Intro:
I hope y’all have enjoyed following my progress thus far on my journey to create a sports publication from scratch. I really dove into the heart of what I believe will be essential for producing exceptional sports journalism this week (the long form athlete profile).
What’s my ultimate goal? To figure out how talented sports writers with access to some of the largest sports media brands (like Sports Illustrated and The Athletic) are able to create such authentic and compelling human interest stories that derive from the box score. In particular, I am fascinated by the “journey to recovery” form of sports storytelling - how can you tell the story of an athlete who has experienced a serious injury but has found a way to return to a level of success after overcoming all the odds? This style of storytelling is one of the most common forms of storytelling found in athletics, and its popularity is well deserved by the writer who is able to do it well.
Research:
I have been studying how great stories are created this week by utilizing resources like articles, and usage of reverse engineering. I focused on finding methods for writing about sports and for analyzing long-form articles that are awards winners for their structure.
I wanted to learn from the authors of these types of articles by answering some common questions:
How do journalists discover the details of a player’s history, struggle and motivation?
What are the different parts of a good return to the game story?
How do you make a reader feel for someone who wears a uniform?
To answer these questions, I looked at how legendary journalists create their material as well as using video to see how different types of storytelling can cross over between media.
Understanding the Anatomy of a Comeback Story
This study was tremendously encouraging to me. The direction I am taking with a focus on the human aspect of the project has been proven correct. This is what I have learned about and how it is influencing my project:
1. It’s ALL about thorough Reporting & Interviewing. A profile will come to life through thorough and extensive research - from the number of sources used (other than the athlete), to the amount of information gathered from each source. The athlete, as well as the people they grew up with (for example, coaches, parents, team members), should all have their stories told in order to build a complete picture of the athlete’s life.
All the real magic happens during the interview when you are able to establish rapport, ask open-ended questions and get past the athlete's media training to get at their "real self." Establish anempathetic (empathy) guideline for being an active listener and be prepared to follow-up on subtle clues and cues received from the athlete during the interview.
2. The Structure of the Hero's Journey I have determined that the majority of returning champions fit into the traditional storyline arc.
The Setback Stage: The major injury that disrupts everything.
The Lowest Point: The pain of injury and psychological angst of what will happen for the rest of your life.
The Comeback Stage: The unrewarded strenuous work of rehabilitation where the true character of an athlete is revealed through the determination, courage, and perseverance they display in overcoming what they face.
The Redemption Stage: The absolute return back to the field; not simply the return to play, but in fact a return back to being an athlete with pride.
The reason this works is due to its linkage to human characteristics associated with being resilient and having the ability to rise above challenges.
3. Observing the Story in Action Reading about these types of techniques is one thing, actually watching them in action is a completely different experience; I found this amazing video profile on CrossFit athlete Lauren Taylor and her journey is a perfect example of the "path to healing" narrative. Her story illustrates the physical as well as mental obstacles she faced during her recovery from several life-changing injuries.
By watching her video, you see all the same narrative beats I read about: the horrible lows (the day and moment of injury, being told she would never be able to perform again), the brutal determination to work through the dark nights behind the curtain, and the emotional fulfillment of being able to return as an athlete. This is exactly the type of storytelling that I want to include in my magazine.
Impact on my Project:
This has changed everything for me as a writer! Previously I had only a vague notion that I wanted to write "good" stories, but now I have tons of different techniques that I can use to accomplish this goal and they form a solid toolkit that I can continually rely on. I realize that I also need to include the journey throughout recovery - the brutal, hard, human side of recovery - in addition to only the positive portions of the comeback.
Reflection:
What's next? It’s time to take a look and decide what audience I am trying to appeal to and target with my magazine. Additionally, what are the most effective ways to reach my target audience and keep them engaged throughout the magazine.
Sources:
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