Writing Without a Niche

Written by Writer Dad on January 6, 2009 - View Comments
Categories: Writing

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

~ Isaac Asimov

without a nicheWriting without a niche is like cooking without a recipe, instinct outweighing instruction.  An excellent chef can easily surpass the written recipe by twisting his ingredients to the tang of his individual taste.  However, though cooking outside the lines stretches the possibilities of the palette, it is also probable that some people will not care for what is set upon their table.

Writing without a niche for the last half year has been the most extraordinary experience I never saw coming.  At least my children each gave me nine full months to prepare.  I’ve enjoyed the majority of the minutes, even with a few culinary complications.  Regardless of the compliments pinging my inbox on any given day, they always share space with dissimilar sentiments.

“My favorite posts are when you talk about your family,” are followed by “Is there any way you can make this less of a family blog?”

“I love the way you write,” is often followed by, “Can you tell me how do you do it?”

The freedom of writing without a niche is like the freedom found wondering around a lush island missing its harbor.

I love to banter about starting a blog, treasure tales of my family, and adore dissection of the written word, but many people wish to read my words, minus the details of my family’s day.

I’ve sorted it out.  As you know, Eric and I are sharing office space over at the Blueprint; my new home to discuss blogging, voice, and other general matters of business.  Soon, I’ll be sharing studio space with Dave in an endeavor equally exciting.

This leaves the best writer on the net ready for its most certain direction since the day I uploaded Thesis.

I have a fair idea about where I’d like to go and how I plan to get there, but I didn’t arrive at this spot without assistance and don’t intend to walk without friends beside me. Writer Dad was built on community and the insight of this community is something I give tremendous value.

We share a winding road.  If you have ideas or suggestions, please feel free to share.  I look forward to listening.

Also, giant thanks to everyone who spread the word about the Blueprint.  Our turnout was everything we hoped for.  Looks like I’ll be writing without a niche at WD for a while.

Writer Dad

Ghostwriter Dad still has to write with a niche.

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  • Trina
    Too true, you cant please every one. So true, you must please yourself. Likely true, those that would like to see 'something else' likely stayed anyways.... I came, I read, I loved it, therefore I stay.
  • I just got caught up and went over b/c I, too, love reading your stuff! Great work over there.

    Your Faithful Lurker,
    Mishelle
  • Hey Sean
    I've been reading the same circuit of blogs for 4-5 years now, and it has been definitely refreshing to read your words + thoughts! And I enjoy reading about your family too.

    And on a semi-related note. Today at 3:10 p.m., I was rushing (with big + little sister in tow) towards Henry's classroom. . . when suddenly we arrived at the cutest vignette. There they were, Mia and Henry, standing on the ramp leading up to the classroom. Henry's shoe had apparently come untied, and there was little Mia tying it for him. The event made my heart swell, and I couldn't help but flashback to 5 years or so when they were infants. It's nice to know that Henry has such a great lifelong friend. . .

    <abbr>leslie’s last blog post..Big Girl Bed</abbr>
  • Me too! Sometimes I wish I had a "Mommy Blog" or a "Food Blog" or a "Political Blog" or a "Book Blog" or whatever, because those are (obviously) the easiest to categorize and get traffic to. But I've been blogging for almost 5 years, and it's a case of "all of the above." My blog posts are about me, my family, my work, my interests, and so on. I'm delighted when readers chime in with "Thanks for the recipe!" or "Can you help me with a grammar question?" or "I loved that movie too," but I can't expect that there's an entire group of people anywhere who are interested in all the things I blog about. And that's OK, I guess.

    <abbr>Karen’s last blog post..Ski Bums</abbr>
  • I read this blog because you're a great writer. whatever you decide, I'll stick around and continue reading.
  • I can SO relate to this quandary, and I can see why having a complementary venture like Blueprint makes sense for you. My only hope is that you will continue to find ways to blend all of your interests and experiences into your posts, at least Writer Dad.

    I've struggled with the many issues surrounding personal branding and audience targeting. For instance, I write about faith quite a bit, but I don't see my blog as a religious blog (and I don't want people to get all pissy when they find out half of my posts don't explicitly mention God at all). I've also gone through a divorce and I'm a mom, so those experiences often show up in my blog; that doesn't mean my blog is just for moms or divorced women—it's for people who are learning to deal with life's messes and embrace life's joys.

    After countless internal dialogues and strategies to find my place as a blogger, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing that matters to my true audience is that I'm writing about the things I really care about, whatever they might be. Anything else will ring false and forced. I can tell that you've ultimately come to the same conclusion, which probably has a lot to do with why so many of us are fans. :)

    <abbr>Kristin T.’s last blog post..Retracing my steps to the original idea</abbr>
  • I write without a niche also because I don't like being limited. I gotta be me!

    <abbr>Chris’s last blog post..All I Want For Christmas…</abbr>
  • Hm, not exactly nicheless...living a creative life, evolving as a human being and being aware of the things around you.... I think it is called finding meaning and being playful while exploring. Sign me up. ;-)

    <abbr>Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New</abbr>
  • When I tag my music collection genres I have a few I call multi-genre (Beck being one) that I end up treating as a genre all in itself. I see your niche-less style as a niche all in itself as well. That said, I had trouble labeling you in my RSS folders. Ending up labeling you as "life". I really enjoy your writing. Keep it up.
  • As you know, I value you as a Writer, and to use your metaphor, I don't care what comes out of your culinary expression. I know it will be delightful and range from subtle to robust, from soothing to piquant, and from hearty to sublime.

