Lovely Girl   +  writing

This topic came up during last night's freelance writing class: Is it better to specialize or be open to any topics that come up? That depends. Specializing allows you to become intimately familiar with your niche, so you can quickly locate sources, brainstorm for ideas, and reuse your research. I know successful freelancers who specialize in healthcare writing, food and beverages, even pets. But if you choose too narrow a specialization or one that doesn't have a ton of lucrative markets, it could be difficult to earn a living. On the flip side, generalizing gives you the flexibility to explore many different topics. You may find yourself stretched in lots of different directions, but then you'll probably never get bored. I consider myself to be more of a generalist, but I also have a few areas of "specialization." Because I've written a lot about personal finance, lifestyle topics, and careers, I can play up those credits when I'm querying within those areas. For me, it's the best of both worlds. What about you?