Writing: To Pick A Niche Or Not?
A tough choice for some writers…
When I started writing, I knew that I needed to find a niche.
Initially, I concentrated on topics that could help writers. It was an area I could easily relate to. It came easy. With proper research and deep thinking, my words flowed swiftly on pen and paper.
After some time, when I wrote topics in that particular niche, I would spend hours looking for subjects related to it. I got bored of writing about “writing". It became tiring to write things related to the same topic over and over.
Interestingly, my interests changed to core productivity topics, self-improvement, personal development and later, history. As my knowledge expanded, so did my interest in new topics.
I am still discovering myself each day as I write, depending on whatever mood I am in or what catches my interest per time.
I have read several books on how to find one’s niche as a writer. They usually emphasize how important it is to have a plan or road map while writing. Popular opinions dissuade writers from jumping at any opportunity to write if they do not have the requisite knowledge, experience or expertise in a chosen topic.
In the writing parlance, it is mostly believed that if you want to be successful as a writer, pick a niche and stay with it.
I do agree with this notion, however, I do not think it applies to every writer.
Now the question is: why can’t a writer just write whatever he or she feels like writing without being conscripted into a box (niche)?
As a writer, sometimes I want to delve into parenting topics or something related to children. Other times, I want to write like a smart-money woman, a modern-day feministic, a historian or a self-improvement expert. Unrestricted and unbothered about the niche.
For a writer like me, my curiosity peaks when I see certain topics and I know I can lend my opinion from another perspective, not minding if it’s my niche or not.
Ultimately, not everyone will be comfortable with sticking to one genre or form of writing.
Now, the mind boggles:
- Do you really need a niche to make great money as a writer?
- What happens to a writer who doesn’t have a unique selling point, but still wants his writing to appeal to people?
Why pick a niche?
There are several reasons why a writer could decide to pick a writing niche.
To this extent, Lindy Alexander argues that one reason why many writers do this is because they want to be known as specialists in those topics.
While this is true, some other writers pick a niche because they prefer to write what they are comfortable with.
Indeed, specialization has its many benefits and it comes with the following advantages:
- It helps with recognition and ease when people need to contact you for your services.
- If you feel more comfortable writing something, wouldn’t the best advice be to stick to what works for you? This is because it will cost you less effort and stress.
- It could also be a sure way to get repetitive clients who trust the quality of your work.
Are you a generalist or a specialist?
Writers fall into two groups: the generalists and the specialists. Generalists can write just about anything, while specialists have an established writing niche and work exclusively in that area.
Before I moved to being a generalist, I was confident that I had a niche, till something unrelated would catch my interest and I would quickly write about it.
I love being a generalist because I get to learn something about every written piece that comes my way. It gives me the ultimate freedom of expression: to write as I please!
What to do if you don’t have a niche
I know some very successful writers on medium who don’t even have a niche, but then I guess it works differently for everyone.
These writers enjoy writing about so many things and are still recognized for the great impact they have on other writers.
If you have the ability to write different kinds of content, there are ways to make people appreciate your writing.
It all depends on positioning.
Overtime, I have learnt that indeed there is beauty in diversity. Depending on how you position yourself, it could actually work perfectly.
Properly positioning yourself in the right place could work to your advantage.
“There’s really no point in being popular if it’s with the wrong crowd.” — Lindy Alexander
Being a generalist comes with its own unique advantages. Here’s how it has helped me:
- It has made me relate with more people in different aspects of writing.
- It has opened my mind to new knowledge, which I ordinarily wouldn’t know if I had a restrictive niche.
- It has made me a better writer than I was when I initially started writing.
- It’s also more profitable because it lays no barriers on what can be written when a client contacts me.
- It has pushed me to confront my fears as a writer because I now have the courage to write anything.
What to do if you wish to settle into a niche
According to Pete Boyle, having a niche helps you build an expert reputation quickly.
If you wish to identify your niche as a writer, here’s what you can do:
1. Identity an area of writing which you like.
It could be based on experience or the knowledge you have about it. It can also be something that you are passionate about or an area of need you seek to meet through writing.
Whatever it is, it advisable to figure out what your peculiar interests are.
No matter what you write about, there will always be an audience to whom it appeals.
2. Check for available opportunities and gaps in the market.
If you do wish to get paid, then it’s important to know businesses, websites, publications and people that can actually pay you to write for them.
There has to be a target market that you can reach.
If you can’t easily find one, it could be that your niche is a little too specific. This is when you may need to broaden it so that it can be seen by a larger audience.
“There has to be a market.” — Pete Boyle
3. Learn more about your niche
Knowledge is power. The only way you can get better is if you get more expertise in your chosen area of writing.
Staying up to date on the latest trends and information will keep you a step ahead.
You also need to go deeper by taking the following simple actions:
a) Check if there are lots of writers in that niche.
b) Do an online search to see if people are asking for advice related to that niche.
c) Are people hiring writers who specialize in that niche?
Striking a Balance
In life, there is no area of growth that can’t be attained. It only depends on the individual concerned.
Sticking to a writing niche is helpful, but not having one shouldn’t stop you from writing. As they say, variety is the spice of life. It’s also enjoyable to step out of one’s comfort zone sometimes.
Most writers explore several areas and discover that they experience unparalleled success while doing that.
Would they have known if they hadn't explored something new? No.