You don’t have to complete Ironman triathlons, bench-press your own body weight, or have washboard abs to write about fitness. But it does help to at least hit the gym every once in a while. “Just like it’s a lot easier to write about pregnancy if you’ve been pregnant, it’s a lot easier to write about fitness if you work out,” Men’s Journal senior editor Marissa Stephenson told ASJA conference attendees in April.
Stephenson was one of four fitness editors and writers who spoke at the panel I moderated, “So You Want to Be a … Fitness Writer.” Their insights could propel rookie and masters fitness writers alike to new personal bests in their careers. A few tips they shared:
- Exercise your brain. Story ideas can flow from your own workouts and training challenges. Matt Fitzgerald, a prolific endurance sports writer whose book Diet Cults came out in May, said his personal battles against injury and his search for that extra performance edge have inspired articles, chapters, and books.
- Look for what’s new and now. Pitching editors a story about “Pilates” or a collection of workout moves—no matter how effective—isn’t enough. Tie your pitch to a new study, book, or DVD, or package it in a creative way to give editors a reason to run with a piece, Stephenson said.
- Consider your audience. Young men have far different fitness concerns (abs! push-ups!) than 45-and-older women (who want ways to fit activity into busy lives), said Amy Rushlow, who’s edited for both Men’s Health and Prevention.com. For better or worse, women’s magazines emphasize appearance while men’s focus on performance. Have empathy for your potential readers, even if you don’t fit their demographic. Think about whether they’re new or experienced exercisers (or both).
- Vet your sources and stories. Practice what Fitzgerald calls “radical skepticism” to root out fitness fakers and frauds. Always seek out opposing views, especially to new or counterintuitive ideas. Liz Miersch, editor-in-chief of Q (Equinox’s online magazine), has what she calls a “fitness advisory board”—trusted experts she can always turn to for unbiased opinions. Rushlow keeps a word document with credible contacts and asks them for referrals.
- Check for certifications. Fitness experts you quote should always have a certification from a legitimate organization, such as the American Council on Exercise or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Once you progress in your fitness-writing career, consider getting certified yourself (all four panelists had done so). Even if you never train or coach anyone, you’ll gain knowledge and credibility that can serve you well in this era of writer- or editor-as-expert.
Monetize your expertise. Certification also opens up new income streams. Fitzgerald explained how his hit book Racing Weight (about weight management for performance athletes) turned into a cookbook, apps, and a coaching practice. “It can be hard to make a living as writer,” he said, but these products provide funding that frees him to do the work he loves.