I recently asked readers about their writer specialty. Do you have one? What is it? Is it special enough? With all the competition in the freelance writing world, specialization matters a great deal towards success. But is it enough?
In the comment section, a few people noted that having a diverse set of skills can be just as important as specialization, if not more so. That’s certainly true, and a point worth stressing. Here are a few reasons why you should diversify:
Specialists Need to Survive
Writers can and should have a wide range of skills, able to dabble a little bit in everything. It’s a safety net to survival, one that lets you move where buyers are spending.
You may be the best press release writer there is on the planet, but if press releases are all you can do, you may be in trouble when market demands shifts. Diversification helps make sure you can still pay the bills if demand isn’t strong.
Variety is the Spice of Life
It’s a good idea to be able to have a variety of projects on your plate so that you can say interested in the job that you do. Having a routine job where you continually perform the same type of work, day in and day out, can get boring.
When you switch from writing a magazine article to some punchy sales content to a compelling piece of brochure copy, you help your mind stay sharp, and you keep your job fun.
Learning to Love Something New
Many writers like to stick with one type of work – the work they do best. They tend not to try new things or take a shot at a different area of writing.
But sometimes, tackling a new type of project can open up a world. The article writer learns that marketing copy is her true love! The journalist discovers that website content is a ton of fun! The sales letter writer discovers a hidden passion for creative fiction.
You may discover that you do one thing very well – and do another even better.
Opening Up Opportunities
When you stick with a clique, you only get to know people just like you. You move in the same circles, you frequent the same hangouts, you interact with the same crowds. Specialists end up limiting the people they know and their network potential by always staying within the same group of people.
Writers who diversify get to know new people and benefit from networking. That networking brings back interesting opportunities for better gigs, joint ventures, and even a new potential client base.
The bottom line is that every freelance writer needs a specialty to stand out. Find what yours is and really hone in on exactly what you do very, very well. Promote that all over the place.
And then start bringing variety into your life. Diversify. Learn new types of writing. Branch out into new areas of work. You never know what good things might come of it.
If you’re ready to branch out and diversify, then The Unlimited Freelancer is the book for you. Grab your copy and learn how to bring more gigs, more clients and more money your way – without having to work harder.
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Hi Deb,
One of the things I love about freelance writing as a career is the variety. I’ve been a sports writer, a software specialist, have written about hardware too.
I have been an editor of newspapers and magazines. I’ve written extensively about drug and alcohol recovery.
I now blog and ghostwrite books.
The common thread in all this is me – when the web arrived I began to write for the web, and now I blog as well as ghostwrite.
The thing is that my skills have been transferable… and, of course, over time, have gotten better. It’s a kick to be able to follow my interests over time.
A
Hi Deb;
I would like to say that I am a bit of both to some extent I am a style and beauty writer, but having said that if something else comes along then it is always nice to learn about something new.
And as Anne said, part of being a freelance writer is the opportunity to have varity in the assignments or projects we undertake.
Thanks
Cindy