Misadventures in automotive journalism

On advice from my "In a slump" thread, I've decided to become an automotive journalist. I love to write about what I'm passionate about, and I figured that I might as well do what I love.

Here is a link to my first blog post - an editorial on my first car. Please tell me what you think. Any and all constructive criticism is welcome.

Hey, that's nicely written: engaging lead plus passion, good sentence structure and just the right length.

David S. Wallens wrote: Hey, that's nicely written: engaging lead plus passion, good sentence structure and just the right length.

Thanks! I decided to flesh it out a bit, as I realized that the ending portrayed an emotional connection that was lacking in the body of the piece. It means a great deal that someone who makes a living doing what I would love to do likes my piece.

Wow! Very well written!

I wonder if GRM would be open to tele-commuting?

keep writing!

I imagine it's like any other craft, where there's lots of trial/error and effort before it actually looks effortless. (like welding)

The_Jed wrote: Wow! Very well written! I wonder if GRM would be open to tele-commuting?

For freelance journalism, working from home is the rule rather than the exception.

Elsewhere on this board there is a thread about this board being awesome. Look at this example.

You post an automotive article and get a critique (and accolades) in less than 1 hour from a someone actually respected in the very small automotive journalism industry. Pretty awesome!

Not too bad. Can't put my finger on what the piece needs, but I can't help but feel it's missing something

Dusterbd13 wrote: Not too bad. Can't put my finger on what the piece needs, but I can't help but feel it's missing something

Experience, confidence, and the authors familiarity with his own writing--basically, a developed voice.

That wasn't an insult or derogatory comment in any way. I enjoyed it, and will read the blog.

I'll follow it, and please dont take my comment as a reason to quit.

I believe that with time it will all come together.

Very good! Keep it up.

The_Jed wrote: Wow! Very well written! I wonder if GRM would be open to tele-commuting?

I'll second the well written accolade.

FWIW my brother is a writer or a little web sports fantasy site called SB Nation. He puts up a dozen articles a day with a readership in the 7 digit range. He writes it all from home. Telecommuting does seem to be the rule.

Very good piece there. Keep at it.

Thanks, everyone! I guess I just have to develop my own voice.

solid 1st shot. Keep it up.

I wanted to be an automotive journalist in the worst way when I was in my teens and early 20s. But back then (late 80s), the only way to do it was to get an actual job at a magazine or newspaper. So I majored in English for a year, wrote a few articles for the college student newspaper, and decided I didn't like it. Didn't like interviewing people, mainly. So, when it came down to it, paying my dues in the general journalism field to hopefully get one of a very limited number of auto-related jobs, vs. going into engineering and design with a much clearer career path, higher pay, and more opportunities... I chose the latter. I don't really regret it, but I do sometimes wonder "what if".

The fact that you can test the waters with a blog and get feedback from honest-to-god magazine editors on this forum is a huge benefit. Good to see you taking advantage of it.

Cool first post. Your story resembles my relationship with the Lincoln MkVII. I'll be following.

This makes me want to start blogging again.

You have a nice voice.

@Tom Spangler... I'd be willing to bet that 99% of auto writers envy you. Trust me, it is one tough gig and most have spouses with real jobs for security. There are tremendous experiences, but it's absolutely exhausting. Yesterday consisted of some 10 hours of travel, four hours of driving, writing and filing my story from the backseat of the test vehicle, then getting home at 3:30 a.m. Still had deadlines to honour today as well. I often put in 24 hours straight, when you factor in time differences. If you love it, do it – but don't envy us. The experiences are fabulous, but the drawbacks are enormous – unless you grab the brass ring and score a full-time position. They're more rare than pink unicorns these days.

Lesley wrote: You have a nice voice. @Tom Spangler... I'd be willing to bet that 99% of auto writers envy you. Trust me, it is one tough gig and most have spouses with real jobs for security. There are tremendous experiences, but it's absolutely exhausting. Yesterday consisted of some 10 hours of travel, four hours of driving, writing and filing my story from the backseat of the test vehicle, then getting home at 3:30 a.m. Still had deadlines to honour today as well. I often put in 24 hours straight, when you factor in time differences. If you love it, do it – but don't envy us. The experiences are fabulous, but the drawbacks are enormous – unless you grab the brass ring and score a full-time position. They're more rare than pink unicorns these days.

Agreed. Freelancing is a very tough job. Thankfully, I don't need much in life to be happy

Most excellent, good sir! I have subscribed to your newsletter and look forward to your future work! (you can put your email in on the lower right and have updates sent do you for anyone who's interested)

Good job. I liked it. Keep at it. You seem to have a knack for it

Good stuff man. Been some good feedback on the particular piece, so I won't bore you with more of that, but instead I'll throw some more big-picture advice your way.

1) Find a good editor. A good editor makes a good writer into a great writer, and successfully editing your own stuff is about as easy as successfully cutting your own hair.

2) People ask me a lot "How do I become a writer?" Well, you write. You can't just "be" a writer, you have to "do" it. You don't just show up t the Olympic swimming pool and enter the finals of the 100 meter freestyle. Theres lots of practice and training and failure and progress that goes into it. Write. A lot. And care about everything you write, whether it's a message board post or a grocery list.

3) Write for a small audience. Write what you want to read, and maybe something that your best friend would like. You'll find that the sense of intimacy it creates reaches more people on a far deeper level.

4) My personal secret: Got nothing else to add but need to fill some space? Dick joke!

My malaise era Cutlass was purchased from a little old lady (my gramma) in 1988. It earned the nickname "the Gutless" thanks to that amazingly weak 260 cubic inch V8.. or maybe it was the Oakley sticker.

My fondest memory was trying to drift in the rain, but lacking sufficient power to spin the tires. Thanks for the memories!

Keep writing.

Gary wrote: Very good! Keep it up.

I should add that I wrote a few articles for trade publications during my working career, and they were published (even by Gary Vasilash!). It's fun and satisfying, and I think I'm a pretty good writer ... but as JG intimated, a good editor knows best!

Very well done.