    <abbr>SpaceAgeSage -- Lori’s last blog post..Seven things I learned about blogging</abbr>
  • There are two big things that people value in your work: the content and the writing. The content because it's something they like to read about and the writing because it's unique, creative (even playful), and inspiring (I wish I could do that, sort of thing). Some people want both things, others would just settle to read whatever as long as it was written in typical WD fashion.
  • Writer Dad
    Kathy: I don't imagine my family writing will change much, at least outside of normal evolution. Hey, maybe I'll even try a list post now and then!

    Chase: You are one of my favorite commenters. You not only chime in with compliments, but you are also there to give constructive feedback as well. I can't think of Lucas without hearing you in the background. I appreciate it. I will keep doing at least some version of what I do.

    Eric: I won't mess with the furniture too much, I promise.

    Matthew: You are absolutely right. I've held back many evenings while trying to cater to my nicheless niche. There were days when I wanted to write about things that I didn't feel were a good fit, despite the idea that I was supposed to be able to write whatever I wanted. This left me with ideas that felt homeless, which then led to the idea that I needed new outlets for my writing where it could grow without walls. I don't want to please everybody by any means, but as I move forward to other projects, I want to ensure that this first one not only travels in its best direction, but moves forward appreciative of those who helped it get there. Thank you Matthew, for being there from the beginning and always telling me what's on your mind (well maybe not ALWAYS, but you are always welcome too).

    Betsy: You are always so sweet to me. Thank you for your belief. I wrote things that don't speak to my heart as paid work, so my blogs must always be more genuine. I just want to be mindful of my direction.

    Friar: I think you're probably right.

    KatFrench: I like that - a series of letters to unseen friends - a LOT. Thanks for the compliments. You're write, that is what niches do for a writer.
  • I've struggled with much the same editorial quandary over at iBard. Don't want to make it an "inside baseball social media/internet marketing" blog, because (A) there are already SO many of those I don't know how I'd stand out and (B) those kinds of posts, I'm already contributing to SocialMediaExplorer. I recently changed the theme from a magazine style back to something that looks and feels more like ... correspondence? Like my blog is a series of letters to unseen friends.

    Good luck with the new direction and new endeavors. Your writing voice is lovely and distinctive. At their best, that's what niches try to do for a writer.

    <abbr>KatFrench’s last blog post..So far, so good.</abbr>
  • I think Isaac Asimov probably DID write, up to the last six minutes of his life! ;-)
  • Oh, and feel free to fix the friggin' mess I made of html tagging. Sorry! :D

    <abbr>Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..ENDANGERED SPECIES: TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND JOURNALISM</abbr>
  • Pete and I blogged about this (judicious, gratuitous link: http://passingthru.com/2008/12/looking-ahead/ ), and the primary advice to us was what I'm about to give to you: revel in what I'm now and forever going to refer to as nietsche-less-ness. I'm not sure if understanding the "infinite underlying chaos" is as valuable as laying it out for everyone to have a look, but inviting the conversation is what blogs are about.

    So, Sean. You're you. In all your facets. You write about what is important to you. When that is what's most important, your words literally sing. If you must, go back and analyze, but I'd prefer if you wrote about what you d@mn well please, as you've made a fine job of it up 'til now.

    <abbr>Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..ENDANGERED SPECIES: TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND JOURNALISM</abbr>
  • I think you get varying opinions so much because you asked for it. While I have not enjoyed the same level of success as you have - I've also been able to write basically whatever I want to.

    I don't believe that you're a nicheless blog.

    You've written about three topics, really: family, blogging, and writing. And you write about all of these topics from the same perspective with the same core values. I'm sure I'm completely a minority in this matter - but I feel like you've held back in some cases as to cater to the community, as content is king.

    What I'm trying to get at is that you can't please everybody - it comes with the territory. But I don't see what's wrong with continuing how you've been going - you are Writer Dad after all. I expect a bit of family values.
  • Sean, I know I speak for many when I say that Writer Dad is a wonderful Internet Escape that would only be tainted by the borders of a niche. Your writing is always an inspiration and this blog, a happy place to be. Definitely keep it the way it is, don't move around TOO much furniture, and your number of loyal readers will continue to grow.

    I'm really looking forward to seeing your new studio when it comes out! Eric.

    <abbr>Eric Hamm’s last blog post..Minimize Your ‘Focus Reboots’</abbr>
  • While it is important to consider your audience every time you write, I think it is equally important to be true to yourself and write from the heart. You definitely do that.

    I enjoy your blog and the very fact that it is nicheless. Please continue doing what you are doing. I'll keep coming back to read.

    <abbr>Chase March’s last blog post..Christmas Present Irony</abbr>
  • I subscribed because I enjoy your writing style and reading your stories.

    Although I like list blogs for the succinct information they deliver, yours is a refreshing change with great reading where I find new ideas to challenge my thinking and beliefs.

    New bloggers like me are always curious about how you came about your success so quickly. Your new site is a great avenue for that. Keep this one to just write and we'll keep reading.

    <abbr>kathy’s last blog post..A Mother’s Heart</abbr>
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