Writing for a dirt bike magazine? How to get started?

[team-green32]

It has always been one of my dream's to become a writer for an off-road motorcycle magazine, but I really do not know how to get started in the business. Does anyone know how people get to do this?

 

[Smit-Dog]

Start local and work cheap!

I'd start by submitting articles to the CCC GLTR magazine, D-14 newspaper, and Trail Rider. Check their web sites or magazines on what's involved in getting articles considered for publication. I believe that the GLTR and Trail Rider will pay a nominal amount for articles published. I'd also look at getting articles published on sites like www.off-road.com, and even writing reviews / articles for sites like DRN.

You need to build a portfolio of your work, and much of it will likely be freelance until you make a name for yourself.

Contact Firecracker22 (on DRN). I believe that she's a journalist, and has experience getting off-road articles published.

Good luck!

 

[Orangewoods]

I remember Paul Clipper writing in his magazine (Trail Rider) a few months back about needing people to cover different races in different area's besides the New England area. I think there is 4 National Enduro's in Michigan and Ohio you could more than likely talk to him about them.There Web site is trailrider

 

[woodsy]

Kinda following up on the previous suggestions Aaron, I would take writing classes in College and learn English - sentence structure - word usage and VOCABULARY development now! It seems that the folks who REALLY shine in that field are the ones who have a good handle on all that stuff!! Tell you what, grab a Thesarus (sp) and spend some time playing with words. Make a game of learning at least 4 new words a week AND their usages!! Be prepared to do the Freelance thingy and get started at living your dream NOW!! DONT WAIT!!! Personally, I think the best writers are the ones who are doing it from the HEART.. They tend to have a style of their own and put a real personal twist to already interesting stuff. There are all kinds of venues dealing with our sport that a good writer could bring out - LOTS of room for someone to grow into the field!!!
Also, getting in touch with some of the current writers and interviewing them is also a GREAT way of data gathering.. It always amazes me how people will tell you EVERYTHING if you give them a chance!! Keep in mind though, what worked in someones life isnt always repeatable.. Probably the best advice that one of my College Profs gave me about life is:
Prepare NOW for tomorrows opportunities, preparation is the ONLY part of the equation that you control!!
Get er done buddy - I look forward to reading some GREAT trail reports from you this year!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!
Woodsy :ride:

 

[Smit-Dog]

.... Great advice by someone who's been published!

And I think if someone really has a passion for writing in their blood, they'll do it regardless of what they get paid... There are much easier ways to make a living. It's got to be a combination of passion and talent to be successful.

Trash (Mark Becker) wrote up a great article on the Loose Moose enduro that was published on the D-14 enduro site. Check it out... http://69.6.205.220/D14/event_reporting.htm

 

[bbarel]

Do us all a BIG favor and displace that yanker from the Muskegon Chronicle who wrote that ridiculous 'ORV's Gone Wild' article. Yeah check into Trailrider. It is a great dirt bike rag.

 

[INCA]

Aaron - For dancing you need smoothness, memory, co-ordination and the love of it. Same applies to writing. Post trail rides here and you'll get an idea of how they go over. Then practice a lot and when you get done, start over again. Determination gets the job done.

Young Ted

 

[Jon K.]

As INCA has suggested; practice on us.

Let's see your best story!

Jonny

 

[Don Marsh]

But Trash never got another article published, although they were summited. I think the trash talk had something to do with it.
Don

 

[team-green32]

I have been talking with Paul Clipper for awhile now. I went to him first because I enjoy the way that the articles are wrote in Trail Rider. We have been receiving Trail Rider for as long as I can remember. I am currently taking a couple of ENG classes in college right now. I wrote an opinion this winter that was published by them, and the asked me to write for them this fall; so I guess I will be writing for the campus news paper. Thank you all for your advice.

 

[BadgerMan]

You can get some insight into the business by reading the book "Monkeybutt" by Rick Sieman. It is not really that well written but it is great reading........especially if you grew up reading Dirt Bike magazine.

http://www.off-road.com/store/monkey.html

:cool:

 

[Asrith]

My best friend is a tech writer, get an english major with tech writing if you want to have any career in writing, tech writing seems to be the best major to get for writing, and you could also take some journlisim as well, but from what he tells me, tech writing is the degree to really have a carreer.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Two guys that have made a living out of writing about our sport are Ed Hertfelder and Ed Youngblood. Google some of their work. I laugh out loud at Hertfelder's stuff, and Youngblood has written some really interesting biographies.

 

[70 marlin]

Aaron: Do the work. Go to the events, meet the people. Ride the races, fined the mud holes un-stick the bikes , hang out at the fires. Go the club meeting, help set up events. Then write them up. If you can't relate to your public, they'll never read your work!

 

[woodsy]

Aaron: Do the work. Go to the events, meet the people. Ride the races, fined the mud holes un-stick the bikes , hang out at the fires. Go the club meeting, help set up events. Then write them up. If you can't relate to your public, they'll never read your work!

Thats not entirely true Aaron.... I know some people that would buy your work just because it came from YOU!! Fathers are notorious for doing such a thing but so are good friends ;)
Scott
Of course, its pretty hard to make a living off them!!!!

 

[CCCnurse]

I've been writing articles in the Great Lakes Trail Riders for about 10 years now and have not been paid one cent. Then again I haven't asked for any money either. I also didn't start writing with the idea of making a living at it either, I was just passing on some information I knew. Now I not only send my articles to the GLTR editor I send them to a ORV magazine in Montana, NOHVCC, and a Hare Scrambles web site in Arkansas.

All of them still for free, Why? Because I'm crazy mostly the other is a love for this sport that can't be explained. Also I hate bench racing and hearing stories of how somebody felt helpless when their buddy got hurt, when I had the information to help out, and now it's too late.

You've gotten some good advice in here, I would echo the statement of starting small and work your way up, send stuff to the GLTR, Tim is always looking for stuff to print. Send stuff to the D-14 paper, looking at race results gets boring every month. This way you build up a portfolio, so when you want to hit the big guy's you have something to show them. Also... Write what you know about and what your passionate about, people know when your writing a bunch of BS and will skim right past it.

RJ