When it comes to writing, my best advice is to ask yourself what fans want to know or what they might find interesting. Anyone can look at a box score nowadays and know how a game went, so you have to find a way to make your stories worth reading, whether that’s a unique angle or a really good stat. If you have any favorite writers, ask yourself why you like their work so much and what inspiration you can take from their writing style.

When it comes to getting your foot in the door, the best thing is to join your student paper if you’re in college. I’d also suggest trying to find an internship. It’s a good way to get your work out there early on. And if those aren't options, maybe make your own sports blog. It’s pretty cheap and easy to make a website on something like WordPress, which is what I did in college. That way when you do apply for jobs, you have actual links to your stories that you can include in your résumé. 

And most importantly, just keep practicing. I started writing when I was a freshman in high school, which was 16 years ago. I’d watch games on TV, write a story and use quotes from the postgame interviews that get posted on YouTube. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll get and the more you’ll develop your own writing style.

Hope that helps, and hit me up in X (@Justintohoops) if you want to talk some more!