I didn’t have much of a plan when I started freelance writing full-time about a year ago. I happened to be signing up to whatever leads I may find on sites like Elance and Odesk and trying to build a portfolio which could get me more simply work. Because of this, my focus was scattered: a resume here, a number of 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 experienced would be to bid low and bid often. This was bad not only for my bottom that is own line 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 research 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 sciences that are natural me with creativity and wit. I experienced finally found something worth planning to college for. As an undergraduate I fell in love with Ecology—the branch of biology for creative types—and spent the following years that are few in that world.

After college and a stint in grad school, I quickly realized that there aren’t many jobs for ecologists in the world that is real and so I decided to go to work in various other areas. I did so research in public places health, infectious disease, and neuroscience, while volunteering with all the Audubon Society as well as in community gardens. Even while I was building a powerful foundation that will help me to eventually find my specialization, although i did son’t know it during the time.

Finding my niche

Fast-forward to about half a year ago, when I realized that the majority of jobs I was landing were in Science and Medical Writing. Not just that, but these working jobs paid in excess of many of the other jobs I happened to be fighting over along with other freelancers even 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 could present myself as an writer that is expert these areas. As just that: an expert science writer specializing in environmental news, medical writing, research, gardening and green tech so I rebranded myself.

My proposals became more targeted. I was submitting fewer of them, but immediately saw a much higher acceptance rate. Because I happened to be only applying for jobs by which I knew I happened to be the most qualified writers within the room, i really could save money time back at my proposals and ask for higher rates. I already knew which buzz words would demonstrate that I was comfortable with scientific nomenclature. And clients responded to that. I occupy a great niche: I’m not a med student looking 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’s vital that you avoid them. Try not to create your part of expertise so specific that you could only bid on one variety of job. Rather than being just a science writer or simply a writer that is medical I’m both. But I have a diverse portfolio in both of these areas as well. I have several years of experience as a gardener, but am formally trained as an Ecologist. And I have worked in public areas health, but additionally understand biology that is molecular. 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 can be drawn directly from Evolutionary Biology. A few of the most successful organisms use a technique called optimal foraging behavior: they look for the meals that they know will provide the payoff that is biggest, but are ready to search for other sources of income for the time being. As an science that is expert, I 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 big job when it comes to week.

Secondly, know your limitations. As a case study, when I first rebranded my freelance business, I made the mistake of bidding on a job that has been frankly beyond my scope of expertise—liquid chromatography, a laboratory procedure for checking essay purifying mixtures. I became vaguely familiar I had a background in molecular biology techniques like PCR; how hard could it be with it, and?

Since it ended up liquid chromatography is highly complicated. Sufficient reason for no direct experience or theoretical training inside them, i possibly couldn’t learn them overnight. It does not matter how much scientific training you have various 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 a professional science writer enables you to a Science Expert. Stay glued to the fields you understand very well, and you’ll be consistently publishing quality material.

Thirdly, often be in search of opportunities to become better at your work. I no longer work as a researcher in Ecology and Evolution, but that doesn’t mean I ever lost my love of the topic. I still attend conferences about environmental issues during my area, the good news is as a known member of this public in place of a researcher. I never stopped subscribing to magazines that concentrate on nature and ecology, and from now on personally i think confident to send query letters for them. And organizations like the National Association of Science Writers have plenty of resources for science writers.

Finally, enjoy yourself. 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 will produce work I’m pleased with, and I’m constantly learning more about the natural world.

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 process of balancing endeavors that are creative professional freelance writing.