After I noticed Karolina Assi’s submit on LinkedIn, I felt each single phrase in my soul.
“Being a content material author means studying a couple of matter you don’t have any concept about inside a couple of hours, writing about it, after which forgetting all the pieces you realized as quickly as you submit the content material piece.”
For the brand new budding freelance author, that is whole job description in a single sentence.
However what was shocking to me had been the feedback as a result of each author simply nodded and stated, “Yep, that’s me too.”
I don’t find out about you, however I don’t need to reside like this as a content material author.
Do you? All the time having to spend 10+ hours researching a subject earlier than you write it?
That was me at first.
I didn’t understand that content material writers really feel that is obligatory.
And that’s why I encourage freelance writers to area of interest down or discover a writing area of interest that they’ll write about for a few years to come back.
This may provide help to don’t get “analysis fatigue” when there’s a no matter to put in writing about.
For me, I’m comfy writing about social media platforms and digital advertising ways.
Something outdoors of that (like WordPress and even some e-mail advertising ideas), it does take me longer.
Beneath, I’ll share what they really feel about having to put in writing and overlook a subject again and again.
As a Newbie Content material Author
For about 5 years of freelance writing, I used to be getting a number of fatigue researching new subjects.
I used to be nonetheless studying my area of interest – digital advertising – so I’d spend about 60% of time researching and the remainder writing and enhancing.
After the five-year mark, issues began to settle down and I knew rather a lot about my area of interest. I used to be assured to choose up an ESP consumer or a AI consumer.
I’m nonetheless hesitant to go “full-force” into discovering search engine marketing shoppers or ESP shoppers as a result of I do know I would like extra time for the technical stuff and for analysis.
So, in case you’re new to content material writing, then possibly these quotes might help you both “love” this talent or need to area of interest down!
1. Content material Writers Reside in a Fixed State of Crash-Course Studying
Copywriters and content material writers don’t have the luxurious of gradual studying. They don’t get three months to know an business.
They get every week.
Generally solely a day.
And typically two hours earlier than a kickoff name.
They usually make it work as a result of:
- they know find out how to analysis quick
- they know the place to look
- they know find out how to separate helpful data from noise
- they know find out how to write clearly even when a subject is new
Shahrukh Jadoon stated it completely:
“The worst half is getting ready your mind for the sudden piles and heaps of information dump.”
It’s true, your mind takes successful each time you dive into one thing new.
However you regulate. You construct a muscle for absorbing data at lightning pace.
2. Oversaturation Occurs… Particularly When Each Subject Is New
Karolina talked about this within the feedback:
“I get oversaturated simply… if I’ve to work on a number of initiatives on a number of subjects which might be new for me, that’s when it turns into overwhelming.”
Each author is aware of this sense.
You go from cybersecurity → psychological well being → pet care → SaaS onboarding — all in the identical week.
Nicely, no less than for me, that’s what I needed to do to start with once I was determining what to put in writing about.
And instantly your mind is like:
“No extra enter please. System overloaded.”
It’s regular while you begin content material writing. It’s additionally one of many causes writing requires a lot psychological vitality behind the scenes.
3. We Go Down Analysis Rabbit Holes (and Generally Overlook to Come Again)
Wafa Saidani stated this completely:
“As an individual who likes to study random issues, typically I get into the rabbit gap and discover myself forgetting my preliminary job which is creating the content material!”
Each freelance author has finished this at one level or one other (I do know I nonetheless do that).
- You begin researching one truth…
- Which results in a associated matter…
- Which results in a deeper truth…
- Which results in a YouTube video explaining one thing you didn’t have to know…
And instantly it’s 2 hours later.
However truthfully? Curiosity is one among a contract author’s finest instruments.
4. Short-term Experience Is Nonetheless Experience
Richard Webster joked:
“Copywriters make one of the best individuals to have in pub quiz groups. I do know a lot random stuff, it’s horrifying.”
David Thimmesch added:
“I usually inform folks that I’m an knowledgeable in a number of issues that I’m not an knowledgeable in.”
And Liam Marshall? He stated the quiet half out loud:
“Had a name with a consumer the opposite day – they requested me about one thing I’d written every week in the past, and I so desperately needed to answer, “Sir, I’m not an knowledgeable on this space. You wanted to ask me inside two enterprise days max.”
That is the fact for a lot of new freelance writers:
They change into specialists lengthy sufficient to create nice content material…then they’ve to maneuver on.
This turns into a flaw in case you’re doing this for various years and it may be the breaking level you’ll want to discover a area of interest that pays nicely!
5. Some Issues Stick With out Making an attempt
Not all the pieces disappears. Vivian Ho Zi Kuan stated:
“Some will follow you in case you discover the analysis very fascinating.”
And Karolina responded:
“Some issues stick within the background. Then I understand I do know issues I didn’t know I knew.”
This is likely one of the humorous perks of being a contract author.
Random information sits quietly in your mind till someday it jumps out like:
“Hey… you really do know this.”
Content material writers have pockets of experience we didn’t even imply to gather. And this accumulates over time in case you stick to 1 matter!
