Tips to Jump-Start Your Writing Portfolio

When you first begin your freelance writing career, you may find it difficult to land writing jobs. Yes, you may be able to write well, but the problem is your experience. Without a writing portfolio many companies may not take a chance by hiring you. In fact, if you try to gain "exposure" by offering your services for free, companies may even turn that offer down. Michael Kwan just recently blogged about this. In Michael's blog entry, he shared his own experience about what it was like when he first started searching Craigslist for writing jobs. As he discussed his experience, he told his readers how he didn't have much of a writing portfolio at that time. He went on to say, " I even offered to write for free in exchange for some 'exposure,' but without a proper portfolio of work and a series of satisfied customers, they (the companies posting the writing jobs) weren't prepared to take a chance on me."

Maybe you've found yourself in the same position that Michael once found himself in, or maybe you haven't started responding to writing jobs yet. Either way, you'll soon discover you will need a writing portfolio to really succeed in landing a good writing job. Have no fear, though, because this article will give you some tips to help you build the writing portfolio you need.

The first step to building a professional writing portfolio is to decide on the topics you want to write about -- topics you'll soon be considered an "expert" on. We veteran freelance writers will say, "Write what you know"... and you should. However, in addition to writing what you know, you should study and research topics that you have an interest in -- topics you want to know more about. Doing both these will give you a good selection of things to write about, and you should enjoy what your writing, because you'll be writing about the things you know and love as well as the things you want to know more about.

Once you've discovered what it is you want to write about and become an "expert" on, your next step will involve selling your articles. Since you don't have a writing portfolio yet, you will have to start at the bottom of the ladder and gradually make your way to the top. So, you can begin selling your articles to trade magazines. