This example illustrates both the advantages and the dangers of specialization. The more subjects you can write about effectively, the more marketing opportunities you'll find. If you're serious about making a living as a freelance writer, generalization can help ensure that you never run out of markets to write for. Generalization can be a good approach if you don't want your name associated exclusively with one type of writing. You may also want to build a more diverse portfolio of clips that will reflect your ability to handle a wide range of topics.
Generalization requires good writing and research skills.
While this can mean more work, it also means that once editors can rely on you to turn in well-researched articles on a range of topics, your range of assignments is likely to increase. You may write for a dog magazine today, a health magazine tomorrow, and a Christian publication next week. Generalization also has its downside, however. This is a decision you must make for yourself, based upon your interests, upon your goals, and most of all, upon what will bring you happiness and fulfillment as a writer. This article originally appeared as part of Moira Allen's Freelancing 101 column on Inkspot.