learned:

- Don’t be lazy about looking for work, as easy as the Internet makes this. Take advantage of targeted job alerts and industry job boards, but also check out trade associations and corporate alumni sites.

- Revisit your resume. Especially if you’re still using the same old one-sheet you put together on your college graduation day. Using the tips in Work It!, I reformatted my resume, tweaked some of the phrasing, added some new info, and embraced the idea of a customized resume for every possible job, client, or employer.

- Don’t let Internet-speak — or other forms of lazy writing — creep into your cover letters or other correspondence. I’ve always been pretty proud of my cover letters, but this section of the book reminded me that it doesn’t pay to cut corners on such things has finding the correct person to address your missive to. It also made me realize that my opening lines are not as snappy as they used to be. Hemming also has some great ideas for making your thank yous, and other follow-ups, stand out from the crowd’s.

- I’ve always struggled in interviews. I get nervous, so I talk to fast…stumble over some words…forget others…it’s a mess! Work It! contained a good primer on acing that interview, one I was all too happy to revisit.

There’s lots more, of course, but you get the picture. Be sure to check out this book if you want to get back to basics. Chances are, we all have an area or two we’ve gotten a bit lazy with.

…

Related: How To Write Your Way Into the Best Darn Jobs Ever, Work 2.0: The Deterioration of Professional Decorum

Hey guys! As I’m only one small picture of what freelancedom looks like (and my, what a messy picture it is), I’m thinking of introducing a new Thursday feature to the blog.

In an attempt to forge connections and share others’ infinite wisdom with readers, I’d like to start interviewing all you freelancers and small business owners out there.

The final interview post would include links to your site, photos of or links to product examples and, if you’re willing, some shots of your home office.

If you’re interested in submitting to my silly and not-so-silly questions, leave a comment here, or e-mail me!

Job interviews can give you the jitters.

Informational interviews, however, have a lot less riding on them, at least as far as the fate of your employment status goes.

Still, when preparing for an informational interview, you should take just as much care…if not more.

Those who grant informational interviews have a lot less to gain from donating their time to you. Because of this, you should show them the proper level of appreciation, and prepare for your meeting in much the same way you would for a job interview.

I mentioned informational interviews briefly last week, as a means of gathering information about possible career paths. Now, I’m about to go on one myself.

What have I (hopefully) done to prepare?

Forego the sweatpants-and-flip-flops look.

When I’m working from home, I often blog for a few hours wearing nothing but undies and my falling-apart flip-flops, at least until I get a few posts up and feel I’ve earned my right to shower.

By the time I head out for my interview, I’ll look a lot less gross. I swear.

Business casual is usually safest, and the flip-flops should definitely be left at home, comfort be damned. Looking polished is a sign of respect.

Do your research.

Companies love it when interviewees do their homework. Whoever has deigned to chat with you will be just as appreciative of any research you do prior to your meeting.

Before heading out, make sure you have at least a cursory familiarity with their business and background. If you can’t show at least some knowledge of with that they do for a living, they’ll wonder why you decided to call them (out of trillions of others) in the first place. Pinpoint what it was about them, in particular, that led you to first make contact.

Come prepared to take advantage of your subject’s expertise.

You may get only one shot with this person, so you’d better make it count. Just as you’d draw up a list of questions when preparing to interview someone for a magazine piece, you should also jot down what you’re looking to find out from your generous-with-their-time expert. List your questions in order from most important to least important. That way, you’ll have ended up with the best possible information if time runs out. Some questions you should consider asking?

• What skills are necessary to make it in this line of business?
• How many hours do you put in from week to week?
• Does a career such as this have the flexibility to allow for other projects, or family obligations?
• How much money does it generally take to start up such a business? What are the biggest expenses?
• How much money is it possible to earn in a year when just starting out? When working at it for some time?
• What type of training or certification is required within this field?
• How do you market your services?
• What are the toughest aspects of your job, and how do you handle them?
• Do you know of anyone else I should contact, or any organizations I should look to for further information?

Come prepared to share your own motivations.

Your expert’s willingness to help you is in direct proportion to the levels of interest, motivation, and ambition he or she perceives in you. Be willing to share your motivations…the things that made you consider this career path in the first place…the aspects that then held your interest…

Share the path you see yourself eventually taking, and the fears that are holding you back. Your expert will be able to tailor the ensuing conversation to best meet your needs.

Be grateful as heck.

