So a friend of mine, a super-smart publisher whose opinion I value sent me this link yesterday: Picking Your Niche.
Defining and sticking to a niche is a concept that many creative types find challenging. “What is your niche?” people will ask you.
You may think about it a moment and answer something like this: “Well I like to write stories that are suspense-driven but they have romantic elements and are inspired by true crimes. Also, I do freelance copywriting to pay the bills. And I blog occasionally.”
You wouldn’t believe how common it is to get this sort of response from a writer. It’s amazingly difficult for creative types to build themselves a box and stay in it willingly.
I’m going to put myself up as an example. I’m running this website and the only box I’ve given myself is that this site will cover writing and publishing. That is a very broad target, and it may well limit me from becoming branded or known as a specialist in one particular niche.
Take a look at the list of categories in my sidebar, for example. There are more than 25 categories including writing technique, nonfiction business advice, blogging, social networking and on and on.
Now if I was really being a good writer and a blogger, I would pick just one of those categories—say blogging—and write about it exhaustively.
People want to know what they’re going to get from you. They want to know where to find your book in the bookstore, what kind of information they’re going to get when they click on your link, and are you worth the time and money and effort. I understand that completely.
I’m a freelance writer, a blogger, an editor, a maybe-soon-to-be agent, a sometimes copywriter and PR person and a lover of books of all kinds. I know I’m not putting myself into a box as well as I should and I’m probably spreading myself thin and hurting my personal brand (writer? editor? agent? what is she?). I’m exploring what naturally interests me and that’s not the smartest marketing strategy. I know that.
But you know what? The air inside one small box can be suffocating.
-Maria Schneider
Flickr photo by Striatic
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Agreed wholeheartedly, Maria. Why should we be shunned if we have more than one box? Have we not been taught to always learn more, do new things, have multiple strengths right from the get-go of childhood education? Isn’t this also good investment advice, to not put all your eggs in one basket? Why then, oh why, should one stick to one thing? The choice should be yours.
I love this. I like to write about whatever strikes my fancy at the time…I have varied interests throughout my life, and they all inspire me in some way and I am sure they are all featured somewhere in my writing. I have never understood people’s tendency to categorize everything. Also, by not sticking to just one topic or niche I think you appeal to wider audience and reach more people.
~Steph~
You go Maria! I love how you say things and in the right moment :). Lately I’ve been wondering on what I want to write and it’s really so broad, I feared no agent, nor editor would like me to write for such different niches but… I’ll try anyway because I love so many different genres and can’t stop at only one. Thanks for being so timely.
A pleasure to read you, as always :).
I agree with you, Maria! I usually intro myself as a generalist, because I like writing about all different kinds of things. If pressed, I will say that I have most frequently written about women’s issues, food and wine, and gardening. But I don’t like being boxed in, either, because I feel I can write well about any topic. I asked during a recent journchat or editorchat via Twitter if there are any other generalists out there, and was answered by a few people, but mostly people who appear to be very happily ensconced in their boxes.
I think one’s primary goal for their presence online is a key factor in deciding whether to
box one’s self intocarve out a niche or not, as is the size of the pool you’re trying to swim in. If you’re just looking to be in the mix, interact with others and share your experiences and opinions on a range of topics, go for it! That’s pretty much been my approach since I first started blogging back in 2003; I’m all over the place, exploring different things that interest me and moving on when they don’t any longer, with no obligation to produce a steady stream of content nor any need to build an audience of notable size. I write for myself and a randomly fluctuating audience of friends and colleagues.If you’re looking to develop a personal brand and/or generate revenue, though, having a specialty is important, even if it’s seemingly broad at first glance. I’d argue that, despite the range of topics she covers, Maria’s primary focus here at Editor Unleashed is on the business of writing and is a perfect niche that leverages her experience and her strengths very well, allowing her to carve out a solid niche amidst the myriad writing/publishing websites, large small.
Important to note as well: many of us are still finding our way in the writing world and to try to jump into a niche that may not fit you would be unwise.
Most actors hate type casting. I’d bet many writers feel the same way.
I really enjoy your blog! Your post about a writing niche fits in perfectly with a series I’ve been writing on thinking outside of the box. I hope it is okay if I link to your post tomorrow in the final day of the series. It ties in perfectly with what I’ve been trying to do!
Thanks all, it’s wonderful to hear from so many other writers on this topic, especially since it’s such a frustrating one!
And Kimberly, of course you can link to this blog. Drop me a note and I’ll check it out when you post.
YES! YES! YES! What’s the point if there is no passion and why must passion be labeled? Is it still passion if I am branded?
