If you have a passion for sports and a love for writing the chances are you may have already thought about combining the two. Professional sports writer is an attractive job for many. Journalists working for newspapers, websites and the best betting sites get VIP access to the top stadiums and sporting events, watching the game from the best seats in the house. Great, but there’s more. They actually get paid for it and quite well. Sports writers get paid for something most of us would do for free. In this blog, you will know What aspiring sports writers should know before starting out.
It sounds great like the ideal situation. Can you imagine sitting pitchside at the World Cup final, ringside at a world heavyweight championship fight or unrivalled access to the Super Bowl? After the end of the contest, you don’t go home like everyone else, you actually get to speak to the players and coaches in person getting their thoughts on the result. Your report will then be read by millions around the world.
How to get started for aspiring sports writers
So, what’s the catch and how do you get started? The answer to both questions is similar – it’s not easy to break into the world of sports journalism or sports writing. For every one professional writer covering the big match there are millions of bloggers working freelance, often unpaid or relying on small donations from a hardy band of readers who are as much supporters of the writer as fans of the writing.
To break into sports writing you must be a talented writer that knows just about everything about your field and then a bit more. Your knowledge needs to be a level above everyone else and at least five levels above the average fan that will be reading your work. You’ve got to live and breathe the sport and you’ve got to research every little detail.
Being a successful sports writer is similar to being a successful professional sportsperson. How does an amateur boxer become a professional champion of the world? Raw talent? It’s not as simple as that. It’s hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Endless hours in the gym, working hard when everyone is enjoying life. There’s a famous saying in the fight game; titles are won and lost in the gym, far from the bright lights and crowds.
Be prepared to pay for your passion
Another famous saying is the one that tells us; time is money. But that doesn’t apply to sports or sports betting. Let’s say a fighter earns $1 million for winning a title. That looks great on paper, but it’s well below minimum wage when you divide it by hours spent working in the gym, perfecting their talent.
That’s also the case for sports writing. Don’t start out looking for a big wage and the courtside seats at an NBA match. Don’t be afraid to give your time for free as you build your experience and reputation, showcase your talents and create contacts in the industry. If you give your time for free, you’ll actually be better off than most other sports writers starting out as the majority end up paying for their passion. It’s a hobby that costs them, sometimes, large amounts of cash.
There’s a lot to be paid for. A good laptop designed for reporting, stationary, travel. You may want to get accredited to a reputable sports journalists club to secure your own press pass, and that doesn’t come cheaply. Even if you are writing a blog for the fun of it, know there are costs involved, and these can grow quickly. Are you writing to get rich? Then save yourself time and just forget about it. Did Tyson Fury start boxing to become a millionaire? Nope. He first pulled on the gloves because it was his passion, and he quickly found he had a talent for it. Writers must adopt the same mindset.
Get writin
If you have a love for writing and sports, have opinions worth reading and the skill to mix it with the best, then it’s time to get started. Taking the financial burden on the chin. Accepting the time required to get yourself published. It’s a must, but it’s something worth doing.
If you are ready, then the bell is about to ring for round one. Get out there and get writing.
