I didn’t have much of a plan when I started freelance writing full-time about a year ago. I became applying to whatever leads I may find on sites like Elance and Odesk and trying to build a portfolio that could simply get me more work. Because of this, my focus was scattered: a resume here, a few blog posts there, the occasional ghostwritten eBook.
This worked, in a way of speaking. But I was losing more bids than I happened to be landing—and the main weapon I had would be to bid low and bid often. This is bad not just for my own important thing but for the freelancer community most importantly and I also knew it. Eventually, though, that I had a background I could draw on that would allow me to specialize as I started to get steady work in a few areas I realized.
Pre-freelance
Before going into freelance writing full-time, I spent a true number of years as a study biologist. I originally started on that path because brilliant science writers like Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Zimmer had opened within the realm of the natural sciences to me with creativity and wit. I experienced finally found something worth going to college for. As an undergraduate I fell in love with Ecology—the branch of biology for creative types—and spent the next couple of years immersed for the reason that world.
After college and a stint in grad school, I quickly realized that there aren’t many jobs for ecologists in the real world, thus I went along to work with various other areas. I did so research in public places health, infectious disease, and neuroscience, while volunteering with all the Audubon Society plus in community gardens. Even while I happened to be building a stronger foundation that would help me eventually find my specialization, although i did son’t know it at that time.
Finding my niche
Fast-forward to about half a year ago, once I realized that the majority of jobs I was landing were in Science and Medical Writing. Not just that, but these jobs paid in excess of most of the other jobs I was fighting over with other freelancers as we all slashed our bids into the minimum. I already had a portfolio of articles on avian ecology, molecular biology, organic gardening techniques, and public health. I had real credentials and a resume that is solid. And I also could present myself as an expert writer in these areas. Thus I rebranded myself as just that: a specialist science writer devoted to environmental news, medical writing, research, gardening and green tech.
My proposals became more targeted. I happened to be submitting fewer of them, but immediately saw a much higher acceptance rate. I knew I was one of the most qualified writers in the room, I could spend more time on my proposals and ask for higher rates because I was only applying for jobs in which. I already knew which buzz words would demonstrate that I became more comfortable with scientific nomenclature. And clients responded to that. I occupy a niche that is great I’m not a med student seeking to generate income in the side—I’m a freelance writer. But I’m also not a generalist freelance writer—I’m a professional Science and Medical freelance writer.
You will find pitfalls to specializing—and it is important to avoid them. Try not to create your area of expertise so specific that one may only bid using one sort of job. As opposed to being just a science writer or just a medical writer, I’m both. But We have a portfolio that is diverse these two areas as well. I have years of experience as a gardener, but am formally trained as an Ecologist. And I have worked in public health, but also understand molecular biology. I would be severely limited in terms of the jobs that would be available to me if I could only bid on one of these areas.
The first rule to being a successful expert science writer may be drawn directly from Evolutionary Biology. Several of the most successful organisms use a method called optimal foraging behavior: they look for the food that they know will give you the biggest payoff, but are ready to try to find other types of income for the time being. As an science that is expert, We have a couple of areas which are my specialty, but I’m not above writing a series of gardening guides if I can’t find a huge job when it comes to week.
Secondly, know your limitations. A laboratory procedure for purifying mixtures as a case study, when I first rebranded my freelance business, I made the mistake of bidding on a job that was frankly beyond my scope of expertise—liquid chromatography. I happened to be vaguely familiar I had a background in molecular biology techniques like PCR; how hard could it be with it, and?
As it turned out liquid chromatography is very complex. And with no direct experience or theoretical training I couldn’t learn them overnight in them. It doesn’t matter exactly how much training that is scientific have in other areas, or how quick an autodidactic study you might be. I ultimately needed to cancel that job and lost a potentially long-term client. So the second rule is: don’t believe that being an expert science writer enables ultius writing service you to a Science Expert. Adhere to the fields you understand very well, and you will certainly be consistently publishing quality material.
Thirdly, always be in search of opportunities to become better at your work. I no longer act as a researcher in Ecology and Evolution, but that doesn’t mean I ever lost my love of the subject. I still attend conferences about environmental issues in my own area, nevertheless now as a member for the public instead of a researcher. I never stopped subscribing to magazines that give attention to ecology and nature, and now I feel confident to send query letters to them. And organizations like the National Association of Science Writers have lots of resources for science writers.
Finally, enjoy it. I favor writing, and I also love science. Specializing in science writing has allowed us to take on projects that I find intriguing and engaging. I’m able to produce work I’m pleased with, and I’m constantly learning more about the world that is natural.
In regards to the author:
Jim Daley is a freelance writer based in Chicago. After being employed as an investigation biologist in avian ecology, public health, and infectious disease, he returned to his first love—writing. He contributes content to gardening and science websites. On his blog, jimdaleywrites, he explores the entire process of balancing creative endeavors with professional freelance writing.
