When I started Baseball-Prose.com, it was out of necessity: it seems difficult to silence the creative writing side of my brain, even when it comes to baseball.
There are two very distinct sides to my writing in general: the analytical and the personal side.
Sure, I love laboring over statistics. Sometimes I stay up late researching trade possibilities, and during the season I love to think that I could manage my team better than their skipper.
I’m thankful for the opportunities I have to contribute for other sites that allow me to exercise my more traditional writing, especially when it comes to baseball.
But no matter how much I contribute elsewhere, my heart and soul are really wrapped up in this site, and the narratives that surround baseball.
As this site has grown in popularity (and I thank all of you tremendously for your support) it has opened up a dialogue between myself and other writers, which was unexpected. The complaint I hear most often from other writers is that sometimes their creativity is stifled–whether it be from their professional requirements or just life getting in the way.
In general, there have not been a lot of writers that can successfully balance the traditional coverage and the narrative. Recently, I had a couple writers reach out looking for a venue to share some of their stories, and I was honored. And in typical fashion, it inspired something bigger.
What started as a simple email to writers I admired, turned into dozens of writers that committing to telling their stories on Baseball Prose.
And not just any writers. Some really talented people whose stories you will definitely want to read. Some of these writers come from an impressive pedigree–like Baseball Prospectus and SB Nation. Others have been successful in running their own sites like Surviving Grady and Fangs Bites. Some will be humorous, some will be serious, but all of them will be worth reading.
The best part of this project is that there are no restrictions. There is no pressure from an editor; there isn’t a desire to compile a perfect analysis. We haven’t had conversations about word counts or subject matter. All we did discuss was writers telling stories of their life in relation to baseball, and from the submissions I have read thus far, I can guarantee you will love the outcome.
Contributions will start running this week, with the intent to stretch this project out through the off-season. While there will still be regular contributions from me personally, there will be fresh perspectives as well. This week I expect to run a piece by a football blogger writing about baseball; a statistics guy who doesn’t even like baseball; and a writer recounting his childhood obsession with baseball Nintendo games.
I really feel like one of the luckiest people around to have these writers contributing to Baseball Prose. I hope you will check in often and show your support to some of the best writers the internet has to offer, and I hope you will show them the same love and support you have all shown me since this site started.
And as a final thought: Now that the project is unveiled, if you’re a writer that has something you’re interested in contributing, let me know and we can discuss the possibility.