So you wanna be an automotive journalist?
You know you can do it. You've read automotive magazines for years. You think you've got the touch, feel and experience behind the wheel of a car, and that very special wherewithal to creatively convey with the written word your practical insights and conclusions about the four-wheel buggy you just shamelessly flogged. But let's face it-there's no way for you to buy the world's most interesting, expensive and exotic cars for yourself. You must become an automotive journalist to experience a few more of life's great pleasures. Oh yes, this is definitely for me, you're thinking. Free cars, free fuel, free rubber, free track time, free trips to exotic locations, and a generously sponsored expense account. What more could a car guy want? OK, maybe a few brews and some hot babes... that goes without saying.
Regardless of your natural or evolved writing talent, you absolutely need something to write about. Be aware that Porsche AG is not going call you up to politely ask if you would like to drive the company's newest offering at the factory test track, all expenses paid. Remember, at this point you are a complete nobody starting from scratch. In order to write automotive stories you must continually make opportunities to drive a lot of different cars in order to create automotive experiences that are worth writing about. Therefore, you must live, eat, sleep and breathe everything automotive. Read everything automotive. Watch everything automotive. Do everything automotive. Get it? And developing a few connections won't hurt either.
Once you have got something exciting and interesting to write about: Do it! There is no time like the present, because if you don't write about it, then someone else will beat you to it and your window will be lost forever. You must also develop the creative, "artsy" side of yourself (you know, the uncomfortable one most manly types don't necessarily like to show). You don't want to come off as a pansy, just deep, thought provoking and interesting. Remember, you're writing a story here, so suck the readers in with your technical knowledge, wit and candor.
The next thing to do is put in a lot of track time. If you don't have any yet, you had better join your local car club and get some track experience at a performance driving school or track-day event. No one wants an automotive journalist who drives like a granny or consistently finds the closest tree, ditch, or curb and damages the latest automotive creation. You must be able to drive it hard and keep the shiny side up in any type of driving environment or condition, period. It also helps to seek out a safe and secluded location for your cavalier activities. Private property (with permission) and race tracks are ideal.
Be well prepared to spent a lot (and I do mean a lot!) of time composing e-mails or formal letter communications, and making phone calls, to the staff editors at the magazines. This part of the job can take more time than writing the actual articles. This is because the editors are out driving the fancy cars that you want to drive, so they infrequently return e-mails or phone calls. Also, don't be afraid to negotiate and nail down how you will be paid for your brilliant new article before you start putting a lot of work into it.
Next, you absolutely must buy yourself a quality digital camera and learn how to use it properly. Magazine articles are nothing without the art to back them up. Even Reader's Digest has pictures. God forbid you have to pay a professional photographer out of your meager freelance writer's earnings, so learn the photographic craft.
In a way, breaking into the field of automotive journalism is very much like climbing the ladder to become a professional racecar driver. You have a particular talent and must start at the bottom. You first have to prove yourself, but in order to execute this plan of action, you must wear several hats besides the one you are selling. You need to be an accountant, marketer, sales rep, travel agent, technical guru, mechanic, creative consultant, test/stunt driver and photographer. It ain't easy. No one else will do it for you, and it's up to you to make it happen. So sharpen your pencil and get to it, but don't, I repeat, don't quit your day job!