The Freelance HubArticles and tips for writers

As a freelance writer, it literally pays to be knowledgeable. Having authoritative knowledge about a complex or technical subject sets you apart from other writers and gives you a definitive edge when it comes to paying markets. While you can make a living writing about dozens of subjects you know a little about, you are far more likely to create a lucrative income stream if you can write about something that few other writers have the knowledge and experience to write about.

Picking a specialty topic is something that you should do carefully. The most important question to ask is whether you have enough interest in the topic to spend hundreds of hours learning about it and years writing about it. Don’t pick a specialty topic just because you think it will pay well. If it is something you don’t care about, it will be far more difficult to learn. Even if you overcome the barriers to becoming an expert on the topic, if you just don’t care, writing about that topic will be a lousy way to spend the next few years. Without passion, there is no reason to specialize. The money won’t be worth it.

When most people think about lucrative specialties, they think about technical specialties such as engineering, science or medicine. While such specialties can be very lucrative, there is money to be made by learning in depth about almost any topic as long as it has a large enough number of people who care enough about it to buy books, magazines, videos and such. There are audiences for history writing, craft writing, economic writing, and many other topics. The key is to look for subjects that you can write passionately about, and then work to deepen your knowledge.

Here are six ways to deepen your knowledge of a topic.

Get out there and do it

It should be obvious that writing about such topics as welding, programming, skiing, sewing, and sailing would be silly if you have never done those things. While there are a few topics you simply study, for most things you need to learn by doing.

Read about the subject

Find books, blogs, magazines, journals and anything else that you can get your hands on. Read extensively and take notes.

Take classes

Many people find that the structure of a classroom helps them to focus and learn. Taking a class can be a great way to move forward. Some specialties require advanced education and even certification. While that can seem daunting at first, remember that those barriers will help eliminate the number of competitors you’ll have once you finish.

Interview people

Finding experts in the topic and interviewing them is a great way to get started in an area. It gives you the opportunity to publish in the topic as you are learning, and it helps you make contacts for the future.

Join clubs, groups and associations

Getting together with other people who are interested in your topic not only helps you learn, but it helps you make contacts in the community. This will make it easier when you want to land interviews or even find publishers or clients. Get to know the people who are your potential audience.

Write about what you know

Writing about the things you know is a great way to reinforce your knowledge. Get used to writing about the topic even before you think you know enough to share with others. Teachers make students write papers for a reason. It forces them to think about the things they have learned.

More Resources

• Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make 00,000 a Year or More
• How to Become an Expert Writer in Any Field
• Expanding Your Knowledge of a Subject