THE PODCAST: The Student Side Hustle
THE EPISODE: 88: Greg Nuckols on Writing Well, Calling People Out, and Being Respected in Fitness
When fitness writer and record-setting powerlifter Greg Nuckols wants to know whether one of his articles is any good, he does what so many intelligent men do: He asks his wife.
“She understands lifting pretty well, she’s very bright, but she’s not a sports scientist,” Nuckols says. So if she understands and enjoys the story, it’s gold.
But in case you’re not married to a part-time weightlifter with a background in journalism, you can also field-test your writing with anyone who matches your target audience—a training partner, say. Ideal scenario: Find a good editor who understands the English language really well but not the topic you’re writing about, Nuckols says.
That’s just one of the tips he shares in this episode of The Student Side Hustle. As the head of content for Stronger by Science and contributor to Men’s Health, Muscle & Fitness, Bodybuilding.com, and T Nation, Nuckols has plenty of advice to share with anyone interested in writing about fitness.
Other tips: Read your story out loud before you publish it—if something feels weird to say, then it will be hard to read. Use conversational language. And use acronyms sparingly. “People hate acronyms,” says Nuckols. “It just starts looking like word salad. It’s not appealing.”
Listen in to discover other ways to make your writing accessible—plus the four things you can do to make your voice stand out in the industry.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE --> 88: Greg Nuckols on Writing Well, Calling People Out, and Being Respected in Fitness
