When most writers first enter the world of freelancing, the amount of jobs and possibilities can be overwhelming. However, after the first few rejection letters, freelance writing sometimes seems like it's not the career it's cracked up to be.
The problem most writers have is they try to increase their chance at being published by writing articles across the board, over all imaginable topics. While it's great to have this ability later down the road, in the beginning writers would fare better if they honed in one one particular skill and market.
Here are a few tips for writers on finding a writing niche.
What is a Writing Niche?
The key for a writer getting work is not by broadening his abilities, but honing in on a few very specific areas. This idea comes from a theory known as "The Long Tail". According to Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine:
"The theory of the Long Tail is that our culture and economy is increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of "hits" (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve and toward a huge number of niches in the tail." (longtail.typepad.com)
This idea can easily be applied to writing. Say, for example, a writer most enjoys writing about fitness. That narrows the field down some, but next she should make notes about where her real area of expertise lies. Perhaps she is a yoga instructor, or a professional weight-lifter. Maybe she's managed to lose weight by cycling, or figured out a fun exercise program her kids love.
The more specific the niche, the smaller – but more in demand – the writer will be in that market.
Finding a Writing Niche
The best way for a writer to find his niche is to sit down and make a list of his interests and hobbies. Anything from gardening to wind surfing is great. The writer can also list things he can claim expertise in, perhaps skills he uses at his job. The more he can narrow in on the skill and specify, the better the niche.
For example, lets say the writer is a musician. That's a broad niche. Maybe he plays the piano, which narrows the niche further. Perhaps he's classically trained, but prefers salsa music. Now he has a much more specific area in which to focus on, and his experience will help him stand out to editors.
To narrow this down even more, the writer can consider his location. A piano player in St. Louis that can write about the city's latin jazz scene has a much narrower area of expertise than simply "music".
Find a Niche and Start Freelance Writing Today
Once the writer finds a niche, he can start a blog and begin writing about the subject. While there is no income in the beginning, the effort he puts in now will pay off later when he has already established himself as an expert in the field.
With patience and hard work, a dedicated writer can discover his niche and begin to make money freelance writing.
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