How to Be a Specialty Writer

Having a specialty for your writing makes you more valuable to editors and publishers. Your queries and work will be accepted more often than if you write generally about many things. Being a specialty writer is mainly for nonfiction writers because you don't necessarily need expertise to write fiction. Follow these steps to find your niche so that you can become a specialty writer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Parlay your hobbies and interests into a marketable writing specialty. If you have a family member with Parkinson's Disease, you could start with writing on that topic and gradually build up other specialties.
2. Keep learning, even in your chosen specialty. Take college classes, find a mentor, go to seminars and conferences--anything to boost your credentials and get you closer to "professional" or "expert" status.
3. Collect clips of your writing in your specialty. Start small with local newspapers and use them to market yourself to larger and higher paying publications. This also helps transition you into other specialties once editors trust your writing in a related topic.
4. Create a long list of sources for your future use. Write articles and stories with accuracy to keep their trust. Maintain ongoing relationships with your experts, who may introduce you to even more contacts later on.
5. Join organizations for specialty writers, such as the Cat Writers' Association or the Society of American Travel Writers. Your membership will look good to editors when you propose ideas in your specialty. This also helps beef up your resume if you aren't technically an expert in your specialty field.

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