Why Writing for One Niche May Be Risky

This article is brought about by a conversation I had with a fellow freelancer. Upon learning that I write primarily about one topic, he asked whether I can keep writing without getting burned out.

That’s a good question. My first reaction was to ask myself: “Am I burned out?” My immediate answer was a definite “No, of course not”. My friend seemed to believe it, but I know he has his doubts.

He has his doubts as I have mine. I have to admit that his concern is not valid right this moment, because I still enjoy writing about Android and web tools, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a limit to my passion. Would there come a time when I will stop loving what I do? Probably.

I didn’t start out as a writer who wrote about just one thing. It was many things, really — anything that I was into at that point in my life. When I was eight, I wrote poems about trees and mythical creatures. When I was a teenager, I wrote on my diary to record everything that happens, no matter how mundane. When I started blogging, I blogged mostly about my personal life.

Finally, when I wrote about tech stuff, I started getting paid. When I decided it was something I wanted to do full time, I sent applications to more clients who might need a tech writer. Since my published work online was mostly for the technology niche, I decided I had a better chance of getting hired if I pitched to editors of technology web sites. My efforts paid off, and today I write for five tech blogs.

So what’s so bad about this? Most of these sites leave me to come up with an idea for an article. Because these sites are mostly similar in topic, it’s not uncommon for me to run out of things to write about. Sure, I love Android and using web apps, but I don’t really spend all day installing and playing with them. I have a life outside writing, a home to manage and a child to care for. As much as I would love to share my enthusiasm for my niche, there simply is not enough hours in a day.

I can see where my friend is coming from. There is a risk of getting tired with writing about the same thing day in and day out. I’m starting to see how things might lead to the dreaded burn-out stage. So how do I stop it?

I love writing — I will never get tired of it. Writing about one thing only, however, may have its limits. The only way I can avoid getting burned out is to branch out. I decided to expand my writing to other things that interest me. I’ll probably start from scratch and write unpaid for a new, unexplored niche. That’s fine. I’m actually excited and looking forward to it.

Have you ever felt your passion for writing fade? What did you do to get it back?