Ask me about being a sports writer! - Page 3

wdogg40 · #21 08-29-2007, 04:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thread is nonsense until you link to some of your work.

[/ QUOTE ]

I too would like a link to some of your work and then I may have a question for you.

MurphNKY · #22 08-29-2007, 04:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
gogogogogogogogogogo...(be nice)

[/ QUOTE ]

How will you survive on your salary? Are you just out of school?

Are you already an alky like most sportswriters? Or does that come with incessant late games and deadlines? One of my best friends used to be one in Virginia...he had serious drinking issues for years before he quit.

Quit his job, not drinking.

[/ QUOTE ]

I decided not to make sportswriting my life's work after working in the business for five plus years. Honestly, it's beyond ridiculous how little I got paid for the work I did..and how much most writers get paid for the work they do. I was stunned at how manipulated these guys are by their editors...really was a shock to me.

To me, it wasn't worth working my a** off for 10-15 years to get to a point where I could make 40k. I loved the work, but I didn't like the pay or what it did to my life.

Funny story, the first time I covered a MLB game, a well known MLB writer pulled me aside, took me to lunch in the press lounge and said, "GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS IMMEDIATELY. HAVE FUN WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG, BUT DON'T DO THIS FOR A LIVING."

He proceeded to give me a laundry list of reasons why he didn't want me or any young person to get involved. It was pretty insightful and I - to this day - appreciate his taking the time to be honest wtih me. Everything he said, I eventually either saw or found out to be true in the work I did.

MurphNKY · #23 08-29-2007, 04:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Seriously question, and try to be honest: Do you think you are bias towards teams from Cincinnati, or do you consider yourself to be completely objective?

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously...you HAVE to be objective and I could draw that line. Not being able to not only effects your work, but your reputation. I never had a problem separating objectivity from homerdom.

MANY sportswriters can't...and they suffer for it eventually.

wdogg40 · #24 08-29-2007, 04:43 PM

What do you do now.

KilgoreTrout · #25 08-29-2007, 04:43 PM

Oooh please say waiter... please say waiter.....

MurphNKY · #26 08-29-2007, 04:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
In general terms, how much do entry level sports writers make? And as a follow up, do you think Amalie Benjamin is hot? And as a second follow up, do you think she would be into a hairy fat guy like me? Oh and as another follow up, if she's not making much money could you tell her I'll send her a fiver if she flashes her junk on NESN? kthanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sportswriters make pennies, especially in smaller markets. In lesser areas, you - as a newbie writer - can expect to make low 20's. You can expect to work 60-80 hours a week and not get OT. You can expect to have to be in office or at the park constantly. It's a joke.

It would have taken me 10-15 years to make what I'm making now im my cushy corporate america job.

Also, I'm quite certain Amalie would be very into you...she's into big guys...didn't u know?

Dids · #27 08-29-2007, 04:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Dids,

If he posts actual articles, the whole thread will get sidetracked by nitty specifics and non-sequitors. If he says, "I was a weekly column in Cincy's biggest newspaper," I'll believe him and then he can get down to specific inside info.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think any insight he can offer is pointless until I know if he sucks or not.

MurphNKY · #28 08-29-2007, 04:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Are you blackjack777, the worst sportswriter in the history of sportswriting?

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL. Someone clue me in on this Blackjack cat...and, I swear I'm not him.

mik37 · #29 08-29-2007, 04:48 PM

Who was the nicest person you ever interviewed? Who was the biggest dbag?

MurphNKY · #30 08-29-2007, 04:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
What do you do now.

[/ QUOTE ]

DEFINITELY NOT a waiter...I quit writing full time simply because I couldn't deal with how much it was taking over my life. Had I been compensated anywhere near what I should ahve been for the work I put in...maybe I could have done it. Paid my dues, moved to BFE and then returned to a bigger market, hopefully my home market...but, it just wasn't worth it to me.

I took a job working for a major consumer goods company in Cincinnati. I've been here now for 7.5 years and, while I am starting to loathe the work I'm in now, it doesn't take my life over and I make at least double what I was making.