A lot of the content (my own included) being pushed out there is basically marketing.
Most official write-ups of reviews, big road trips and events are being compensated in some way.
This means that they carry a bias and are not necessarily pure storytelling.
Tell the real stories, the ones that hurt, the ones that make a difference.
If you are getting payed by a resort or brand it’s hard to write anything negative about them.
Take this opportunity to offer an aggressive honest perspective on what you see in skiing.
These are the stories that need to be heard but aren’t being told.
Don’t settle for writing marketing copy, especially if you aren’t getting compensated for it.
-Open with what you find to be the most interesting, important or humorous part of your story.
Grab the audience’s attention right away and then suck them in.
Don’t get caught up in your vocabulary and grasp of big words.
Most skiers don’t want to have to sound out your sentences or google every third word.
-Think about what you found to be important in your story and focus on that.
If you are covering an event it’s tempting to focus on who won.
-Keep it visually interesting.
You are writing for skiers, not graduate level english majors.
- Read a lot of content you like and venture to learn from it.
The best way to get better at writing is to read a lot and then write a lot.
Look at articles you enjoy and learn from them.
-Get a second opinion.
This could be your mom, your buddy, your english teacher or anyone else.
A second set of eyes is incredibly valuable.
Fell free to message me if you ever want my (rather sketchy) opinion.
We love to read your work and make a run at help you improve.
-Don’t take it too seriously.
Skiing is fun, storytelling is fun.
Stories about skiing should be fun too.
Hopefully I didn’t break too many of my own rules and bore you all to death with that.
Let me know why I am wrong, why I am right or why I am a stupid idiot.
Just don’t settle for reading others' stories, tell your own!
