You might not realize it, but Internet writing is a lot like earning a PhD in History. Now, I know that grad school isn’t the first thing you think about when you think about Internet writing, but bear with me for a little while.
The best way to explain to you what I’m talking about is to tell you a story about my friend, Phil. Phil is a nurse in the real world, but in his spare time he likes to study history. He’s what you’d call an “armchair historian.” He reads books on history, watches the history channel, and is, in many ways, very knowledgeable about a great number of historical subjects.
Because I have a graduate degree in History, Phil likes to ask me questions. For example, just a few weeks back he posed this one:
“Do you think the economic devastation in Germany after World War I helped to create the environment that allowed Hitler to come to power?”
To which I answered, “I really have no idea. I’ve never given it much thought.”
“But you’re a historian!” Phil replied. “You’ve got the degree and everything. You write a history blog. You’ve even got a bumper sticker on your laptop that says ‘Everyone remain calm… I’m a historian.’ How can you not have any idea?”
This part is always a little difficult to explain to folks. “My area of study is pretty narrow, Phil. I’m into 19th-century U.S. History. Specifically, my research has been in Antebellum Southern intellectual and social history.”
To which, as usual, I received a puzzled look. I continued: “You’re a nurse, right Phil? You work in the Infant ICU. I bet you can tell that a preemie is in distress almost before the machines tell you. But do you think you could do the same with a geriatric patient?”
“Well, yeah,” came the answer. “I mean, it might take me a couple of weeks in that unit to get the hang of it, but yeah.”
“And it might take me some time studying German history between the World Wars to answer your question.”
———
In the world of Internet writing, there are countless opportunities. There is web copy, keyword articles, blogging, sales page writing and white papers just to name a few. In my business, I’ve done each of these types of writing. Some I enjoy more than others. Some pay better than others. Some I’m better at than others.
At some point, however, you have to pick a specialty. What will your bread and butter be when it comes to your Internet writing? Michael Stelzner knows his specialty: it’s writing White Papers. That’s even the name of his site. James Chartrand knows, too. He writes about the writing business, whether he’s doing it at Men with Pens or whether he’s doing it at one of the many other sites he writes for. When the Pen Men ran a contest last year, it even focused on business. That’s James’ Internet writing specialty. Sure, Michael and James do other writing and they do it well, but you can tell where their passion lies.
For me, it’s blog writing. It’s writing content for people that is conversational, authoritative and still packs a punch. Yes, I do a lot of other writing, but that’s where my passion is and where my greatest talents lie. When I get an order in, that’s the writing I keep for myself rather than passing along to my writing minions.
So, what about you? What’s your Internet writing specialty?
11 comments ↓
My internet writing specialty reflects the writing I do most and enjoy most.
Writing on the subjects of humor, personal-development and general philosophy are my specialty.
But also, writing about blogging strategy and the writing craft are also what I feel I specialize in. I’ve done a guest post for ProBlogger and WritetoDone up till now. And have many posts I believe in that I haven’t submitted to other blogs yet because I’m waiting on the relaunch of my blog.
I have a suspicion that our writing specialties are most often the writing we enjoy doing most.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..How to Know if You’re an Enlightened Being
Resumes. I seem to be good at doing them. I was doing them free for neighbors and friends. Going to start charging.
You know, there are a thousand times that I look at my site and say, “I should write more about writing.” But the thing is, I’m *really good* at the business aspect of it – and that’s a part of writing too.
So I shrug and say, “Nah.” This is what feels right. It’s what I know best and love most. And I’m glad to see my posts reflect that.
I think your specialty, Bob, is freedom. You write about writing freedom.
James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..Are You A Big Spender or a Cheapskate?
And it should go without saying that when I say I specialize in this or that… it just means that is what I feel I do best. Not that I think I’m Mr. Man.
No. My name is Bamboo Forest.
Bamboo Forest – PunIntendeds last blog post..How to Know if You’re an Enlightened Being
It seems when I write articles for my self or for anyone else I am not as passionate. However, when I my personal quest for life’s meanings I am very passionate. Because of this passion I write on my blog.
The Word Seekers last blog post..Writer Beware Blogs!: Victoria Strauss — Lulu Acquires Poetry.com
[...] Writing Journey Freelance internet writing advice from Bob Younce, whose April 6, 2009 post explains why internet writers need to have a [...]
I’m still getting starting with internet-based writing, primarily on blogs. I guess you could say I’m starting my Ph.D. program…
Right now, my main project is to provide resources for college writers who may be struggling or in need of some extra support.
Thanks for your posting; I plan to come back again.
Lindsays last blog post..Online Citation Generators: Friend or Foe?
We’ll see.
If internet writing is anything like fiction writing, I may change courses the more I get into it.
But what I’m really passionate about is writing stories. I think up a ton of blog post ideas that have just been simmering in my brain because I haven’t had a place to post them to…and now I do.
I’m a first-time commenter, by the way. ^^ This was a thought-provoking post, so I’ll definitely be back to read more!
Cels last blog post..Quick Writing Tip: Assemble a ‘tag cloud’ to describe characters
I’ve found, over the years, that my specialty changes as I change. I used to write a lot of sports, exercise and health related content and now I find that it’s split 50/50 with more success mindset content. Either way, it’s about helping people be their best and live the life they desire.
Annettes last blog post..Choosing a Writing Conference
I started writing academic papers but dropped it like a hot pan:) I really didn’t like doing the homework for some school kid who was lazy enough to finish a two page double spaced paper!
I then went into general article writing but after a short time I found myself writing Keyword/SEO articles. I guess it’s because it involves keyword research and I like finding out what people are into-especially on the web
I also like seeing websites I have written for go up in the SERPs.
Martin
Getting to this article some time after it was written, but I found it really interesting. It’s very relevant for me. I’m still doing a bit of everything when it comes to freelance writing, but at the moment, my bread and butter is SEO/keyword articles. Not the biggest money maker, but I’m really good at them.
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