Golf writing is stuck.
Do you ever lose focus when you’re reading about golf, feeling like you’re seeing the same articles, over and over? Do you get bored easily and find it difficult to finish an article once you’ve started it?
I know I do, and that really bothers me. Despite my obsession with golf and my respect for the talented writers who cover it, I can’t seem to focus and enjoy most of what I read anymore.
On the one hand, I hate to say anything bad about golf writing because journalists work hard to bring fanatics like you and me our daily ration. But on the other hand, I can only take so much of the same before I snap. The fact that so many different writers use the same style and tone—despite the infinite variety inherent in golf—has driven me to the point of insanity.
To fight this predictability and refresh golf journalism, I want to follow the PGA Tour in 2010 and publish professionally edited e-books on each event. To insure that my writing will be different from the rest of the coverage you will read, I plan on doing everything differently:
· Journalists normally fly from event to event?
¼ I’ll drive.
· They sleep in hotels?
¼ I’ll sleep in my car.
· They spend most of their time in the media center?
¼ I’ll spend most of my time on the course, hustling to try and catch all of the action.
· They like to use the same tools and subtle tricks in their writing to compete an assignment?
¼ I will strive to remove these aspects from my own writing, choosing instead to write in a form that I feel engages both me and my audience.
Writing is my biggest passion aside from golf. From 2005 through 2007, I worked as a caddie at five different private clubs in the Northern Virginia area. I chronicled my experiences in the form of a blog, which you can peruse here. I would encourage you to read over some of my older material, as well as a collection of samples from my coverage so far this year to get a sense of my writing style and see what you might be getting yourself into.
By purchasing my e-books, you are not only supporting my efforts, but are also giving other golf writers the courage to deviate from the norm and write more creatively. Your support of this site will contribute to the evolution of golf writing.
The e-books are $2.50 per copy, and you can purchase them through Google checkout.
I hope to hear from you on the road.
Cheers,
Tom Collins
I know I do, and that really bothers me. Despite my obsession with golf and my respect for the talented writers who cover it, I can’t seem to focus and enjoy most of what I read anymore.
On the one hand, I hate to say anything bad about golf writing because journalists work hard to bring fanatics like you and me our daily ration. But on the other hand, I can only take so much of the same before I snap. The fact that so many different writers use the same style and tone—despite the infinite variety inherent in golf—has driven me to the point of insanity.
To fight this predictability and refresh golf journalism, I want to follow the PGA Tour in 2010 and publish professionally edited e-books on each event. To insure that my writing will be different from the rest of the coverage you will read, I plan on doing everything differently:
· Journalists normally fly from event to event?
¼ I’ll drive.
· They sleep in hotels?
¼ I’ll sleep in my car.
· They spend most of their time in the media center?
¼ I’ll spend most of my time on the course, hustling to try and catch all of the action.
· They like to use the same tools and subtle tricks in their writing to compete an assignment?
¼ I will strive to remove these aspects from my own writing, choosing instead to write in a form that I feel engages both me and my audience.
Writing is my biggest passion aside from golf. From 2005 through 2007, I worked as a caddie at five different private clubs in the Northern Virginia area. I chronicled my experiences in the form of a blog, which you can peruse here. I would encourage you to read over some of my older material, as well as a collection of samples from my coverage so far this year to get a sense of my writing style and see what you might be getting yourself into.
By purchasing my e-books, you are not only supporting my efforts, but are also giving other golf writers the courage to deviate from the norm and write more creatively. Your support of this site will contribute to the evolution of golf writing.
The e-books are $2.50 per copy, and you can purchase them through Google checkout.
I hope to hear from you on the road.
Cheers,
Tom Collins
I didn’t major in journalism. I’m not a professional golfer. I’m just a former caddie who believes in a different approach to golf writing. Join me as I follow the PGA Tour in 2010. And long live the arse flag.
