Secrets of the writing game: Have fun, work hard, grab opportunities

In the time I’ve been writing for Bleacher Report, I have never considered writing a chore. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time, both in the Sports Media Internship and with the Breaking News Team.

The way to get places in this business is to get more involved.

If you feel that you can write about a certain topic, be proactive and reach out to people. I felt that I could help with the college basketball coverage, so I contacted Scott Campbell, the editor for that sport. Since reaching out, I’ve been writing for Indiana basketball along with doing the internship.

If someone offers you an opportunity to do some additional writing, always take the extra work. It’s a great way to show editors that you can be counted on in the future.

If you don’t believe me, take advice from NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller. After my busy yet rewarding trial run with the Breaking News Team, Matt told me via Twitter, “Keep working your ass off. That’s the only secret to making it in this business.”

Being passionate about your writing is just as important. If you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, this isn’t the field for you. The people I have met through the site have been some of the most intensely passionate sports people I have ever met. Whether it’s Neri Stein constantly tweeting angrily about soccer or Collin McCollough breaking things when the Indiana Hoosiers lose, the people at Bleacher Report are passionate.

If you consider every new piece written a fun experience and not a job, this is the career for you. Keep getting involved and something good is bound to happen.

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Tyler Brooke is in the Winter class. Follow him on Twitter @T_Brookey.

One Thing You Need to Know is a series in which we ask our interns to write about just that: One thing they’ve learned in the B/R Sports Media Internship that they would pass along to other aspiring writers.