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Writing Sports Books: Insights and Experiences, Part 1
21 days ago
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By K.P. Wee
It’s not often that I am asked to share my writing experiences, so when an industry contact recently inquired, I decided to take the opportunity to review and reflect on my writing journey. This process of reflection is important to me as it allows me to appreciate how far I’ve come and to recognize the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
Although my current work involves teaching and doing play-by-play in amateur sports, my journey into writing was quite different.
In the past, I was not very comfortable with public speaking. I found that I was much better at expressing my thoughts in writing. Since I have had a passion for sports since I was a teenager, I found writing about sports to be both enjoyable and fulfilling.
I realized early on that I wasn’t adept at debating sports topics with others, which often made discussions about them seem pointless. Instead of engaging in debates, I chose to write about sports on my own computer. This was a more natural and satisfying way for me to engage with my passion for sports.
Eventually, a significant turning point in my writing journey came when I thought, “There are so many books about baseball. I’m sure I can write books too.” This realization came from my frustration that one of my favorite baseball pitchers growing up, Tom Candiotti, was never featured in any of the baseball books I found. Tom, known as the “Candy Man,” had mentioned on his website in the late 1990s that he was planning to release a book about the knuckleball, a pitch he threw often during his impressive 16-year career.
Unfortunately, Tom’s book never came to fruition. This sparked a thought: “Why don’t I write a book about him instead?” Motivated by that idea, I dedicated years to writing about Tom. The culmination of that effort was the 2014 publication of Tom Candiotti: A Life of Knuckleballs by McFarland & Co. That achievement was a milestone in my writing career and marked the beginning of a continuous journey in sports- writing.
After completing the first book, I realized that the process of writing was ongoing. The journey, however, could be quite exhausting. To succeed, you need to be motivated and passionate about what you’re writing. Additionally, finding time to write amidst various life responsibilities is crucial.
Many people might assume that the COVID-19 pandemic was the ideal time for writers because everyone was at home with ample time to focus on writing. For me, however, it was quite the opposite.
Prior to the pandemic, I often found myself writing in local coffee shops. Seeing university and college students working on their school projects in those coffee shops was a source of motivation for me. I felt a strong desire to produce outstanding work, surpassing the quality of their business or science projects. Their presence, even though I never interacted with them, was enough to push me to improve my writing.
When COVID-19 disrupted all my routines, I struggled to stay focused. To overcome that, I downloaded numerous MLB Network documentaries and NFL Top 10 videos from YouTube and played them on a continuous loop while working, particularly when I was finishing my book about Barry Bonds. That approach helped me maintain my concentration and kept me engaged with my writing.
Another significant challenge in writing sports books was finding appropriate photos. Many readers may not realize the difficulties involved.
When I was pitching my books to publishers such as McFarland & Co. and Rowman & Littlefield, I was informed that I would need to find and pay for the photos myself.
While Rowman & Littlefield covered the cost of the cover photo for The 1988 Dodgers: Reliving the Championship Season, I was responsible for securing and financing the interior photos.
One particular team charged exorbitant fees—thousands of dollars per image—which were beyond my budget. On the other hand, some teams provided photos for free, as long as I gave proper credit. Unfortunately, some teams did not respond at all.
This issue of obtaining photos is often not apparent to readers. I once approached a freelance photographer about photo fees, but his response was snotty and condescending. His attitude discouraged me from pursuing this option further.
There are times when expected sources for photos fall short. For example, while working on Don’t Blame the Knuckleballer! I was able to obtain photos of knuckleball pitchers from the Baseball Hall of Fame, covering both historical and modern players.
However, when I needed images for a book about 16 players from the 1980s and 1990s, the Hall of Fame informed me that they did not have photos of those more recent players.
That was surprising, given that they had images of players from the 1910s through the 1950s. One would assume that their collection would include photos from more recent decades as well.
Support, or the lack thereof, can also be a challenge in the writing process. When discussing my work with others, I sometimes encounter dismissive responses. For example, when I mentioned to a “friend” that I was writing about the 1988 Dodgers to mark the 30th anniversary of their last championship, the response was a patronizing “So what?” as if to imply, “And? It’s an absurd idea.”
When I attempted to defend my work, the “friend” was offended and distanced himself from me. Such experiences can be disheartening, but they are part of the journey.
Occasionally, a “friend” might ask in a condescending manner, “How much money can you make from THIS?” I find that questioning someone’s income is impolite, yet it is a question I face from time to time.
I am tempted to respond with, “And how much money do you make from smoking marijuana, drinking, and pursuing your other harmful and addictive hobbies?” but I refrain from doing so.
Those experiences are all part of the journey. They highlight the challenges and triumphs that come with pursuing a passion for writing.
This account represents just the first part of many stories I have to share about my writing journey. I look forward to providing more insights and reflections in the future.
K.P. Wee wrote a book about Tom Candiotti.Photo byK.P. Wee
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