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You dont have to be an athlete to work in the sports industry. If you have a flair for writing, you could work as a sports journalist. This way, youll turn your hobby into a high-paying job.
In 2017, the average salary for a sports journalist was $41,698 per year. You can earn even more by blogging about sports. Or you could write a book and sell it online.
Most people have a favorite sport. Depending on your audience, you can write about football, rugby, or baseball. Getting started is the hardest part.
Here are some tips on how to become a sports writer and make a name for yourself:
Find Your Niche
The first step is to decide what you want to write about. Are you passionate about fitness and bodybuilding? Or perhaps you know everything about soccer?
Find your niche and hone your skills in that area. Read the latest news and educate yourself. Watch live competitions and take notes.
If you want to become successful, knowing about sports is not enough. You have to continuously learn and stay up-to-date with the trends.
Most writers who work in this industry do it because theyre passionate about sports. Money comes second.
For inspiration, check out popular sports blogs and websites. Try to determine what they have in common. This should give a pretty good idea on how to get started.
Get Educated
One of the best things about working as a sports writer is that you can start anytime. Its no need to have a degree in sports or journalist. However, you must have a clear understanding of the jargon.
Each sport has a language of its own.
For instance, betting involves terms like dead heat and sports picks service plays. If you write about soccer, you need to know what a free kick is.
Make sure you master the grammatical rules. Read sports articles and follow the best writers in this industry.
If you have a flexible schedule, apply for sports journalism internships. This will give you the opportunity to work side-by-side with skilled reporters. Its also a great way to build connections and acquire sports knowledge.
Start a Blog
After choosing a niche, start your own blog. Share insights about your favorite sports, post news, and publish interviews.
Focus on building your audience. Connect with readers on social networks and let them know about your blog. Reply to comments on Quora and Reddit.
Post content at least three times a week, and share it online. This will boost your popularity and reputation.
Your blog serves as your portfolio. It showcases your work and skills. At the same time, it allows you to practice and get better at writing.
Still Wondering How to Become a Sports Writer?
Once your blog is up and running, you can finally work as a sports writer.
Search for writing gigs on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and ProBlogger. Apply with your resume and portfolio.
Many companies pay sports writers to create content for ads, books, or movie scripts. Contact them and link to your best blog posts. Show employers what youre capable of.
Check out the online versions of local magazines and newspapers. Pitch journalists and build affiliations. The more time you put in, the higher your chances of success.
Stop asking yourself how to become a sports writer. Take the plunge and hit Publish! Remember that everyone starts somewhere.
Its never too late to follow your dreams. Give it a try! You can never know where it might lead.
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