How to Write for Sports and Fitness Magazines

Make Money Writing About Exercise and Athletics

Sep 15, 2009 Michelle Schusterman

Sports fans and fitness gurus can make money by sharing their knowledge and getting published in a recreation magazine.

For many, playing basketball or practicing yoga is a hobby. However, with some work and effort it can be much more lucrative, and even become a career.

The number of topics covered by recreation magazines is vast, and anyone with a passion for sports or fitness can start a freelance writing career and earn money by writing about what they love. Here are a few tips for those interested in writing for recreation magazines.

How to Find Recreation Magazines

The easiest way to find specific sports and fitness magazines is through a search engine, such as Google. Most magazines, whether online or print, will have a website. Aspiring sports writers should take time to browse through magazines, either on the internet or in a bookstore, and start a list of sources that focus on topics they wish to write about.

Many recreation magazines will also post job openings or a call for submissions on websites such as Craig's List. For the new writer, very little or no pay may be worth it in order to add published clips to a portfolio.

Aspiring sports and fitness writers should also consider starting a blog. Blogs are free, fun, easy to maintain, and a great way to build a collection of writing samples. Writers can use their personal blog to establish expertise in a subject, then use their blog to connect with other writers and editors and become visible in the sports and fitness community.

What Sports and Fitness Magazine Editors Want

Aspiring freelance writers should always research a magazine before submitting a story or query. Spend some time reading through the publication's archives, and pay close attention to the editor's guidelines.

A writer should also try and focus on an area of expertise, or a niche. A few examples of sports and fitness niches include:

Football
Basketball
Soccer
Yoga
Pilates
Personal Training
Fitness Wear
Bodybuilding
Aerobics
Weight Loss

These examples are still very general. For sports, writers should zone in on what they are particularly knowledgeable about. For example, local college football teams, or baseball in Japan. Fitness writers can also find an area that not everyone will be as familiar with, such as yoga for pregnant women.

Being able to write in several areas will indeed open more doors, but all writers should really establish themselves as an expert in a very specific area. A high school swim coach will stand out when querying a magazine that is interested in sports for children.

How to Pitch an Article to a Recreation Magazine Editor

A big mistake many freelance writers make is sending a large number of queries to dozens of magazines, in the hopes of increasing their chance of publication. It's much more effective to research individual magazines and find the just a few options for an article.

For example, sending a query about tai chi to a magazine that focuses on extreme sports will not help. Instead, look for magazines that have previously published articles on martial arts.

Some magazines publish "on spec", the editor wants to read the entire article without guarantee of publication. Others accept only a query, which is a summary or pitch of the story idea. Writers should carefully read and adhere to a magazine's guidelines before submitting.

Earn Money Writing About Sports and Fitness

Hardly anyone makes a full time income immediately from freelance writing. But with time and patience it's possible for a writer and dedicated sports or fitness fan to earn a steady income from writing. The first step to this new career is to start a blog, research a few magazines, and start sending submissions!

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The copyright of the article How to Write for Sports and Fitness Magazines in Resources for Writers is owned by Michelle Schusterman. Permission to republish How to Write for Sports and Fitness Magazines in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Get Paid to Write About Sports	Get Published in Sports Magazines	Write for Fitness Magazines and Make Money
Earn Money as a Sports Writer	Publish Articles in Sports and Fitness Magazines