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Topic: Is being a generalist a weakness?
| Author | Message |
| Xenophiliac | Posted – 2/15/2008 6:13:47 PM | show profile | email poster I've been a freelancer since 2005, but I haven't focused on a niche or specialty. Two of my regular clients went bankrupt last month, so I'm looking for more and having a hard time. I'm looking for help to market myself more effectively. Here's what I do: write a column for an alt-weekly; write news and features for the same; write fluff for the real estate industry; and until recently acted as contributing editor for a gaming magazine and a luxury magazine. Also, I've done technical writing for builders and real estate courses. I have worked full time at an alt-weekly (which I regret leaving) and at a lifestyle magazine prior to 2005. Before that, I was in English grad school and taught undergrad classes. I see these seemingly disparate things, all of which I can do well, as tied together by writing. I have several targeted resumes, but I don't leave any of my experiences off them. I simply highlight the relevant experience for the field. I think there is a perception today that a writer should only specialize in one area. I specialize in writing itself. I don't see that as a weakness, but I'm afraid potential employers/clients might. Right now, I need work, so I can't afford to specialize. Plus, I can't limit my resume to one thing because I haven't had long-term experience in any specific niche, just in writing. I try to market myself as "I can write anything" but I'm not sure people believe that's possible anymore. Any suggestions as to how I can make myself more marketable? |
| flight risk | Posted – 2/15/2008 6:28:03 PM | show profile It helps to sound like a specialist when pitching. That's what I usually do. I try to only mention clips and venues that are related to the story I'm pitching and similar to the subject/tone of the target magazine. The topics I've covered overall fall within many different categories. I think this is pretty common. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 2/15/2008 7:37:59 PM | show profile | email poster I agree with flightrisk. I've had a widely varied career and that has helped me survive as a freelancer. I've written hard news, features, copy, a song for a statewide campaign, book cover blurbs for Harlequin romances. I've edited and fact-checked for trade publications. The key to successful pitching is citing related experience, just like any successful job application. Although recently, I successfully pitched my ability to learn a whole new industry to write about it to a company looking for someone to learn a whole new industry for a trade publication. I think being a generalist requires an adaptability that makes you a catch. ------ http://writingporch.blogspot.com/ http://jlouiselarson.blogspot.com/ http://familyrootsandwings.blogspot.com/ |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 2/16/2008 2:28:35 AM | show profile If you are freelancing, you don't need a resume. You are selling a service, not seeking a job, and you should have marketing material. These can be in any form that is most effective for selling you -- a brochure, a credit sheet, etc. I have different marketing material for health writing gigs, business writing, technology writing. If I were going after a real estate gig, my market material would suggest I did nothing else. Your "real estate fluff," for example, could easily be used to position you as a real estate writer. It sounds like you are getting too hung up on this. This is about selling and marketing yourself. But yes, if you "specialize in writing itself" you are going to lose RE writing jobs to me, because when I apply for those jobs I am telling those clients I am a 100% RE writer while you are telling them you write about gaming, luxury, this and that, and, oh yeah, real estate too. Which of us would you hire? |
