Jared, I want to let you know that the improvement in your writing over the last 3+ years is really noticeable. Your stories have improved immensely, and I really enjoy reading them. I get excited to read your pieces, and want you to know that Fanatics Appreciate it! Keep on keeping on!
I truly appreciate that. When I started trying to get into this business, I really only wanted to do podcasts/be on the radio. I wanted to call games. I saw writing as a necessary evil to get to the point where I could do that, but it was a grind. It did not come naturally to me. I was usually the last person to leave after games because I would sit and overanalyze what I was trying to write about. I'd go over sentences four or five times writing and rewriting them trying to make them "perfect." There was a point last year (oddly enough right in the middle of the pandemic) when a switch seemingly flipped and it started to come much, much easier. Maybe I hit some sort of milestone on my 10,000 hours journey, but I think realistically I just found the kind of writer I want to be and had finally found the written voice I was looking for.
I've had to work my *** off for damn 10 years to even get to that point though and I'm far from a finished product (as best exhibited by the initial point about grammar that started this entire conversation). I was (and still am) a sponge for sportswriting. Every morning when I wake up, I spend probably an hour to an hour and a half just reading. I try to read everything on every site (including some of our competitors) and look for things I can pick up on to mold into my own stuff. That's always the first piece of advice I give when I talk to college classes, which is one of my favorite things I get to do a couple of times a year.
I got very lucky to spend time around and be mentored by some really good writers, plus have a boss who let me make mistakes and learn on the fly in my own way. Chris has never forced me into doing anything his way. He let me find my own way, which is why when I eventually (hopefully) write/publish a book he'll be the first person I acknowledge. He gave me the vehicle (or opportunities) to do something with writing but I had to learn how to drive the car and for that I'll always be grateful.
TL;DR edition: Thanks for saying something nice to me. I appreciate it.