As I'm slogging through reams of data and writing reports about the viability of the domestic energy situation, I've been wondering about my career choices. Obvious conclusion: my work would be a lot more interesting if it was more related to any one of my hobbies. Have any of you tried becoming a writer for a car magazine and do any of you know the path to becoming one?

 

One of the car mags actually did a small story about this. I'll see if I can find it.

 

The ultimate career has to be one based on a hobby.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by boka
[B]One of the car mags actually did a small story about this.

 

I emailed Motor Trend a while ago and they told me that most of there writers/drivers have degrees in journalism and used to race proffesionally. But I think if you are already a journalist that will help you out but then you should take some driving classes as well.

 

What are you doing now? Sounds like tech writing. If so, you probably have the requisite writing skills; as someone suggested you need to be pretty knowledgeable about cars and driving as well. A degree in journalism or English would be helpful, as well.

Why not start out freelancing? Automobile Quarterly, Auto Week, & Road and Track (the only major ones listed in my 2001 Writer's Market), accept 25% or more of their manuscripts from freelancers. Car & Driver, also listed, only accepts 1 manuscript a year from freelancers, so no chance there. Of course, there are dozens of smaller markets (including local newspapers) that pay little or nothing, but you could establish a track record as a published automotive writer with tearsheets to show.

Finally, it's probably not going to pay near as well as tech writing, at least not in the beginning. But if it's doing what you love, it's worth it.

cal

 

I always think being a car reviewer, author or tester is a damn cool job but I wouldn't know where to get such a job like that. One thing for sure, I'll give up my higher paying job for something I would 100% love to do anyway. I'm sure many of us share the same feeling and ideas, that's when the problem starts ... There aren't enough magazines for us to write about and most certainly going freelance won't prove to be much feasible in financial terms.

 

I think Motor Trend has its own writers so if you were to get on with them you wouldn't be worrying about if the Magazine will accept your article as with say Autoweek and other freelance magazines.

 

My point was that if you don't have any experience and you have nothing in your portfolio to show them when you're trying to get hired, Motor Trend is probably not going to hire you as a staffer.

Not that I would discourage anyone from applying, but would you expect to get a job as an electronics engineer without a degree? No, if you're lucky you might get a job as a technician and work up to engineer level. But if you walk into the interview with sheepskin in hand, you have a much better chance of getting hired.

Since there is no university program that I know of for automotive journalists, the route I suggested enables him to keep his job while he compiles a portfolio.

cal

 

marcus... a member here... does that.
are you here marcus?