Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Head in the Clouds

Posted on June 4, 2012 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Somebody That I Used to Know by Walk Off the Earth (originally by Gotye) Hi. Miss me? I missed all of you. I just went nearly a week without any Internet connection and while it’s sad not being connected to the world, it’s the most refreshing, freeing feeling. If you haven’t…

Scope Creep

Posted on June 1, 2012 by lwidmer

I’m still somewhere deep in the Canadian Rockies and probably without an Internet connection. I can tell you from experience that I love being disconnected. It’s absolutely refreshing. Still, after about two weeks, I’ll be getting that “missing mouse” twitch from computer withdrawal. I’m leaving this for you to contemplate until I can get myself back…

Bending Rules and Delivering Service

Posted on May 31, 2012 by lwidmer

Wasn’t that a great Writers Worth celebration? I still have some posts, but I’m not around to get them up for you, so we’ll wait until I return. I’m still out of the office, but I couldn’t leave you without something to read, now could I? Thanks to my shoe-shopping habit, I had plenty of…

Writers Worth Three: Hobbyists Need Not Apply

Posted on May 30, 2012 by lwidmer

Three weeks of Writers Worth posts — can you believe it? Thanks to everyone who posted and those whose posts are in transit. You have helped make this a fantastic movement of learning and sharing and encouragement (and butt kicking — can’t forget that!). May what you’ve written and commented inspire another writer to change…

Writers Worth Three: The Three T’s

Posted on May 29, 2012 by lwidmer

What’s this? A third week of Writers Worth? Darn skippy! It’s thanks to all of you that we can continue helping our own improve how they handle business and how they view their own value. So thank you to everyone whose posts are appearing here and everyone whose comments add to the experience. Let me…

Writers Worth Two: Are You A Flasher?

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lwidmer

Even though I’m writing this before I head out, I know by now we’ll be in the car driving toward the Canadian Rockies. The plan is to stay in Jasper, AB for a few days, then down near Banff and Lake Louise before hightailing it back to Seattle for our flight home. I promise to…

Writers Worth Two: Freelance Writer’s Dictionary

Posted on May 24, 2012 by lwidmer

Welcome to Day Nine of the Fifth Writers Worth movement! Today’s our last day in Vancouver, and my last chance to check in, assuming I’m able to wrestle the laptop from my husband (he may need it for the conference) and secure decent WiFi. Know what the best part of asking you to share your…

Writers Worth Two: What You Don’t Deserve

Posted on May 23, 2012October 26, 2016 by lwidmer

I’m still in Vancouver, one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. I’m still hit-and-miss with the WiFi, I imagine (writing this ahead of time), but the Writers Worth continues on in earnest! Another day, another fantastic post! Again, many thanks to all who contributed their thoughts and experiences. You’ve helped writers in ways…

Writers Worth Two: Confidence

Posted on May 22, 2012 by lwidmer

Yes, it’s another day of Writers Worth celebration! Thanks again to all who contributed. To those of us reading, we appreciate the words of wisdom. And if you’re new to the blog, you’re seeing some great stuff from some impressive people. I’m still lurking, but not for much longer. We’ll be in the wilds of…

Writers Worth Two: Finding Niches

Posted on May 21, 2012 by lwidmer

Welcome to Week Two of Writers Worth, er…. Weeks! I’m not here. If I’m online, I’m lurking from a WiFi spot in Vancouver. That doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. I know you’ll make each guest poster feel welcome and engage them in conversation. And thank you in advance. Thanks also to Allena Tapia…

Devon Ellington

May 21, 2012

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.

Sharon Hurley Hall

May 21, 2012

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.

Paula

May 21, 2012

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.

Wade Finnegan

May 21, 2012

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.

Samar

May 21, 2012

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.

Sharon Hurley Hall

May 21, 2012

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

Lori

May 21, 2012

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.

Anne Wayman

May 21, 2012

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…

Shakirah Dawud

May 21, 2012

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.