Decaf. 🙂 But you're not babbling – maybe only internally. LOL

Kagem, I think with practice, you can extend an article's life. It's not hard once you start seeing a topic from a few angles. Maybe practice with ideas. Formulate that first query, then think "Who else might be affected by this/needs to know this?"

Obviously not all ideas can be shared across genres, but give it a shot. I bet you'll surprise yourself. 🙂

Perhaps a better way is simply trying to find new ideas and selling them that way.

I also agree with your first point about presenting saleable copy, because frankly in copywriting, that's the only thing that matters. If it sells, you eat.

In my experience clients are willing to pay significantly more for a specialized writer who can bring expertise and unique experiences to the table than they will pay for a generalist — someone who claims they can write in any style about anything under the sun and do it well.

That said, niches aren't the only way to specialize. You can specialize in a type of writing and cover many niches (like some magazine writers I know do). That can be just as effective for attracting higher paying clients as niche expertise.

And now I'm just hyped up on caffeine and babbling I think. 😀

Agree re blogging… and now when I suggest/nag writers into creating a website I urge the blog software, not so they will blog, but so they can update their own site without paying someone else.

I love Paula's write what you want to know… so true.

Agree with Wade re niche… I am a serial nicher.

Oh, and GO BRUINS!

You're right – you don't need to find a niche. It's great if you can, but being able to move among projects and topics is one of the best perks of being freelance.

And again, you're right about writers not always having something to say. There are days I open this blog to type and my head feels like mush. I'm a talkative person. If I were pensive and taciturn, I'd be dead in the water. 🙂

The blog issue is debated often. I started mine because I thought I needed to. Now I'm not sure where to go with it. Knowing what I want to focus on is difficult for me. I could give writing advice, but there are so many great people doing that why add one more?

I believe another piece of bad advice is "you must find a niche." I freelance for the variety. I don't want to get bogged down by writing about dental implants and composite fillings week in and week out. Finding new things to write about gives me energy and drive.

Lastly, I believe that a writer has always something to say is a misnomer. Sometimes I have a lot to say about a given subject and sometimes I don't. Searching out topics and asking questions can lead to having more to say, but coming up with blog posts isn't the same thing. I'm leaning with Lori on this one, having a blog isn't necessary. It is one more tidbit you could add to your portfolio, but isn't essential.