6. Curiosity Helps Us Join With Readers
Ina Castro phrased it fantastically:
“It’s simpler to attach with the reader, as a result of we write with the identical curiosity that the reader is looking with.”
That’s precisely why content material writers are so efficient:
They’re not writing from a pedestal. They’re writing from discovery.
They’re studying the subject on the similar tempo the reader desires to know it, which makes the writing clearer, sharper, and extra human.
For me, this screams this content material author is simply writing “newbie” subjects and never deeper content material like backside of the funnel content material and even center of the funnel content material.
That is the place the cash lives as a contract author!
7. Adaptability Is the Actual Superpower
Muhammad Hassan identified:
“It’s humorous, however it additionally reveals how a lot adaptability content material writing requires.”
This job calls for flexibility — mentally, creatively, and emotionally.
Each transient asks:
- “Are you able to perceive this shortly?”
- “Are you able to make it clear?”
- “Are you able to write about it such as you’ve been on this business for years?”
And we will, however understand we don’t HAVE to! You possibly can have a distinct segment!
8. Most of What We Study Disappears the Second We Hit ‘Submit’
Catherine Singo summed up your entire submit in a single line:
“Deep dive, write quick, submit, and poof — it’s gone from my mind without end.”
And yep. That’s precisely the way it feels when you begin freelance writing.
Content material writers don’t retain all the pieces as a result of they’re not presupposed to. They’re shifting from matter to matter, consumer to consumer, deliverable to deliverable.
Their brains clear area for the subsequent factor coming.
It’s a part of the cycle, however it doesn’t need to be.
Learn how to Keep away from the Overwhelm: Select a Freelance Writing Area of interest
So, you’ve seen “the opposite aspect” of content material writing.
Do you want? Not like
Should you don’t like having to spend hours researching a subject for each new consumer piece, then contemplate having a distinct segment.
The quickest approach to keep away from the “study → write → overlook → repeat” entice is to discover a freelance writing area of interest, and keep it up lengthy sufficient to construct actual depth.
Right here’s why niching helps:
1. You Cease Relearning The whole lot From Scratch
If you write in the identical business week after week, you’re not ranging from zero anymore.
You already know:
- the terminology
- the viewers
- the ache factors
- the merchandise
- the rivals
Your analysis time drops in half. Your confidence doubles.
That’s why I decline some consumer items if I don’t know the subject. For instance, one consumer needed me to put in writing a submit about Thinkific.
I’ve by no means used Thinkific and I didn’t have the time to spend signing as much as the free tier and studying about it or watching YouTube movies about it.
I additionally felt it will be too superficial and never genuine.
2. You Get Higher at Recognizing Patterns
Each business has its personal rhythm, personal construction and its personal tendencies.
When you keep in a single lane lengthy sufficient, the data sticks.
You construct precise experience — not momentary, “passed by Tuesday” experience.
All of the sudden, these rabbit holes change into shorter, sooner, and extra intentional.
That’s why having a swipe file of newest tendencies and stats is tremendous useful while you write a consumer article.
3. Shoppers Belief You Extra (and Pay You Extra)
If you’re the “go-to” freelance author in a distinct segment, shoppers come to you already believing you’re the fitting particular person.
- You don’t have to persuade anybody.
- You don’t have to show your self from scratch.
- You don’t have to audition with one million samples.
A writing area of interest positions you because the knowledgeable, even in case you began out realizing nothing.
That is precisely how I began freelance writing.
Certain, you possibly can choose a couple of niches to study from however when you discover a matter you want or an business you need to find out about, then you possibly can choose that area of interest and dive deep into analysis.
4. Your Mind Lastly Will get to Relaxation
As an alternative of switching between ten subjects every week, you keep in a single world.
Your analysis turns into easier. And when that occurs, your outlines change into simpler. And don’t overlook your writing turns into sooner and your stress ranges drop.
You get to indicate up as your finest content material author self with out burning out from data overload.
5. You Can Nonetheless Discover, However With out the Strain
Selecting a writing area of interest doesn’t imply you cease studying altogether. It simply means you cease carrying the load of fixed newness.
It suddently turns into enjoyable to hearken to a podcast about your area of interest matter or discover some blogs that discuss it. It’s in your time and also you need to find out about it for your self!
And you may nonetheless tackle fascinating initiatives. It’s okay if you wish to write outdoors your area of interest if one thing excites you.
I’ve talked about that I did a brief stint with Writers Entry. This can be a low-paying content material farm however I needed to put in writing about one thing simple and that didn’t actually need my mind to put in writing it!
I ended up writing about being a mother, cooking for youths or establishing play actions.
This was simple subjects and I bought paid for it.
You simply don’t depend on that randomness to pay your payments.
Wrapping It Up
If you wish to keep away from the overwhelm, burnout, and psychological litter that each content material author joked about in Karolina Assi’s remark thread, niching is your reply.
- A distinct segment offers you readability.
- Readability offers you confidence.
- Confidence offers you higher shoppers and higher pay.
And one of the best half?
You get to put in writing with out shedding your thoughts each time you open a brand new transient.
Let me know within the feedback whether or not or not you could have a writing area of interest otherwise you benefit from the thrill of studying a brand new matter for every new consumer!
I’d love to listen to either side!