Tackling the popular idea 
Writers want to be seen as being original. We want fresh ideas, to stand out from the crowd, and not chase trends. Sometimes, though, a topic or idea is so compelling that you just have to write about it.
But when you start doing research, you find that one or more other writers have beaten you to the punch. At this point more than a few writers will probably toss the idea into the dustbin and move on to something else.
Unless the market is glutted with similar pieces, don’t give up. Tackle that idea.
Why follow the crowd?
Even if a handful of other writers have held forth on a topic, there’s no reason why you can’t bring a newer or fresher perspective to the subject. There are always multiple angles to a story. If you can home in on one of the more interesting and untouched ones, then you have a chance.
And don’t let the competition bother you. Sure, there are people out there who know more about a particular subject than you do or who seem to be able to write with more authority. So what? Research and interviews will fill in the gaps in your knowledge. If you can get a good quote or dig up a unique nugget of information then it will make your article all the more compelling.
Go against the flow
It’s easy to follow the pack. But it takes courage and skill to go against the prevailing opinion. And a contrarian viewpoint could be the fresh angle that you need to make your work stand out.
A good example of this comes from Dennis E. Hensley. In the book The Freelance Writer’s Handbook, Hensley talked about how he bucked a trend: he wrote about the positive aspects of being a workaholic. This topic became quite profitable for Hensley: a book, articles, and speaking engagements.
One of my early published articles was an opinion piece that was critical of the Japanese education system. I got equal amounts of praise and venom from that article, but it was reprinted two or three times.
That said, going against the grain is no guarantee of success. At the height of the dot-com boom, I wrote a couple of articles explaining why the boom was unsustainable and that a collapse was imminent. I submitted those pieces to various publications, and was rejected each time. Although my point of view was vindicated shortly thereafter, I never made the sale. The idea was a bust.
If nothing else, remember what I was told years ago: If something has already been said, say it again. There’s always someone out there who didn’t hear it the first time.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment