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The Generalist Writer Is Finished — Here Is How to Adapt Today
Algorithms will decide what you are known for
Earlier this year, one decision wiped out nearly 80% of my writing earnings overnight. In less than 30 days, the $250 and $350 payouts I saw earlier this year from personal finance pieces disappeared, dropping below $50.
And I don’t plan to change course.
I was riding high on articles covering retirement money. The numbers were very good, and the articles engaged readers. The checks were very good, but I had to make some sacrifices.
I came across an insight from Neil Patel, someone I have followed closely for the past 10 years. Patel made it clear that artificial intelligence is reshaping the entire digital ecosystem.
His core point was simple: artificial intelligence systems categorize creators whether they like it or not. If you write on the internet, algorithms will decide what you are known for, and you have to establish that authority before machines do it for you.
That insight made me make a hard pivot.
Instead of spreading my work across writing and money topics, I made a deliberate choice:
- Narrow my scope to a single domain — 98 percent of my output shifted straight into…
