by James Chartrand
Have you ever faced a moment where you just don’t know the answer? I have. I’m wondering what the right answer is right now, in fact, because I’m supposed to pitch my niche and get specific about what I’ll write here at FWJ.
The problem is that I don’t want to make promises I’m not going to keep.
You see, I could tell you that I’d like to write on fiction and the process of finding an agent or being publishing. I could say that I want to focus on writing website content or blogging. Maybe I’d write on the business side of freelancing, such as building a client base or marketing. Or maybe I’ll just rant, or make you think.
I could choose any of those niche areas or something completely different – and I’d be stuck. I’d be caught in a rut trying to make sure that I fulfill the obligations I set for myself right here in writing.
Would that be a smart thing to do? I don’t think so. It certainly does fulfill the requirements of the job and the assignment at hand. I’m sure that knowing who the “go to” person for this niche or that helps create a smoother process for Deb.
But labeling myself as a niche writer so specifically doesn’t help you, the readers, nor does it help me, the writer.
You see, you’re all different people. Your needs aren’t the same as the next person’s, and your needs are ever-changing as well. Each of us in the writing industry are adapting to constant metamorphosis as the world around us changes as well.
Targeting is a very good thing to do as a writer or in business. Be a specialist. It works. But by committing myself to writing on one niche only, I believe I just cage myself into an obligation that will eventually make me unhappy.
I’ll get bored. I’ll tap out the subjects. I won’t be able to see new angles. I’ll feel redundant and blasé. Think it doesn’t happen? Ask any niche blogger. Everyone gets tired of writing on the same old all the time. The work becomes stale and readers can see interest wane.
Then what? Then the blogger reaches the point of believing it’s all been said. There’s nothing more to talk about. The joy leaves the job.
I freelance to be free and to focus on what I love. Do I want a job where I know I’ll grow to resent limitations of expression and freedom? Nope. Not anymore. I’ve been there, done that.
I know that I’m the type of person that needs to write on what comes to mind, what’s important and what’s interesting. I’m an all-niche and a no-niche writer. I also know that a writer who writes on new topics and never becomes stale interests you too.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I appreciate the honesty that you don’t have a niche. (I don’t have a niche in my own writing.) However, I thought all along that the Idol contest was to find a person who was going to write about a specific niche here - not a person who was going to write “catch-all” style.
Good luck! I think all the contestants have been great in this!
August 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I think you’re a very good writer. You have a unique voice and I’m positive I know who you are and have voted for you many times in the past. That’s why it pains me to tell you I think this post is a copout.
Deb made no bones about it, she wanted niches. She even made a point of saying how disappointed she was so many writers didn’t pitch niches in their applications. With that in mind I don’t understand why you would put it all back on us. Would you tell any other client (or boss behind a big desk) you don’t want to do your job every day becasue you’ll get bored? i’m sorry but I think you took the wrong approach and that’s why I won’t vote for you this week.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Based on this post, I have to wonder if you still want the job.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I agree with the sentiment and I like the honesty behind it.
In a blog like this I can’t say I’m all that interested in reading work by niche writers. I’d rather read a wider spread of topics & if I want to read niche then I’ll read a niche blog.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Like some of the others have posted, I love the honesty and I completely understand the dilemma. However, Jodee and Deb contribute a lot of variety in their weekly posts, so more of the same seems to defeat the purpose of adding a new writer.
I think they have the ‘general population’ covered and wanted to add something specific. Its a shame about Ugur, because I think the technical writing niche plus another niche in addition to the job leads plus Deb and Jodee posts would really cover a lot of bases for the community.
Things I think might help a broad range of folks here could be anything from technology and software that helps writers to style/editing/grammar to the types of writing genres out there - pros and cons, things to look for, how to check out companies/gigs,etc.
Is there something that reaches a broad range of people, leaves you a lot of flexibility and creativity, but has a central ‘theme’ you would be willing and able to write? It doesn’t have to be anything I listed.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I like the honesty. I often find it difficult to zone in one one niche, so I totally understand this post. While Deb did say pitch the niche for this round, I personally feel this post is 100% great.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I love the honesty in your post but found it far too depressing. Things like ‘the downward spiral, being bored, a writer unable to see the angles, limitations of expression, the joy leaves’…
There are always new angles to explore and discover on every single topic and every subject imaginable. In ten years I have yet to tire of being (ugg) ‘niche’.
I personally dislike the word niche. I am a niche writer of sorts, but I never think of myself as such because I can always expand my niche or I can expand outside the niche I find myself in (new clients, new work) to add novelty, balance and a freshness to my career.
