The Essential Guide to Modern Sports Writing

Writers are naturally confident. Writers can also develop a huge ego over time. Remain humble and actively seek feedback from your audience. Proactively addressing holes in your game will assist in getting you to the top --- and help you stay there.

One of the most challenging tasks for writers is to find their own voice. But even after finding their voice, writers continually have problems believing their voice has the right stuff. This lecture talks about the challenges and the need to have confidence in your own skill set. 

Practice makes perfect and there's no better way to sharpen the tools in your arsenal than to consistently create content. Repetition helps us get better. No matter how good you may be, you're only as good as your last piece of content. Hone your skills! 

Don't assume a reader knows all of the backstory on a particular topic. It will be your responsibility, as a writer, to fill them in accordingly. Take a few minutes before diving into a story to properly plot your strategy for the content you're creating. A solid research and planning strategy typically separates the "good" writers from the true elites in the business. 

This lecture covers the various social media platforms where a writer can gain additional exposure. 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Vine are all platforms with millions of users that are constantly looking for fresh content and open to discovering new people. 

The lecture will provide students with best practices on how to grow their social media presence on these platforms while also diving into the impact social media has had on the writing industry since its inception. 

Students that purchase this course will also receive all of my personal contact information at the end of this course. 

In this short lecture we further reinforce the point that social media is one of the most important avenues for writers in today's competitive landscape. 

Having a strong presence on social media allows you to gain exposure, develop your brand and keep your core audience engaged. Best of all for you, most of these platforms are FREE to use. FREE, I said. 

Introduction of special guest speaker Bill Ingram, a veteran writer with nearly 20 years of experience covering professional sports. Bill has served as one of my mentors and I highly suggest finding one to aid in your writing journey. Bill's advice has been tremendous throughout the years. 

This lecture will be taught by Bill Ingram, a veteran sports writer with over 20 years of experience covering the professional game. Bill informs students on how social media has impacted the writing industry while helping to even the playing field for writers competing against larger outlets.

While there are certain aspects of social media great to utilize for the "fun" factor, writers should always be cognizant of their personal image online - especially on social media. 

The lecture will reinforce the importance of being consistent in your approach to social media and the need to develop a personal code of conduct on these platforms. 

Social media can be extremely fun and it's a great space to engage with your core audience, but sportswriters should always understand that their credibility can be compromised at any moment.

In this visual example we'll show you how a series of tweets by a sportswriter went viral and was met with instant criticism from the professional athletes he was covering and fans of the sport. This lead many to question his credibility and even his ethics as a journalist.

More than ever, fans have direct access to writers due to the emergence of social media. Most of the times these fans are respectful and drive constructive conversation. But when the criticism ultimately comes your way ... maintain a level head and handle it like a pro. Don't let them see you sweat. 

While it's important to be active on social media in today's competitive environment, here is a reminder that posting your work on these platforms doesn't necessarily lead to more traffic to your blog or website.

It has never been easier to start your own blog and there are numerous resources available for writers looking to start one immediately. However many blogs ultimately fall victim to the same ailment ... the failure to produce consistent content. 

One of the advantages of creating and running your own blog is the freedom to call the shots as you see fit. From advertising spend, types of content, editorial practices and the philosophical direction of the outlet. 

The BUCK truly does stop with you.

One of the disadvantages of creating and running your own blog is the fact all of the decisions stop at your desk, potentially leaving you with little time to focus on writing. From advertising spend, budgets, acquiring talent, payroll, approving types of content and editing ... it all falls on your shoulders.  

The BUCK truly does stop with you and for some this is a disadvantage.

Securing respect and earning a strong reputation isn't accomplished overnight. With the proliferation of independent websites in the market today, the road to credibility will be a strenuous and tedious journey. 

Joining an established outlet means being able to tap into their already built audience. Take advantage!

When you associate yourself with a brand there will be plenty of positive perks, but remember that any missteps from one of your teammates will also become part of your permanent record too. 

Whether you like it or not, the phrase "guilty by association" continues to hold true.  

Building consistent traffic on a newly created website is hard work, but an established outlet already has a solid stream of consumers looking for content. 

A brand with established credibility that gives you the stamp of approval, instantly will raise your profile. 

Choosing to write for an outlet means losing the creative control you would have enjoyed had you decided to manage your own website. 

Website owners have many responsibilities and wear plenty of hats ... 24/7 365 days of the year. But as a writer for an established outlet you will be free of some of these burdens ... and able to focus on just writing high quality content.

Plenty of strong of content have not been read in their entirety because the author fails to get to the main point quick enough before the reader loses interest. Don't let this happen to you. DO NOT bury your lead.  

Each day there are only a limited amount of new stories available to cover and hundreds of outlets reporting on these same events. The need for you to differentiate yourself when covering these popular topics is key. 

Stop following the crowd and add something NEW to the story. Differentiate yourself. 

Audiences love writers who aren't afraid to take a stance on a topic whether they agree with the stated opinion or not. Taking a well crafted and thought out stance drives dialogue and a level of respect from your audience.

Every story you write doesn't have to be a home run. This is a marathon, not a sprint. 

The best writers are able to clearly communicate all angles of a particular story to their audience without "home team" bias. Carry yourself as an expert and remove the "fan" emotion. 

Congratulations on finishing this course! I also want to sincerely thank you for purchasing this course and giving me an opportunity. Much appreciated. 

As a token of my appreciation, I am providing all of my personal contact information for those of you that would like to keep in touch post course. I am highly accessible and pride myself on responding to those who reach out. 

Please download the enclosed PDF file for all of my contact info and I look forward to connecting with you in the near future. Best. LG.