Sports’ writing is a freelance option that has garnered much attention in the recent past. As a freelance sports writer, you will find many jobs in the market today. The culture of freelance work and the scope of its reach have increased; it is now a viable and comfortable option for you. Sports writing is in no way a recent development, however, the number of websites that have sprung up, testify that there is much scope in freelance sports writing. Sports have always been recorded; sometimes by high profile names, once part of the industry themselves.
Your reasons for freelancing may vary. Extra income, work from home, independence, or the ability to take on multiple tasks; the list continues. Whatever your preferences, you can be assured sports content writing is a decent career option.
Freelance Sports Writing Jobs
Your duties as a freelance sports writer will revolve around content on sport. You will create content for editorials, sport magazines, advertisements, newspapers and, increasingly, online forums such as blogs and online magazines. Some of the most significant duties that will form part of your work scope include:
- Create content based on principles regarding order, clarity, conciseness, style and terminology
- Check for Freelance Sports Writing Jobs in Job portals
- Maintain the quality of content and a record of files and work revisions
- Edit, standardise or rephrase material prepared by others or fellow writers
- Confer with other teams like the design and style teams to understand the best way to approach an article
- Review published content and revise scope, format and content if needed
- Be able to translate sport events into quality and attractive copy
Skills:
You will need to have most skills other writers have, but the crucial difference is you need to be in-tune with, know the rules, and even have a strong opinion about one sport or many. There are many skills that you will be needed to master, if you wish to become a sportswriter. Some include:
- Writing skills
- Research skills
- Content development
- Content Management
- Acceptance
- Balance
- Clarity
- Consistency
- Interpersonal skills
- Unbiased presentation (this is quite important as you may not get to always write about a sport/team you like)
Many websites, forums, and instructional videos offer resources so that you can hone and perfect the inner sport writer in you. Some of the websites where you can pick up skills associated with sports’ writers. Journalism Degree, London School of Journalism, Bleacher Report, Open Colleges and Media Bistro offer both free and paid-for resources, and in some cases certifications for sport writing, where you can learn without having to move from your seat.
Being Successful As A Freelance Sport Writer:
Sports writing can pay you handsome money with recognition. It is a lucrative profession, where people like you who love sports and writing, get to combine hobby into profession, come up with quality copies, and earn some money from the comfort of your couch. With experience, the ‘some’ money in question, rapidly evolves into handsome money.
More often than not, talent is not a determinant of success in any sphere. It is possibly truer for writers, with the freelance market insisting that talent combined with the relevant experience attracts generous prospective employers.
Hence, to be successful initially, you could:
- Offer to do projects for minimum fees, sometimes for free
- Bid the lowest for a project on freelancer portals
- Get good testimonials for guest blogs, recommendations for work
- Start a blog, back link it to more visible blogs
- Create a website, or at the very least, a web page
- Advertise your services on social media platforms
- Understand the product or service intimately
- Be able to simplify overly complex language
Sports Writer Salary:
So how much do freelance sports writer earn.
Most of the revenue generated by you depends solely on your ability to market your services and your credibility with previous employees.
Usually freelance portals offer various kinds of payment models. In the fixed-price model, the price is usually pre-determined. The hourly model is the most popular and employers usually pay a predetermined sum per hour. Finally, in the project-budget based model, you often need to auction for such projects. Usually a fixed price model may range from $20- $200 and upwards, while you have to pitch for hourly projects, and budget payments, which usually range from $5- $35 an hour. Sports writers earn an average of around $19 an hour.
Finding Work:
Finding work as a freelance sports writer is quite easy. However, it may require efforts on your part. Quite a lot of effort, in fact, network with other writers and editors to build a responsive network. In the past decade, many portals exist where you can apply for jobs all over the world and offer proposals for international projects.
The most advisable course of action is to take the extra pain, go the extra mile, at the start of your career, at the least. It is important to remember that you are entering a market, as a freshman and thus, you must be willing to put extra efforts.
Websites like Odesk, Elance, Guru, and Peopleperhour offer many jobs to freelance sports writers globally.
Resources:
Journalism Degree, London School of Journalism, Bleacher Report, Open Colleges, and Media Bistro offer both free and paid-for resources, and in some cases certifications for sports writing, where you can learn without having to move from your seat.
For more information on Freelance Resource please visit www.careerlancer.net
