Times are though for a lot of people, all across the globe. But bad news can also be good news for writers if they know where to concentrate.

The following subject areas, for example, will fetch more readers than ever these days and thus provide a lucrative outlet for writers in need of some extra cash:

1) Recruitment and job market. Articles on how to find a job; where to look for; how to write an application letter; how to get ready for an interview; what to do and not to do in a job interview. Interview a recruiter or an employment agency head and publish the result as a Q-and-A article.

2) How to save money – an evergreen topic always in demand. How to cut down on grocery costs; how to save on clothing and transportation; how to recycle home decorations, clothing, books, tools, etc. Visit your local thrift store, interview the owner and publish the result as a Q-and-A article.

3) Explain why there is a global economic crisis. Interview an economist or a professor and publish the result as a Q-and-A article. Explain in laymen’s terms the complicated concepts that pundits throw around on TV talk shows. Help the average citizen understand better what’s going on out there in the money jungle.

4) Credit and finance articles. Suggestions to cut down on the “plastic habit.” How do the credit rating agencies work? Can you trust a “credit repair” service? Interview a consumer advocate or a credit card expert and publish the result as a Q-and-A article.

5) Better cooking for less. Bad times are when people find solace in food while trying to cut down on their grocery budget. How to cook delicious dishes at home with regular ingredients; new sandwich ideas; a great time to diet and lose some weight; etc. Interview a cook (ethnic?) and a dietitian and publish the result as a Q-and-A article.

6) Benefits of community organizing in times of need. Write an article on how to organize a food bank in your community, or how to open a book exchange center that recycles books, CDs and even paintings and posters for free for all (with perhaps a grant from your city or county). How to form a consumer collective to buy things for cheap in bulk?

7) How about an article on adult re-education? A bear market is also an excellent time to “draw within” and re-train, to learn the things that you might not have had the time for before due to your busy schedule. Now that things have slowed down a bit, where can you go to learn to play the Vietnamese flute, or cook Middle Easter dishes, or write your family's story? Compile a list of resources, both on- and off-line. Interview the President of an on-line university and publish the result as a Q-and-A article.

8) Repo business is in high gear. When people fall behind in their payments, the banks close in and repossess the financed vehicles. How does the repo process and business work exactly? Is it like that famous TV show or is it any different in reality? How does it vary by region and state? Interview both a licensed repo company and a bank official and publish the result as a Q-and-A article. Repeat the same for residential and commercial foreclosures.

**********************************************************

Ugur Akinci is a copy and technical writer with 20 years of experience and the author of 101 Ways to Power-Up Your Writing.

You are welcomed to subscribe to his free Copy Writing Tips and Technical Writing Tips newsletters.

**********************************************************