Link to this page

The Specialist: How a Jack-of-All-Trades Writer Niches Down

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the psalms written by David and by Asaph the seer. (2 Chronicles 29:30, NLT)

A Word For Writers

A specialist focuses on writing in a particular niche or two, either in an industry or in a writing genre. 

The Specialist: a #devotional for writers based on 2 Chr 29:30 with Word Wise at Nonprofit Copywriter #FreelanceWriting #WritingTips

A generalist, on the other hand, writes on multiple topics and in several genres.

One week, the generalist is writing a series of articles on sailing regattas. The next week, the generalist is writing a newsletter for an orthodontist’s office.

While a generalist is rarely bored, she also never becomes proficient in one genre or topic – and she rarely builds a platform.

“Today’s successful writers focus their writing in just one or two areas,” says “America’s copywriter,” Bob Bly, in How to Write and Sell Simple Information for Fun and Profit.

Bob earned a degree in chemical engineering and after graduation took a technical writing job at Westinghouse Electric – a good fit that led him into freelance copywriting for tech firms. As more writers entered the field, he specialized further in a particular content writing niche: direct mail that sold subscriptions to technical newsletters.

Plenty of freelance writers start out as generalists simply to gain experience and accumulate clips. Yet few jack-of-all-trades writers can survive as a generalist today beyond the beginnings of a writing career. There’s simply too much information to master about multiple topics and genres. 

How can you move from generalist to specialist? If you’re struggling, then take a cue from the Old Testament’s Asaph.

Asaph was a worship leader. He headed up the guild of temple musicians during the reigns of David and Solomon and performed at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 5:12). Because of that, you don’t see Asaph’s named attached to the Old Testament’s books of history or prophecy. Instead, he specialized: Asaph wrote worship music. Twelve psalms bear his name.

Asaph used his existing skills to identify his specialty. That’s a great place to start.

A Wise Word

Use your existing skills to identify a writing specialty. 

A Word To Pray

Gracious Father,

Thank you for the variety of topics and skills available to me as a writer. I want to be a good steward of the gifts you’ve given me. Show me what subjects and genres to pursue further as I specialize.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.


More Devotionals for Writers

The Next Writing Project: Just Start Writing ...

The Writing Portfolio: Asaph’s Model Demonstrates a Higher Purpose ...

The Writing Life: Get Ready to Reveal Yourself ...

The Niche: Can a Sci-Fi Writer Teach Me about the Christian Market?

The Industry Specialty: One of the Most Effective Writing Tips ...

The Project Specialty: 3 Bible Guys. 3 Kinds of Writing Projects ...

The USP: What Makes YOU the Ideal Writer for Your Client ...

Wise Words: Devotionals for Writers ...

More Devotionals for Writers on our Pinterest board ...

Join other Christian Writers in the Writing for Ministries Community ...

Free Mini-Course: Getting Started Writing Devotionals ...

Get more devotionals for writers delivered to your inbox each week.

Get Wise Words Now

Return from The Specialist to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search This Site


Share This Page



writers-digest-logo

Named to 2022 Writer's Digest list
BEST GENRE/NICHE WRITING WEBSITE

nonprofit-courses-content-expert-logo-round
Get Free Writing Tips

Stop Wasting Time!

Grab your exclusive FREE guide, "5 Simple Writing Tips You Can Put to Use in 10 Minutes or Less"

XML RSSSubscribe To This Site
  • XML RSS
  • follow us in feedly
  • Add to My Yahoo!