You may be a prolific writer but that doesn’t guarantee that the right people have taken notice of you. Let them see who you are and how your writing has been received with a writing portfolio. It showcases all of your work since you decided to pick up a pen and give writing a go.

A writing portfolio is a writer’s best advertising tool. Anyone looking to make use of your skills can see at a glance what type of writing style you employ and where you have been working. A potential client can also see how hard you have been working or not working at your craft. For a writer, it feels unnatural not to write in some form. All of these forms are useful content for a writing portfolio.

Depending on your chosen writing medium, a writing portfolio can be an actual printed and bound manuscript or an online profile. If you choose a printed tangible portfolio, include all relevant writing experience in a chronological order. For new writers, include any publishing credits in high school and college even if it is the campus newspaper.

Arrange your portfolio with the actual articles snipped from newspapers or magazines. Below the articles include the publication information:

· Name of magazine or newspaper

· Date published

· Logo of the magazine

Do this for each entry. For print publications, many magazines will send a free copy or two to the writer for their own personal files. Use these to fill your writing portfolio. Make copies of your work before affixing them in the portfolio. Prospective employers can look at the master portfolio and keep the copies for future reference.

Use cardstock to mount your work. For online credits, make a clean color or black and white copy of the article for your portfolio. Include the same information at the bottom including the website address of the publication. Encase each page in a sheet protector to eliminate torn or weathered edges from constant use.

Online portfolios allow for more creativity. Many freelance writers place their portfolio on their websites. Included with the portfolio entries are testimonials from past clients about the caliber of the work. Also, you can add headings and subheadings for different categories of work like copywriting, editing, content writing, and the like.

Don’t forget to include accolades. Your work may have won an award or been used in a major business campaign. List those awards as well in both types of portfolios. Also mention your educational background in writing.

A writing portfolio, however slim, lends credibility to the writer. A client or potential employer can see your growth in writing and judge if you would work out for them. It is a handy tool to have at interviews and for promoting your freelance business online. Information from the portfolio can be used to construct your bio box and profile pages

Posted under Articles and Tips