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Write From Home
Kim Wilson
P.O. Box 4145
Hamilton, NJ 08610
Tel: (609) 888-1683
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How Do I
Specialize?
by Brian S. Konradt of BSK Communications
and Associates
If you're thinking about specializing, then choose one of the following
ways:
By default.
Most beginning writers lack the experience or don't
know how to specialize, so they remain generalists for some time. What
usually happens is that these writers eventually find out what they want
to specialize in from doing certain types of assignments and projects
and then begin to develop their specialty.
By decision.
You decide, based on your interests and passions,
what you want to specialize in.
By clients' decisions.
A client in the pharmaceutical industry
may have hired you a few times to copywrite a brochure. The client then
refers you to another client in the pharmaceutical industry to copywrite
a brochure. This client then refers you to another client in the same
type of industry. Very soon you're known as a writer who specializes in
brochure copy for businesses in the pharmaceutical industry.
If you're deciding to specialize, ask yourself these questions:
Is it necessary?
If you're not currently specializing and
you're operating a profitable writing/consulting business, is it
necessary right now? Most writers offer a specialty but also offer other
"general" writing services on the side. On the other hand, if
you're discovering that you're struggling to get yourself clients, you
may want to specialize to decrease the competition.
Do you have the skills now?
If so, how can you offer your
specialty to your existing clients and what do you need to do to go
after new clients? Also ask yourself what's needed to keep yourself
knowledgeable and resourceful in your specialized field.
If you don't have the skills required to specialize in your desired
area, what do you need to acquire these skills?
Also find out what
types of publications, organizations, and resources are available to
assist you in obtaining these skills as well as sharpening them on a
continuous basis.
As a specialist in your field, you are responsible to educate yourself
with all aspects of your specialty as well as to keep current with new
developments and trends in your field, otherwise clients will look upon
you as a second-class writer instead of a first-class one and may hire a
different writer for the job.
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Brian
Konradt is the owner and operator of
FreelanceWriting.Com (http://www.freelancewriting.com),
a web site dedicated to help writers master the business and creative
sides of freelance writing. Mr. Konradt is also the principal of BSK
Communications & Associates, a communications/publishing business in
New Jersey, which he established in 1992.
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Have You Read...
I Wanna
Win
by Cheryl Wright
If you want to win writing contests and earn that elusive tag of
'award-winning writer' or if you just want to hone your skills, this book will
point you in the right direction.
New to freelance writing?
Read
this informative article.
Read
Glossary of Writing Terms
Authors Area
Agents &
Publishers
Book Marketing
Publications
(Electronic & Print)
Resources
Associations &
Organizations
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Guideline Databases
Research & Reference
Classes, Workshops &
Seminars
Links
Author &
Writer Web Sites
Writing Sites
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Writing
and Illustrating Children's Books
