Recession-proof beats for freelancers
I was enjoying my morning cup of java when my eye caught a headline on CNN.com: “Adult films doing well in bad economy.” It was funny because a few weeks ago I was having a conversation with a fellow writer about subject areas where a freelancer could do well in a flaccid economy, and sex writing was on our list. I know through the proverbial “friend” that the per-word rate for writing actual porn is hideous, but reviewing it, covering adult film trends or the economics of pornography, or writing stories about up-and-coming stars could be a massive money-maker for the right writer. Now that I’ve gotten those terrible puns out of my system … A great example is Damon Brown, of the freelance journalists we interviewed in Query Letters That Rock, who cleverly brought two recession-proof trades, porn and gaming, into his book Porn & Pong: How Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider and Other Sexy Games Changed our Culture (Feral House).
I mentioned gaming, one of the three vice industries that tends to do well in bad times (alcohol and tobacco are the other two). If you’re addicted to your kid’s Wii or can navigate casinos in New Jersey and Connecticut blindfolded, you could parlay your gamer-girl (or -boy) knowledge into some good assignments.
No matter what the economy is like, everyone needs to eat. People might not be dining out as much, which is excellent news for food writers who know their way around a kitchen. You can write articles about creating favorite restaurant dishes at home, develop recipes for families on budgets (“Feed your family for a week on $25″), or review kitchen gadgets. This is precisely the kind of writing I’m doing right now and I’m busier than ever! If you have any interest in writing about food, sign up for Monica Bhide’s fantastic food writing class here on the Renegade Writer, a course that gets rave reviews. It’s jam-packed with exclusive interviews with top food writers and editors, and it even includes a cookbook proposal that sold!
The travel and tourism industries get kicked around quite a bit during recessions, but one segment of this industry that fares well is luxury travel. The super-rich still manage to squeeze in ski trips to Gstaad and South African safaris even when their stock portfolios are taking a pounding. It just so happens that our travel writing course is taught by Alison Stein Wellner, and one of her beats is the luxury travel market. I know she’s wicked busy with assignments, so if you have a pen for the glitz, you might want to consider writing “above your station” so to speak. On the other end of the spectrum is budget travel, although I’m guessing the markets might be a little hard to find right now. But you could always start a blog if you had a unique angle, something like budget travel for the foodie or traveling when you have more dash than cash.
And speaking of which, if you have a talent for pinching pennies, you can apply this knowledge to just about any beat or industry.
I could keep going on, but I’ll turn this over to you guys. What do you think are the best beats for freelancers in 2009? Add your comments below. [db]
I’ve had great success beefing up my stable of construction writing clients in the past few months. Layoffs in the industry, especially in non-profits that serve it, mean organizations are trying to fill the gaps in communications departments…and freelancers can be a great fit. I recommend checking out the Construction Writers Association (http://www.constructionwriters.org), which doesn’t cost a lot but provides a ton of value, especially networking for folks who want to break into the market.
Thanks for reminding me about the food writing class. I thought it started later in January. Almost missed it.
Was flaccid economy an intentional pun? If so–kudos. Companies just tend to want to stop spending on marketing when they most need it. I did hear Larry Flynt and some other “adult” guy were asking for a bailout. So many industries need fluffers–maybe they could subcontract.
Thanks for the mention! I’m fortunate that sex and tech (as well as my 3rd speciality, music) are evergreen topics. However, it was initially tough convincing mainstream pubs like the New York Post that sex or video games was just as important as other cultural topics. That is actually the main reason why I wrote the book, which took five years to complete. Sometimes you have to believe in your gut and wait for mainstream to catch up.
Coincidently, I’m in Vegas right now for a panel/book signing and reporting the Consumer Electronics Show and Adult Entertainment Expo. Neither industry seems to be slumping!
-Damon
Great post, but small disagreement: the Atlantic City casinos are being crushed in this recession. Yes, they have a vice business, but they rely on more than the slots (e.g. hotel bookings, food and dining and people paying to get there) to remain afloat. Lots of layoffs recently.
Just FYI….
With regards to travel, I’ve noticed that budget travel and green travel (believe it or not) are still hot topics.
Great post! I’d add that good business writers are still busy, particularly those who can write about how businesses can save money/stay afloat/grow their companies in bad times. Personal finance, too, is still a big deal, although it can be hard to think of yet one more “how to save money” piece. Finally, health care will be hot this year as health reform finally has a chance of actually happening. Health care writers who understand finance (and politics) should be attractive to editors. And readers want to understand how to stay healthy and avoid the high health care costs of getting sick, so people who write about wellness should be able to find markets for their work.
And here’s a shameless plug — my course, Magazine Writing Basics (http://therenegadewriter.com/new-renegade-writer-classes/#elaine), is good for writers in almost all niches (with the exception of food and travel writers, who really should take Monica/Allison’s courses). It’s still open and I’m offering a 10% discount to anyone who signs up after reading this blog post!
Elaine Grant
Fitness and health care are certainly on the rise. Obama, I believe, is going to be the next new fitness icon (you heard it here first!!). Despite his busy schedule and family life, he manages to fit in 45 minutes of working out every morning. His wife Michelle works out 90 minutes 3 days a week. What a power couple. And all over the magazines at the grocery aisle… what do you see? lose weight, gain muscle, celebrity before and after pictures. And you said it Linda. Food will always be a topic of conversation. Can’t go wrong here…
I write about tech, books and health, and there’s still interest in all of those, but anything you can add a green or money-saving angle to seems to do even better. Eg. people want good deals on cellphones and netbooks, not flashy widescreen TVs and expensive PCs…
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