Most business books tell you that you need to select a niche, remain focused, and become an expert or specialist in a certain area to make money.
Unfortunately, this advice doesn’t work well for many writers. If you’re like many writers, you’re interested in many things. In her book, Refuse to Choose best-selling author Barbara Sher calls people who have “intense curiosity about unrelated subjects” Scanners.
Are you a Scanner?
Many writers are Scanners. I know I am. And I believe my native curiosity is part of what makes me a good writer.
Many Scanners spend too much time apologizing for who we are. Over the years, people may tell you that you’re a dilettante or a flake; that you’ll never succeed because you’re easily bored and constantly rushing from one thing to another.
A blessing, not a curse
In the past, being interested in a wide range of subjects was considered a blessing, not a curse. The term “Renaissance man” (or woman) wasn’t an insult. Nobody calls Leonardo DaVinci a flake, after all.
Writing is an activity where having an inquisitive nature and being fascinated in a wide range of topics can be an advantage. Writing is a great career choice for people like me who get bored easily, but still want to earn a living.
You can go after a wide range of assignments
If you’re a freelance writer you can go after a wide range of assignments. Although I’ve largely gotten out of the pure freelance writing game, I still write articles for my own Web sites. In fact, technically, I have been “blogging” since before blog software like WordPress actually existed.
I have large content sites with hundreds of articles. The great thing about writing is that I can continue to earn money even from articles on subjects I have no interest in anymore.
When I get bored with one given topic, I start a new site or revamp an old site. There’s no law that says a blog or Web site has to be updated forever. My articles can live on in cyberspace and help people long after I’ve moved on to something else.
It’s hard to argue with success
In much the same way, I’ve published books on dogs, cats, fundraising, Web Business, vegan cooking, computer tips, and book publishing. Some may scoff at the fact that my books are on such a wide range of topics, but they make me money. It’s hard to argue with success.
The next time someone is criticizing you for your lack of focus, just say proudly, “My curiosity is what makes me a great writer!” Because it probably is.
Susan Daffron, aka The Book Consultant (http://www.TheBookConsultant.com) owns a book and software publishing company. She spends most of her time writing, laying out books in InDesign, or taking her five dogs out for romps in the forest. She also teaches people how to write and publish profitable client-attracting books and puts on the Self-Publishers Online Conference every May.
* * * * *
Would you like to submit a guest post on the subject of Curiosity? Send an email to susan {at} susanTblake {dot} com with the subject line: Captains Curious.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Amen and thank you! I’ve read that book. I’m a scanner, and proud of it!
Yay! Scanners Unite 😉
Whoo-hoo! I’m a scanner too. Book indexing has been a great umbrella career for me (a new topic to learn about arrives every two weeks!). And music, art, education, self-publishing, teaching people how to teach…It was great to read your list of subjects!!
Currently resisting the “get-a-niche” advice and trusting that my Right People will find me.
I think indexing is a fantastic way to take advantage of scanner tendencies. Like you say, you get to read a new book every time you have a new client. How cool is that?!
Susan, thanks again for this! I am also a scanner, and one of the things that continually fascinates me is how things that are seemingly unrelated are, in fact, related. Or at least my curiosity about them helps me to make unexpected connections!