{"id":460,"date":"2009-03-18T06:36:27","date_gmt":"2009-03-18T14:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=460"},"modified":"2009-03-18T06:36:27","modified_gmt":"2009-03-18T14:36:27","slug":"how-to-expand-within-your-writing-niche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=460","title":{"rendered":"How to Expand Within Your Writing Niche"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t you love it when you learn something new\u2014meet a challenge\u2014overcome an obstacle? We experienced such a success yesterday, when we added a photo to the Catscapades blog. This was a first for us here in the Matilija Press offices. Check it out at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades<\/a> It\u2019s a photo of our white odd-eye cat, Winfield, with a strawberry where you would least expect to find one.<\/p>\n

I now belong to the Cat Writers\u2019 Association. I joined as a professional member since I have produced a book of cat stories. I\u2019ve also written about cats for several pet and animal magazines over the years. There seem to be people in the organization who write exclusively about cats. I also have friends who write strictly about animals and seem to be making a living doing so.<\/p>\n

Do you have a pet subject that you would like to write about? Or maybe you are already doing some writing on your favorite topic. Are your efforts paying your way? Or do you feel that maybe you\u2019re just spinning your wheels without monetary results? Maybe that\u2019s because you are trying to write too narrow. Today\u2019s blog is about expanding your horizons even if you want to stay focused on one basic topic.<\/p>\n

So what is your topic? Pets and animals (a very popular one), aviation, the environment, horses (this is the subject I wrote about when I started my writing career), quilting, cooking, relationships, parenting\u2026 Do you feel as though you have exhausted all of the article\/story possibilities related to this topic? If so, I have two things to say in response: I seriously doubt that you have written on your topic from all angles and perspectives. And if you absolutely have, you\u2019ve probably been writing on this subject for a thousand years, so just start all over again\u2014recycle those early articles. I\u2019m going on the assumption that you have not tapped all of the ideas and resources available on your subject and I will throw out some suggestions for you to consider when formulating your next 100 articles on your favorite topic:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tWrite about what you know related to your topic\u2014your experiences with it as a participant and as an observer.
\n\u2022\tWrite about what you want to know with regard to your topic. In other words, do some research to discover aspects of it that you have wondered about.
\n\u2022\tInterview experts as well as novices who have had experiences different than your own. Form articles around these interviews.
\n\u2022\tUse what you discovered in the interviews to come up with new article ideas.
\n\u2022\tExplore the many facets of your subject. If it is pets and animals, just look at the number of different types of animals you can study and write about. Multiply that by the number of issues around each of these types of animals. If your subject is quilting, just imagine how many different types of quilts there are\u2014each with a story behind it. Likewise, how many quilters are there? Can you see how these two topics could keep a writer busy for several lifetimes?
\n\u2022\tConsider all of the angles related to your topic: the history, the personalities, the businesses established around it, the hobbies, the organizations, the events. What about celebrities involved in this topic, the laws pertaining to it from country to country and so forth.
\n\u2022\tWiden your horizon when it comes to placing your articles and stories. Of course, you are aware of the traditional, well-known magazines of the trade. But are you also submitting to appropriate newsletters and websites? And what about publications that are not related to the topic? Consider submitting your piece featuring an older celebrity and his pet llamas to AARP The Magazine<\/em>, for example. A general interest magazine might be interested in your piece on flying as the new high for young pilots, your article on unique ways with legumes as a way to save money in these difficult economic times or one featuring quilting as a stress-reliever. <\/p>\n

If these few suggestions didn\u2019t give you new ideas for presenting your niche topic, you are either already practicing excellent skills as a freelance writer or you have closed your mind to the huge array of possibilities. If anyone cares to discuss their own blocks, disappointments or other problems related to their freelance writing work, please contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t you love it when you learn something new\u2014meet a challenge\u2014overcome an obstacle? We experienced such a success yesterday, when we added a photo to the Catscapades blog. This was a first for us here in the Matilija Press offices. Check it out at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades It\u2019s a photo of our white odd-eye cat, Winfield, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t