While I enjoy blogging for Pennsylvania Puck to bring you stories about my life as a hockey fan, I’m also here to continue building my writing portfolio.

I also write for two other websites that devote some or all of their coverage to hockey. This is because I want to build a career in the sport, specifically working in media relations for an NHL team. If I do not get a position as a media relations coordinator, I am interested in being a staff writer for a team website. So what does this have to do with being a fan?

Well, aside from the fact that my dream job requires knowledge of and some interest in hockey, not a whole lot. Although I have not yet fulfilled my ultimate goal, I’ve learned that you have to have more than a passion for hockey to succeed at this job.

Meeting deadlines

The first and most important part of what I do is meeting deadlines. The sports world moves very fast, and getting out game previews and recaps on time is important to making sure that the story is not stale by the time it’s published. If you wait too long, readers are already looking ahead to the next game or storyline, and they won’t be interested in what’s already history. This also rings true when a trade breaks or you are giving an injury update on a star player.

I also have to meet deadlines when assigned a story by one of my editors at Bleacher Report. This is a website covering a wide range of sports and has numerous contributors, including featured columnists, a position I’ve held since June of 2010. Featured Columnists have higher standards to aspire to, such as writing a certain amount of pieces per week. This is different than those who aren’t featured writers, who don’t have a limit to adhere to.

When I am assigned a topic, even if it is not breaking news, I am given a specific deadline. Meeting it is the most important way to remain in good standing. If I did not publish timely work, no matter how good it looked on a computer screen, it would hurt my reputation, and I would have a hard time getting an NHL job.

Furthermore, when applying for jobs, the main focus is not on how much of a fan of the sport or specific team you are. An employer wants to know what you can bring to the team. You should be prepared to discuss your experiences as a writer and where you see your career headed.

Sacrificing free time

In sports, you have to work non-traditional hours. As you know, many hockey games take place on nights and weekends, and even on some holidays. You have to sacrifice free time while your friends are out having fun, or you may have to leave a family gathering early or miss out altogether.

That is one of the toughest things I’ve learned while applying for jobs with teams. If I were not able to handle this schedule, I would have to give up on my dream.

Creativity is another important part of what I do. While I do get assignments from my editors, most of the time, I come up with my own story ideas. Some days, this is harder than others. But if the ideas are flowing, I usually get them based on NHL news or try to come up with top 10 or top 20 lists. Ranking a group of players or teams always prompts a lot of debate, as everyone has opinions about where someone should be placed on a list, or even whether a player or team should be on it at all.

I also like to write pieces that look into hockey-fan culture, whether it’s an arena review or making a list of my favorite songs associated with hockey. These don’t bring about as much debate as a ranking might, but I’ve found that people enjoy reading about the lighter side of the sport.

Although I work as hard as I can and strive to put out high-quality articles, I know that the sports industry is not an easy business to break into. There could be hundreds of applicants for one position who may be equally or more talented than I am. I have gotten automated rejection e-mails for jobs I thought I would be a perfect fit for, as have many others.

Staying positive

It’s hard to stay positive when I think that my odds of getting a job in hockey are slim. However, if I chose to give up on my goals, I know I would regret it.

I’ve realized that every writer has good days and bad days. Sometimes, an article doesn’t catch on with its intended audience for whatever reason. Other times, try as I might to rack my brain, I can’t come up with an idea to research and publish. Or, I may make a mistake in an article and have to go back and correct it while apologizing profusely.

Because I’ve learned these things, I have an easier time staying on top of my plan. I feel it is better to have a bad day and maintain a positive attitude than to become a pessimist and abandon everything I’ve worked to build up. I’m not saying I always have a perfect day or that I never question myself, though.

I don’t know everything about working in hockey, but I hope to continue learning about the business while improving my skills.

And one day, I hope when I see my byline on a story on a team website or my name on a list of front office staff, I’ll know that the work I am putting in now was worth it.