How to Piece Up a Writing Portfolio

A writing portfolio is sometimes necessary, especially if you want to do some freelance work. Create a writing portfolio if you want to visit local companies and try to get some freelance writing work. This gives the company more to look at than just a regular resume. A resume can tell prospective employers where you have been published, but a writing portfolio gives them samples of your work, which they can read and look over.

• 1

  Put considerable time into thinking about what writings you want to include in your portfolio. Include your best work.

• 2

  Browse through the documents on your computer and choose several published articles that are your best work. Do not necessarily pull out your favorite, but your best. Pick recent writings as well as some of your older work to show companies that you have been working for some time and are still at it.

• 3

  Choose a variety of styles of work, such as funny, serious, longer and shorter works. Such an assortment gives prospective employers an idea of the wide scope of your work. Include essays and writing that showcase your research skills.

• 4

  Print these articles. Use better-quality paper than what you would normally use. Use 60-pound parchment instead of the usual 20-pound white paper to make your portfolio look as nice as it possibly can.

• 5

  Insert the printed articles in the pages of the portfolio. Include all information about where the article was published and when. Leave the first page blank for your portfolio cover letter.

• 6

  Include some tear sheets if you have them (pages ripped out from actual magazines).

• 7

  Write the cover letter, which should include a little bit about yourself, why you like to write and an analysis of your writing. Explain how far you have come in your writing and any other writing skills you have.

• 8

  Print out the cover letter and put that on the first page of your portfolio.