This week: Writing Sports Stories and Novels Edited by: Kit  
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What is your favourite sports novel or movie? What do you like about it?
The last-chance shot, the underdog, the returning hero... sports are filled with drama.
With the F1 movie looming on the horizon, this week's Drama Newsletter is all about the pursuit of victory.
Kit |
Whether it's the last-second shot, the underdog triumph, or the agony of defeat, sports are a natural breeding ground for dramatic, character-driven storytelling. In this week’s Newsletter we dive into what makes sports fiction shine - and how you can write a sports story that sticks the landing.
Sports tap into universal themes: struggle, ambition, teamwork, failure, redemption. Whether you're writing about high school basketball or Olympic-level gymnastics, the game is a microcosm of life, and that's where your story finds its power.
Due to the nature of sports, it's not all that easy to create an original storyline. The purpose of sports is to win, but how do you get your character(s) to that point? Some common themes are:
1. The Underdog Victory
The classic David vs. Goliath tale. A small-town team or unlikely athlete overcomes all odds.
Example: Rocky (1976) – A low-ranked boxer takes on the world champion.
2. The Redemption Arc
A disgraced athlete, coach, or team gets a second shot at glory - and at themselves.
Example: The Natural by Bernard Malamud – A once-promising baseball player returns after scandal and injury.
3. Coming-of-Age Through Sport
Sports can be a vehicle for personal growth and identity discovery, often for a young protagonist.
Example: Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger – High school football illuminates the pressures of youth and community.
4. The Last Dance
An aging athlete’s final shot at greatness. It’s all about legacy, closure, and letting go.
Example: The Wrestler (2008) – A former star tries to relive his past glory, at great cost.
5. The Coach’s Journey
The focus is on leadership, mentorship, and personal sacrifice.
Example: Remember the Titans (2000) – A coach unites a racially divided team and community.
If there's nothing new under the sun, how do you write a memorable piece?
Build Strong Characters First, Not Stats:
You may be passionate about the game, but your readers don't need to know its history, nor every fine detail to care about your hero or heroine. Center your story around your characters. Focus on their fears, their flaws, their hopes and their dreams. An excellent novel I will always recommend is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King. In this novel, a nine-year-old girl is lost deep in a forest. She has little in the way of food and drink, and things soon take a bad turn... Through her Walkman she is able to listen to a baseball game featuring her favourite player, Tom Gordon. Can her admiration for him help her survive?
King's love of baseball is clear in this novel, but my lack of knowledge of the game did not hinder my enjoyment. The story's main focus is on Trisha, and the challenges she has to overcome.
Get the Details Right
That said, authenticity matters. Do your research on the terminology, the rules, training routines and anything else relevant to your story. Whilst you needn't (and probably shouldn't) overload your readers with too many facts and figures, any details you do add must be accurate. If you get it wrong, those passionate about the sport will call you out on it!
Don’t Fear Defeat:
Let characters lose. Sometimes a story is more compelling when the goal isn't reached; what matters is how they respond.
I want to give a nod to Cool Runnings here, one of my favourite sports movies ever: the Jamaican bobsled team overcomes many odds to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Drama Beyond the Game:
Your character's world isn't all about the sport, no matter how dedicated they are. What is their family like? Do they have any rivalries? Beyond their personal sphere, what does the socio-political picture look like?
Competitive athletics has, historically, held a mirror to wider society. There were times when women were banned from a wide range of sports. Racial tensions are, unfortunately, present to this day. Also, even now LGBTQI+ athletes tend to shy away from openly living as their authentic selves during their professional career. What would that be like, always living in fear that the media will catch on, and you'll be banned from playing in countries where simply being you remains illegal?
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I hope that I have given you a few ideas if you want to explore the sports fiction genre. I will leave you with a prompt:
Write a scene where a team on the verge of losing everything plays their final game — not to win, but to honour someone they’ve lost.
Feel free to submit it as a response to this Newsletter. I may feature it next month.
May your favourite team/athlete have all the success that you hope for,
Kit
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Drama Newsletter Team
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Drama: May 28, 2025 Issue [#13149]
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