by Allen Teal

Created on: January 11, 2009

The old advice for writers is to write what you know. The bigger question would concern how much do you need to know before you start to write? For those wanting to write for pleasure, income, or both, you have to begin writing something. If the area of your expertise is not something that attracts many readers, you may starve to death before you can get your career going.

Niche writers find either a topic they know or a style they do well and ride it to success. Sometimes in a given area, a certain style is mandated. This is especially true if you plan to write project documentation or write for web sites. Finding people who are able to do such writing and bring a nice document to the table is not easy. These writers can find themselves in demand and sometimes paid very handsomely for their services.

The problem with niche writing for some serious writers is that it can become a little dull. Alright, it can become a lot dull. Writing in the same format or covering the same topic over and over can lead to burnout. There are some who really appreciate the sense of routine and comfort that not needing to adjust and change brings. For others, a trip to the dentist can seem more pleasant.

Niche writers have the distinct advantage of being able to learn where the demand for their product is. This means that it is unlikely that a good quality niche writer will ever be saddled with trying to peddle their talent to unknown clients. In fact, once your reputation is established in a given market, the clients will seek you. This can add considerably to the fees that you are able to ask for and receive.

The Jack-of-all-trades writer evaluates each offer and determines if it fits what can be produced. Often the topic will vary from the knowledge area of the writer. However, these writers thrive on the opportunity to learn and experience new things. Instead of building an expert knowledge in one area, the Jack-of-all-trades writer enjoys the research and exploration involved with each assignment.

The problem here is that the reputation of the writer is based on the volume of the work and not on personal expertise. Clients will view the diversity of the materials produced as proof of this writer's ability to generate the copy they need by a given deadline. These writers build a reader base built on their unique ability to bring out interesting facts or give easy to understand explanations about a given topic. The readers will seek this writer because they enjoy drinking in the text the way that friends enjoy each other's company.

Either way, authors need to understand that building a base of hundreds of quality articles is the first step. A writer's work must prove itself to those who chose to buy it or consistently read it.

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