I believe a “niche” is only a limitation to those without the vision and desire to grow and learn as a person and a writer. I’m sorry, but I also don’t think I could cast a vote for you this week. Good luck, though.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Thank you for this post. It certainly is true that as writers that we don’t want to be “pegged” into a certain niche so I do appreciate your honesty in this. Although you didn’t want to indicate a specific niche, I would have liked even a short list of some possible topics that you may write about in the future.
All the best in the contest.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:06 am
So…the niche. I did want something specific even if it was “I can talk about blogging” or “I can talk to the FWJ community about setting rates and landing clients.” There’s a reason for this and it all fits in with my vision for FWJ as a little freelance writing network - something along the lines of Sparkplugging . So if Ms. Underwood doesn’t know what to write about we might have to brainstorm a niche for her if she wins.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:07 am
My biggest question about this post is how much you really have to say. I have a hard time seeing how you could say you’d run out of things to say on such a broad topic as blogging or writing web content or the business side of writing. Those topics have broad appeal and also give you infinite possibilities for topics to cover. Being unable to think of enough topics makes me question whether you have enough to say about writing to share things I don’t already know.
Perhaps I’m different. I don’t really consider myself a veteran. I’ve been doing this for 4 years, though, and I know that’s more than many who visit and are newbies. Still, I think you’re really talking about wanting to skim the surface of a lot of topics if you can’t be bothered to get in-depth into a topic to provide frequent comments. Perhaps it’s just the way I’m reading what you’re writing, but it seems to be about a lack of desire to put effort into finding unique pieces to write.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I actually really liked this post a lot. I prefer your style of writing to that of the other candidate, and I think this post flows like a dream. Still, like others have said, it bothers me that you don’t pitch a niche. As a candidate who has been very clear and specific about my niche for all the time I was in the contest, I can’t help but feel as if you didn’t adhere to Deb’s original contest requests. Obviously, you’ve gotten further along in the contest than I did, so perhaps my remark doesn’t have the merit I’d hope… but those are my thoughts. I still may well give you my vote because I feel your writing voice is much more authentic and genuine than the other candidate’s, but I’m just not sure because of this post’s content.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I really liked this post also. Not only do I appreciate the honesty, but I like the fact that you want to offer variety. While I know the goal was to find a new blogger with a specialty, I think at times people tend to focus too narrowly on a subject and then limit themselves in the scope of what they have to offer.
Take Ugur. While I enjoyed his posts, I would have been much more engaged (and inclined to read his posts) had it been 8 posts per month each featuring an aspect of a different type of writing. The fact that the chosen niche was technical writing and thus the subject of all of his posts did not compel me to read it on the days he posted (and therefore engage in the community aspect of it.)
Instead, I decided to use them as a reference archive to refer to as needed (and yes obviously something happened that he is no longer here and his content is removed, but that is another matter entirely.)
As far as this post, again the honesty aspect of it wins points and to me it’s even fine that you want to have a broader focus (despite the original parameters.) What I would have liked for you to address however (and make a solid commitment to) is exactly what you ARE going to offer the community. You broach some topics and then hedge by saying “maybe” you’ll write on this or that. Can’t speak for the others, but I want some solid information before we make a decision. Maybe if you monitor the comments you can address our concerns in this forum, and kill two birds with one proverbial stone by also demonstrating the level of interactiveness you plan to offer.
Overall though, I do like the post and your voice, and wish you success in this final vote.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I’ve read the comments and did some thinking. I appreciate everyone’s candor, certainly. That’s a good thing.
The reason I wrote this post is that I’ve been blogging steadily and daily for a few years now. I know full well the risks of blogging as a job, and as a freelancer, there are only certain risks I’m willing to take. This is the joy of freelancing, after all, and this blog is Freelance Writing Jobs. One would suspect Deb knows what I’m talking about.
As to what I can bring to the community, my sales pitch, my areas of expertise, etc… I suppose I could easily have written all that in.
However, I’ve been doing that since day one, and I think that consistently writing the same pitch over and over only makes it that much more likely that some readers recognize me, which I feel is unfair to others in this competition. This is one reason we’re using pseudonyms, I believe.
Secondly, I would think that people want to read something different than 16 weeks of the same message, which is why I wanted to make this post different, as I’ve done with all my posts.
Lastly, niche is niche, and there is a big difference between “niche” and “what you might write about.” Niche is, by definition, targeted and honed. Which means binding and restrictive.
To those who wondered if I really did want the gig - yes, of course. Or I wouldn’t be writing. But I don’t want a gig that ends up being something different than what I signed up to be, which is a freelance blogger writing on freelance writing.
Thanks for all your thoughts!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for the reply. I like your writing style a lot and I haven’t figured out who to vote for this week.
One thing that bugs me that you said is the end of the post: “But I don’t want a gig that ends up being something different than what I signed up to be, which is a freelance blogger writing on freelance writing.”