I like to send a hand-written thank you card as soon as I return home from a job interview. Do the same with the subject of your informational interview. Their time is truly a gift.

Earlier in the week, we discussed how the very act of being prepared can strengthen one’s self-confidence.

Today, I’d like to go over the various forms such preparation can take.

If you’re teetering on the edge of starting up your own freelance business, such steps toward readiness will take your plans from romantic to realistic.

Become Active In Online Forums/Blogs Specific To Your Interest:

As someone with an invested interest in writing and publishing, I’ve been spending time on the MediaBistro bulletin boards — and been reading the MediaBistro articles — since my college days. Such a forum allowed me to learn more about the field, and ask questions of those more experienced than I, for little no cost. Since I’ve begun focusing on blogging, blogs such as ProBlogger have given me a free education in just about everything I’ve needed to know, and blogs such as this one, and FreelanceSwitch, provide great tips for building your own at-home business. Search through Alltop to find blogs that focus on your own area of interest, or look through the blogrolls of the blogs you’re already reading.

Head To Your Local Library or Bookstore:

I’m a firm believer in the power of a good how-to or self-help book (as evidenced by a previous blogging project), and strongly encourage you to read up on your dream career as much as possible. The great thing about books is that they lay everything out for you — in an extremely user-friendly format — all in one place. For example, when Darren Rowse came out with his ProBlogger book, I immediately ordered it. It’s great to have on hand as a reference tool, as are all the other books I’ve read and marked up and tabbed. Go to the library and get your books for free. If, like me, you’d rather build a library of books that you can re-read and mark up at will, buy your books used to save money. I order plenty of used books through Amazon, and also shop at a used book shop near me. At the local used book shop, I can sell back the books that aren’t worth keeping, and earn store credit, so that I barely pay for my books at all!

Talk To An Expert:

If you haven’t yet Made the Move, it could be a good idea to seek out informational interviews from those already in the field that interests you, so that you can make a more informed decision about whether or not this it’s right for you. For example, I’ve recently been considering getting a Masters in counseling, or certification as a career coach. In preparation, I’ve contacted two life coaches I found through the International Coach Federation, five career counselors I found through the Career Counselors Consortium, and a bunch of program directors at various universities. I suggest searching for similar sources of information through relevant professional organizations and, once you’ve set up your appointments, preparing for them in much the same way you would prepare to interview someone for an article. Remember to ask not only about salary/rates, but also about training and credentials, and personal experiences in the field.

Consider An Internship:

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’d like to reiterate: An internship — unpaid or otherwise — can give you low-pressure access and experience in an unfamilar field, while at the same time providing you with an opportunity to network like crazy. If your schedule can accomodate this (and many internships are quite flexible), it’s well worth a try.

Head Back To School:

I’m not necessarily suggesting that you earn an M.A. or Ph.D. in your field (though, in some cases, it could help), but many continuing education classes exist in which you can further your studies, or strengthen some shaky skills. I myself took courses in QuarkXPress, essay-writing, pitching, and more post-college, all for non-credit (which is both cheaper than for-credit classes, and a helluva lot less pressure). Not only did I learn some valuable tricks of the trade, but I was able to workshop my active projects and network with both my professor and my fellow students. Why not check out the continuing education opportunities at the schools near you?

Head Online:

If an on-campus class seems a bit too pricey, there are many courses you can take online, for a fraction of the price. So, while I spent about $500-$600 each to attend a few classes at the New School, hubby spent only about $80-$240 each to attend a trillion classes online, at sites such as eclasses.org, the HTML Writers Guild, the International Webmasters Association, and ed2go.

Buddy Up:

One of the additional benefits of the continuing education classes I took? I ended up forming a workshop group with several of my fellow students. With varying strengths and weaknesses among the lot of us, we were able to help each other out in a multitude of ways — from editing to contact sharing to troubleshooting plain and simple motivation. If you don’t have ready access to a group of peers who share your career interests, it could be worth joining a Meetup group for that purpose.

Practice Makes Perfect:

In closing, I can only say that practice makes perfect (as a comparison of this blog post to, perhaps, my Kindergarten-era poetry will attest). Into web design/programming? My husband likes to spend time practicing new coding and whatnot (don’t ask me; I’m web design clueless) on his own site, as a means of solidifying his own skills and knowledge. As for myself, I’ve maintained several personal blogs for years just to stay in practice. Learn by doing, and then repeat. There. I think you’re ready.