Maria, I think it’s the quality of your ideas and the flavor of their expression that carries the audience, not their pinpoint focus. It’s great that you can offer Twitter tips, ebook info and then host an agent’s forum—all have value and spice. I write fiction, essays, travel pieces, profiles and marketing collateral, and have sometimes squirmed under the “focus” finger, but now I just give that finger the finger right back. Keep up the good work, in all its kaleidoscopic character!
‘Niche’ does not necessarily equate to narrow. There are many different ways to do things: edit, blog, write, agent, twitter. But the substance might all connect, and that is your niche. Your substance is self-evident – the business of writing – which, by definition, covers all you do, from idea conception to writing to editing to sales to marketing and promotion.
I also write in different venues/genres: novels, poems, shorts, creative non-fiction, peer-reviewed academic manuscripts, grant proposals, press releases, and blogs. The substance, however, is constant throughout – health and mental wellness. That’s my niche.
Convenient that my niche also is my passion.
So manifest yourself, baby! Peace, Linda
Amen, Maria! As my website will attest, I’m in two too many niches right now. And even in my Children’s Author niche I’m a bit scattered. But I do understand the value of the box. So I’m slowly scrunching myself in and taping up the ends. But you still might hear me banging around inside.
The problem is that, if you are new to fiction writing, the only way to find your niche is by the process of elimination. At least, that’s how it’s been for me. I narrowed it down instantly, since I knew what I wanted to write about. Within that genre, though, there are a multitude of sub-genres.
Some people only read and write one genre, so the choice is easy for them. I read and enjoy multiple genres, and once I started writing, I wanted to try them all. I can understand why some authors choose to write under two pen names, each in a different genre. If I ever make it that far, I think that will be my choice.
On the one hand, I enjoy writing stories that are light-hearted and a little twisted. On the other hand, I enjoy writing stories that are dark and scary and a lot twisted. I can’t see marketing them under the same umbrella, and I wouldn’t want to write one style and the expense of another. Hence, two pen names.
Basically, I’m choosing to live in two boxes.
At the university, a person with a PhD is said to be someone who, “knows more and more, about less and less”. Today I am taking my mom to a medical doctor who specializes in one bone in her knee–one bone. I saw a “tweet” this morning on Twitter about a person who claims to be an expert on, just, Twitter. I worry about that much specialization.
The amount of information available–and changing by the minute–is overwhelming. It is logical we need experts on specific information.
But, we also need people who can see the bigger picture, the macro-systems, the way things come together.
Maria, you keep learning, and then filtering the information to us. I have heard a PhD. Early childhood communication speech/language/pathologist who researches first language development in children under two (specific enough?) tell us infants learn language through a process called “pruning” like pruning a rose bush or tree. Infants prune or pick out the language that makes sense to them and then incorporate those words in their vocabulary. This researcher then suggests this may give us a clue about how ALL learning takes place. Learning is all a process of selection.
What I like about your blog is the fact you are helping us, as writing infants, make sense of this crazy writer’s world. That is a specific goal. Just keep doing what you are doing.
Humm. Not sure this makes sense, or maybe it explains the wrinkles by my eyes… too much pruning?
I have multiple interests so therefore have multiple boxes. Each box, however, is very small. For example my personal development interests are boxed into helping people get rid of the word Someday from their lives. And my fiction gets boxed into young adult fantasy.
Writing is my niche. :)
I write all sorts and love variety.
What a great post: ‘nail’ and ‘head’ come to mind.
This niche-ing business bothers me too. I’m a copywriter, publisher, poet, musician, songwriter, editor, proofreader, engineer…
And you know what? Niche, schmiche.
Many of us professionals have so much valuable perspective to offer because the very breadth of our experience allows us to connect dots that others may not even realise are connectable. Surely we’d be doing our clients and readers a disservice if we didn’t create such conversations?
Inside a box? No thanks. A bit claustrophobic. How many times do we hear about thinking outside the box anyway?
We’ll be the ones creating alternative constructs for someone else to live in, thanks!
Thank you again for this pertinent post.
I understand completely. I’m a songwriter who also writes short stories and novels, some action/adventure, some science fiction, and on top of that publishes non-fiction for another author. And people wonder “What is this guy? Author, songwriter, publisher?” But I never did much creative work from inside a box.
For all those hung up on niche=box, here’s a great article about “Thinking INSIDE the box” that makes it clear that boxes are not inherently bad, and in many cases, can actually be a good thing: http://lateralaction.com/articles/thinking-inside-the-box/