Freelance Sports Writing Job

Becoming a Freelance Sports Writer

A sports writer is hired to both entertain and educate people about what is happening within the world of sports.

Having a specialty is a bonus in the field of freelancing and sports writing is a great choice for someone interested in athletics. Along with your interest in sports and sports writing, you need to have the following:

• Time: You need time not only to write, but to scan the Internet to see where the jobs are.
• Ambition: Do not get into sports writing unless you are an avid follower of sports and enjoy writing about teams, coaches, and games.
• Connections: Doesn't it always pay to know someone? Do you have a friend or associate who is a journalist for a local paper? Contact him or her to see if he or she can either put in a good word for you or connect you to the person at the paper you need to speak with.
• Clips: Clips are actual copies of articles you have written before that have been published. If you don't already have clips, you may need to volunteer your services in order to obtain them.
• Reliable computer with Internet service: A computer is very important for both writing your articles and for using the Internet as a tool to do research.
• Impeccable writing skills: Dust off that grammar textbook, you will need it. The competition is high; be the best you can be.
• Ability to work alone: The hours you put in at your computer can be lonely.
• Able to meet deadlines: Editors will ask you for assignments by a certain time or day of the month.
• Access to sports events: Last, but by no means least, the sports writer may need to attend a baseball or football game in order to be able to write about it.

Getting Started

If you have written a sports article for a Web site or print publication before, be sure to place it in your portfolio. A portfolio is a file where you have copies of all the articles you have written. Editors of magazines like to see where you have been published. Most importantly, they want to know how well you can write.

Decide which sport or sports to write about.

Where to Look for Freelance Sports Writing Jobs

The Web is a great tool when you are searching for a freelance sports writing job.

• Journalism Jobs is a site where you can type in what you are looking for and the location where you would like to work. Jobs will then pop up for you to peruse. Under each job, the position, company, location, and date the job was listed will be visible. If you choose, you can even narrow your search according to job categories.
• Minor League News is looking for writers in the local markets where minor league teams play. They have pages where their job positions are updated and posted.
• Craig's List often posts ads from companies that have freelance sports writer jobs available.
• Freelance Writing Jobs will help you with informative articles and links to set you on the path of freelance sports writing.
• Job Monkey has articles and tools as well as a link to look for jobs that may interest you.

Persistence Pays

As with any writing that you will do, you need to have the determination to succeed. Do not give up! Writers have landed a freelance sports writing job they are happy with due to their continual persistence. Keep plugging away at improving your writing skills as well as your search for jobs that can give you the extra income you desire.