
7 bits of advice for aspiring sportswriters and other word-loving storytellers
There’s no one way to break into professional writing, and there’s no advice that’s guaranteed to land your dream job in this silly, frustrating and wonderful word-based profession.
The simple but harsh truth is this: Some people make it and some people don’t — and there’s often no commonality among them from which to glean useful wisdom.
Still, it’s good to listen to advice. Anyone who’s ever made it as a professional writer, no matter the capacity, probably has benefited from someone’s advice and has something useful to pass on to those who’ve yet to find (or find again) the professional satisfaction they desire.
This is my attempt to help. I work in sports journalism, so that’s my focus these days. But I’ve also worked in news, so I know plenty about that, too. The points below are based on observations from my career, as well as the careers of colleagues and former colleagues.
I can’t promise they’ll lead to your preferred destination, but I hope you find them helpful.
Important note: This is advice related only to writing and getting hired/staying hired as a nonfiction writer, particularly in journalism. This doesn’t factor in alternate paths, such as starting as a copy editor, or a general producer, or in another role that you hope to parlay into a full-time writing job. All those are valid, and they’ve worked for some people, but that’s a post for another day.
Here we go …
Be versatile: This is big. Even if you want to write only about sports, or only about business, or only write long-form features, practice writing about lots of subjects and in lots of styles. Specialization is dying. It’s a sad truth, but it is the truth. The more you can do well, the better you look to perspective employers. Writing about only one thing, in only one style, isn’t likely to keep you employed for very long, not in this business and not in the current environment.
I was on the news side of journalism for 15 years before landing in sports. As a reporter and editor, I covered government, business, crime, religion, weather and just about everything else that comes from working at a local news outlet. I wrote hard news, features, commentary, analysis, long form, etc. I learned how to interview willing subjects and difficult subjects. I didn’t do any of it with sportswriting in mind — I never even saw myself on a path to sports — but not a day goes by that I don’t lean on that experience in some way. Point is, you can have your strong suits and your passions, but it’s good to be a generalist. And the best way to become a generalist is through local news. Though it’s not feasible or ideal for everyone, writing for a local news outlet — even as a freelancer—can pay huge dividends later. It never hurts to reach out to your local editor(s) and ask whether they have any opportunities available. Start small. Be open to anything. You never know where it might lead.
Be different: This is another big one. In fact, it might be the biggest. You’ve got to stand out. Yes, easier said than done. But never stop trying. If you don’t have the means or desire to vary your experience, or if you’re still determined to specialize, look at what everyone else is doing in your space, then do something different or better. In sports, for example, there are dozens of outlets doing routine analysis—why Player X is having a good season; how Player Y has cut down on strikeouts; how Player Z compares to players a generation ago. This is all a necessary part of the business, but it’s a crowded space. There’s a sameness, and it makes for a lot of noise — which means it’s not the best place to break in and stand out unless you’re bringing something really unique to the table.
But, Jason, what if analysis is my passion?
Well, do something with your analysis that’s not being done elsewhere. Find a unique approach, focus on what others are missing, fill a void that’s obvious to you but that nobody else seems to have noticed. Give people something they can’t get anywhere else. That’s the key. Yes, it’s hard. But, as Jimmy Dugan said in “A League of Their Own,” “The hard is what makes it great.”
This holds true no matter your specialty. Look for the untold stories. Look for the angles that others aren’t likely to pursue. When you know other places will zig, try to zag. Be enterprising in your thinking. Don’t be afraid to have a different story than everyone else. Give readers a nice surprise. It’s much more likely that your story will be the one they remember. Related to that …
Read other writers: It’s important to observe what others are doing, if for no other reason than to know how your area of interest is being covered. Even if you don’t have writers you read regularly, you should at least have an awareness of what’s being done in your industry—how certain stories get covered, which types of stories resonate most, which styles of writing people seem to enjoy most. This isn’t to say you should try to copy someone else’s style or approach, but it’s good to have a gauge on the day-to-day execution of coverage across the industry. It really helps when trying to find ways to stand out.
Pitch confidently: Know your angle before you pitch a story, and send a pitch that really sells the idea. This goes for all genres. I get pitches all the time that are some variation on this: “Hey, Jason, any interest in a story about how (Player X) is having a great season?” Well, no, I’m not interested. Two reasons: 1) That’s way too generic a pitch. I can probably find mostly indistinguishable versions of that story in a half-dozen other places; and 2) There’s something about the words “any interest in?” that makes it seem like you’re not that confident in the idea to begin with. A better approach would be: “Hey, Jason, I’ve got a great story idea: (Player X) is doing (cool, possibly historic thing that nobody seems to notice) and I’d like to explain to readers how they’re missing something special if they’re not watching this guy.”
The point is, you’ve got to have a good angle, especially when writing on a topic that’s popular or in a field with lots of competition. In almost all cases, generic pitches won’t generate much enthusiasm from editors.
When you get a story idea, no matter the topic, it’s good to ask yourself whether the ground has already been covered. If it has, ask yourself whether you can do it better or bring something new to the discussion. If not, it’s usually best to look for a new idea.
Write succinctly: I wrote a whole post about knowing how to get to the point in news stories, columns and analysis. No need to repeat it here. But give it a read and then come back. I’ll wait.
Share your work: The writing business is a hustle in many ways. Everyone wants to be seen, but it’s so hard to cut through the noise. So, when you write something, share it on Twitter, Facebook or wherever else you choose. Ask for feedback. Be willing to accept constructive critcism. But just share, and share often. I talk to too many aspiring writers—and even some getting paid to write — who are uncomfortable sharing their work more than once or twice. Some believe it comes across as egotistical or as too spam-y to tweet out links multiple times. I disagree. Don’t assume everyone saw it the first time. Or the third time. Or the fifth time. People use social media in different ways. Some hit refresh constantly, while others check in once a day or once a week or once a month. Yes, there are limits. Sharing 10 times in one day is probably too much. But three times the first day, then twice the next, is completely acceptable. In many cases, the only way people will see your work is if you share it. So, share it.
Just write: If none of the other stuff works, or at least not in a way that gets you paid, just keep writing. Write for your own pleasure, about whatever you want. Keep honing your voice. Try to write as often as you can. Look for opportunities to pitch unique ideas (editors always want unique ideas). Keep thinking. Keep sharing. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
If you’re an aspiring writer, or a struggling one, or just a jaded one, or just a writer trying to grow in the profession, I hope you found this helpful. Again, my advice comes with no guarantees. Nobody’s does.
There are many good writers who, for whatever reason, don’t get the opportunities or recognition they deserve. It’s the unfortunate reality.
But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look for every advantage and every opportunity to learn and get better. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t—and sometimes it just takes a little longer to pay off than we’d like.
The journey toward the payoff is sometimes what makes the payoff all the more rewarding.
Maybe something here can help make your writing journey a little easier.
