Joel Strachan
Sports writing plays a huge role in stirring up expectations of sports enthusiasts and giving fans the information they crave about their favorite sports. However, not everybody knows what sports writing is exactly. Let’s figure it out!
What is sports writing?
Sports writing can be defined as a form of journalism or creative nonfiction. Obviously, this type of writing covers sports-related issues. It may highlight sports events, competitions or tell about athletes.
The editor of The Best American Sports Writing 2015, Glenn Stout, says that a good sports story is the one that takes readers to the places they’ve never been before and changes something in them. According to Michael Wilbonm, the best sports stories are those that come from conversations. He says that it’s impossible to create exciting content based on formal interviews.
Sports writing usually includes the following elements: the names of the teams involved in the game, when and where the game was played, highlights of the game and the score or final outcome. According to a popular writing company Edubirdie, where thousands of students get help with their assignments, sports revolve around the drama of competition.Therefore, journalists should spotlight a single athlete so that their readers can relate to a human side of the story.
How to start a career in sports writing?
Journalism is an exciting career path with various niches aligning with almost any particular interest. And one of them is sports writing. This niche is perfect for you if you have a writing talent and passion for sports. But how to become a successful sportswriter? Read the answer below!
- Learn more about sports
Before you start developing your skills in this field, you should first find your niche. And it’s impossible to do without having enough knowledge about sports. To understand what field you would be most successful in, you should attend sporting events and watch as many games on TV as possible. After some time, you will find a particular sport you enjoy most. Follow it as closely as possible and gain insights on its rules and news.
- Play sports yourself
What can be better than experiencing the thrill of a sports game? If you want to be a professional sports journalist, you must understand what athletes feel really well. The best way to get into their world is by playing sports yourself. Pick a sport you are interested in and train hard or participate in competitions once you have a chance. No matter what you choose – football, hockey, basketball, tennis – most importantly, you know how this sport works from inside.
- Take special courses
No matter how talented you are by nature, it’s better to have well-structured knowledge on the subject you write about. That’s why you should take a composition course or other related classes. For sure, you’ll learn something new from them and improve your writing, making it more professional. Such courses can fill your knowledge gaps in grammar and punctuation, so your writing looks perfect. They can also give you more confidence and teach you to accept criticism.
- Read sports-related news
If you want to hone your skills in sports writing, you must consume as much content on this subject as possible. You can follow online blogs, listen to podcasts or just watch TV shows that feature news in the sports industry. Analyze how certain aspects of games are explained and how they speak about sports in general. Pay attention to the tone and wording. By consuming a lot of content, you can see what approach different writers use and what is most effective.
- Earn a Bachelor’s degree
If you are a high-school student hesitating whether to apply for a university degree or not, the answer is – YES. While pursuing a degree, you can learn a lot about journalism in general. College education will help you enhance your skills and create better content at a fast pace, which is a must for in-demand sportswriters. By the way, at higher institutions, students are always offered great opportunities for practice. For example, they can write for a school blog or a local newspaper.
- Find an internship
Apart from earning a degree, it’s also important to get some real-world experience. Once you have enough free time from your studies, apply for different internships. To succeed with your application, you have to create a resume and portfolio that includes the best samples of your work. Prove that you are a great candidate for the role and do your best to gain maximum hands-on experience within your internship program. After that, you’ll be more ready to work as a writer in the sports industry.
