Monday, March 16, 2009

Writer's Update

I've been toying with different styles in an attempt to find my "niche." I'm so utterly frustrated by this "niche" nonsense. If you'd like niche material, view my website -- that definitely qualifies. Granted, that niche has all but slowly dried up. When it comes to writing, I like freedom. The point of becoming a writer is to achieve a certain sense of freedom. I have a wide array of interests, and I don't conform to one box or label. I've all but refused to conform since the second half of nineth grade. I don't see the need to undo the progress I've made in life by conforming to the standards of "niche" writing. Sure, I'd love to have an audience that truly tests my "unlimited" bandwidth account, but I don't see why I have to pick one topic and be stuck with it for the rest of my career.

I suppose I'm looking for the means to keeping readers interested. I currently check two blogs on a daily basis: Stroll Without Shoes by Brenda Della Casa, a site brimming with optimism, good cheer, wisdom, advice, and general entertainment; and Bacon Is My Enemy by Giyen Kim, a site documenting the life and weight loss of a Korean American woman living in Seattle, WA with her teenage daughter. I suppose Della Casa would fit the self-help niche, although that's merely one way of looking at it. She takes a very psychological approach and really asks her readers to look inside themselves to be the best people they can be. She's also a published author of Cinderella Was A Liar, a book that's been printed in several countries and languages. Clearly, she exudes experience, elloquence, and excitement. On the other hand, Kim's blog seems to cater to the weight loss niche. She puts herself out there for people to see on a regular basis, showcasing her accomplishments and recounting her set-backs. Of course, that's the niche that CNN seemingly chose for her. Asides from her weight loss material, she delves into life as a Korean-American single mother living in Seattle. She shares her past, the things she does with her friends, and adventures she has raising her daughter. I'd call that a "slice-of-life" type of niche, which is something I identify with. At any rate, these two amazing woman have caught my attention -- I read and I interact when I feel I have something worthwhile to share.

Personally? I'm going to keep doing what I consider myself good at -- slice-of-life, creative non-fiction, and exploring my options.

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