Comments on: Writers Worth Two: Finding Niches

By: Shakirah Dawud

Shakirah Dawud — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:51:19 +0000

I like your reminder at the end that a niche isn't a limit. Unless we want it to be, we can still write outside our preferred specialty, but having a focus certainly helps us form our identities as freelance writers.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:38:02 +0000

Allena, love your story. And yes you can mine a niche as you describe... I've done it.

I've also gone way out of that niche into something else and had that work as well.

I think it was Paula who said something like "I write what I want to know about." I've done it that way too!

The real secret is to risk... and write and rewrite and market and risk...

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:26:31 +0000

And sometimes not having a niche can be considered your niche.... ;)

What I like about this post -- Allena's providing a jumping-off point for new writers. I hear all of you saying that niches aren't necessary -- that's so true. But if you're starting out and can't for the life of you figure out where to start, within your own comfort zone is a great suggestion.

Like Samar says, some niches are quite open-ended!

Thanks again, Allena.

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:29:55 +0000

That's actually a good way of thinking about it, Samar.

By: Samar

Samar — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:22:43 +0000

Great post Allena!

Interestingly, when I think of niches, I don't think in terms of topics but instead in terms of different kinds of writing.

The bulk of my work involves blogging and ebook writing - which is what I've become known for. This way, I'm not tied down by a topic. I can blog and write an ebook about any topic my client wants.

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:30:13 +0000

Writing in your niche makes writing more enjoyable. Also, I can be considered an expert, which makes me a go to guy. Lastly, if your niche is conducive to a certain audience then you can build a platform from which you can sell your products. I'll write about anything, but there is an upside to having a niche. Thanks for the excellent post, Allena.

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:40:21 +0000

I fall squarely in the middle of the niche debate.

It's great to have an area or two of expertise - like Allena said, it usually makes the work go faster, and writing about things you enjoy (or are interested in learning about,as Devon said) keeps the work interesting. However, the ability to cover multiple niches makes you a more versatile writer.

That said, I totally agree with Allena's main point that finding your niche is a great place to start. If you don't have clips showing you're an expert writer, you need to convince editors or clients you're knowledgeable in their field if you expect to snag an assignment. It's exactly what people do with résumés: when they don't have the job experience the position requires, they focus on the skills or knowledge they have that someone in that job would need.

Lori might call it smart marketing.

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:04:58 +0000

I partly agree with you, Allena. I used to tell my students to use their own experience as a starting point, and I think that helps at the beginning. However, once you feel confident, there are all sorts of ways to expand your areas of expertise. I'm more of a generalist and would probably find it too limiting to stick to a niche or two.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:49:11 +0000

I disagree. I am the anti-niche. When the economy crashed, a lot of my fellow freelancers who were niche-based lost their clients. I did not, because I'm flexible enough to write anything.

I'm lucky that I have a quick learning curve, and if I don't know something, I can learn it fast enough during the writing process to write an article just as engaging as someone who's been in the business for years.

I DO agree that your life experience outside of writing feeds, enriches, and expands your markets. But it's not just about what you know and what you're doing, but what fascinates you. If you think it's exciting, you'll be able to communicate it to your readers.

And the more risks you take, the more you expand your areas of specialized knowledge, the more valuable you are.