5 Take it easy


Now, what about your writing style...

Of course, your writing style is important - but don't try to be Jeremy Clarkson or James May all the time. 

At a local level it can look really crass. Write about cars in an entertaining way but remember you are meant to be telling readers or listeners what a new car is like. 

They may be agonising over what family hatchback to buy next and you could be a big help. They don't want to see a complete beginner trying to crack crap jokes and looning around as if he's on Top Gear. They want to know how big the boot is.

Roadtests are important to a lot of local papers, magazines and websites because they allow them to sell motoring adverts. They will not want you to take the piss and use it as a quick stepping stone to something else. And probably they will not want you to be over critical. 

Be patient. Features and columns will give you the chance to extend your style. Practise your writing like you would any other skill. Read it over and over and try o fine-tune your writing to make it clearer, easier to read and funnier.

The best news is that you CAN do it. There's no set qualification you've got to have, there's no age, race or sex bar. It's just up to you to get on and start trying. Good luck!