It's the same for me; I want to join the baseball team (softball too) but don't really have any materials to do so. I'm always practicing. If you don't have a bat, just swing!
I think you have a pretty high chance of making it since you have the spirit and confidence to try out! Always stretch before you practice and good luck!
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.