Join me in this live two-hour class and discover the Five Things I’ve Learned about sportswriting – and about developing the stories, skills, and disciplines that you, too, can employ to inform and entertain your readers.

My brother Bill, who is six years older than me, was a spectacular small-town athlete in central Massachusetts in the 1960s. I spent much of my youth going to his games, then coming home and reporting what happened to my parents. When our local librarian learned of my interest, she’d set aside the latest “young reader” tome on baseball or basketball, and I’d devour it in a couple of days. This led me to a career in sportswriting and I’m still amazed that writing about Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez has enabled me to own a home and pay my kids college tuition. What a country we live in!

I’ve been writing about sports for more than five decades, going back to my high school and college days, and continuing through a professional career as daily newspaper beat reporter covering the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox, then becoming a general sports columnist for the Boston Globe in 1989. I’ve covered more than 40 spring trainings, 40 World Series, 25 Super Bowls, ten NBA Finals, four Stanley Cup Finals and three Olympics.

Writing about sports is fun and challenging. No one truly masters the craft. It’s an evolving process, and if you think you’ve got it figured out, you’re probably not changing on the fly and keeping pace your readers. Adjust or perish.

In this spirit, my live class, Five Things I’ve Learned about Sportswriting, will address five things I’ve learned about sportswriting and dozens of things I’ve learned about the skills and disciplines you’ll need to entertain and inform your readers. Whether you’re creating your own brand, writing a blog, firing off emails, issuing hot takes on X, or writing professionally for an outlet that serves insatiable sports fans, you’re going to have fun and better understand the craft in our two hours of storytelling and lessons learned.

As I’ll explain, sports in America in this century is a multi-billion-dollar, ever-expanding, ever-changing industry, one which impacts and entertains millions of fans––some casual, some serious. It’s a common denominator, able to unite out wonderful country in a time when we are politically split on almost every issue. Sports is different. It’s where we can argue merits of individual stars and favorite teams, then share snacks and have a beer. Sports arguments don’t divide: they bring us together.

We’ll talk about your need to get out of your home or dorm––talk to players, coaches and executives––then tell your readers some things they don’t know about your team. Here lies the critical difference between opinion and informed opinion. Don’t present opinions based on watching games on TV: get out there, talk to players and teams, and tell your readers what’s really going on.

I’ll also share what I’ve learned about the writing process. Don’t think too hard when you are ready to write. Your first instinct is usually your best one. “Writer’s block” is a myth––or a state of mind. There is always something to say. Stephen King told me, “If you’re thinkin; you’re stinkin’.” Get something on the screen. Build your block of marble. You can sculpt it later.

Our session will be informative and fun. Ask whatever you want. I can tell you what it was like to cover the Tom Brady Patriots, the Larry Bird Celtics, and every Red Sox team from Ted Williams to Pedro Martinez to Mookie Betts. Want to talk about The Curse of the Bambino? I wrote the book. Literally. I wrote The Curse of the Bambino in 1990.

I hope you join me from the luxury box of your own home.

-Dan Shaughnessy