It seems you are adamant that you don’t want to write about a specific niche - which is exactly what you signed up for in the Idol contest. Deb has been pretty clear about that. So, are you saying if you get the job that you won’t be writing about a certain niche? Because if not, I don’t understand why you are still in contest, because that’s not what Deb wants.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
@ Kori - Actually, the contest was for “an experienced freelance writer to blog two days per week on a specific topic pertaining to freelance writers.” That’s what Deb wanted. The contest wasn’t for a niche writer within the niche of writing.
I am adamant that I don’t want to write on a specific niche within a niche - at 2,100 readers here at FWJ, there’s no way that by doing so, my posts would touch most readers (no one can ever please all readers). I’d rather reach more writers than a specific handful.
And if that means readers feel I shouldn’t be here? That’s fine; I understand that view too and have no issues with it - which is why there is a vote potential that allows readers to decide
(Thanks for the compliments!)
August 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
So, what’s the “specific topic” you want to write about? I’m just curious because even in this thread Deb says she wants something specific (though she calls it a niche
).
I’m only questioning you because I want to vote for you. But I still want to know what your topic is before I do.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Hi Carrie,
Actually we’re up to about 3500 - 4000 visitors a day and hopefully still growin.
I did want a niche within a niche. I want someone who can cover a particular topic each week whether it’s content writing, copy writing, tech writing, blogging, rates, hiring practices. It’s exactly what I meant by specifics and why I mentioned niches more than once.
You see, Jodee and both write about anything we want - and that is working fine. Now I’m trying to turn FWJ into a network and community for freelance writers. (Again - Sparkplugging is the closest I can come to a comparison). So each blogger here will have their own blog page to talk about a particular topic. Our visitors will be able subscribe to each particular blog or see links to different blogs on the FWJ main page, rather than everyone’s posts in the same place.
jodee’s niche will be markets and leads, I also hope to hire someone to blog from a client’s point of view and someone to write about writing for the web. This is why I’m looking for focus from each of the writers. It doesn’t make sense to have that kind of format if everyone is writing about anything they want.
And really talking about…say blogging…isn’t such a narrow focus. Neither is talking about freelancing. Or grammar. There are so many ways we can go here.
So yes, I was looking for specifics from each writer. Believe it or not, there’s a method to my madness.
Now, it’s going to take some time and money to build all that up, and to be honest, we’re only breaking even right now, but that’s the plan for the future and why I was specific about niches - or “specific topics.”
Good luck to you both and congratulations on making it thus far.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
@ Kori - Fair question. The “specific topic,” as per the job specs, would be whatever the topic of the day might be, based on need, personal observation, comment section questions, FAQs that need to be addressed, blogosphere talk, etc.
The specs didn’t say that the specific topic had to be the same with each blog post or that the blog posts must always be on that specific topic. That’s where I balk. Say I chose “salaries for writers” - how long before I’d covered everything I could on salaries? Then what?
That may include pay rates, copyright laws, freedom in business, how to research well, creative writing and fiction, does craigslist suck, writing proposals, how to keep friends from dropping over while you’re working, coping with kids and clients at once, selling ebooks, writing web copy, sales copy techniques, what to do when you can’t get work, what to do when you have too much work…
While yes, Deb and Jodee do just fine in general, they’re hiring someone for one reason: so they can blog less. Why? Because blogging all the time for months and years is hard.
Why make that job harder?
(Keep the questions coming, they’re fun, heh)
August 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
@ Deb - Hm. Alright. Let me think about that.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:24 am
Just a last note and then I’ll let it go.
I think many people don’t understand why I wrote that post. I wanted to write something that would provoke some thought in people, have them sit back and say, “Yeah, wow… I never thought of that.” It would have been the coolest thing to have people discuss the drawbacks of being a blogger, creativity burnout or hazards of freelance writing.
I wasn’t deliberately attempting to malign anything about the contest or Deb’s requirement. But as a blogger, if I didn’t make anyone think beyond the face value, then I’d be remiss in my job.
(I’m going to post this comment over on the vote’s comment section as well.)
Thanks Deb, for your support.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I read this post a few days ago; It seems as though you stepped into my mind with this post.
I definitely got what you were getting at I really enjoyed reading it so thank you for writing it.
Have I experienced creativity burnouts? Yes, I’ve been there a few times myself. I’m a business owner and a freelance writer one of the main reasons I did choose them because of the freedom it has given me. Yes, definitely can understand getting bored with a particular subject at times I look for a different approach and if that doesn’t help I step away focus on something else. At times, I do find taking a break helps. Additionally, interacting with others who are knowledgeable about the topic has been helpful.
I really enjoyed your post, thanks again.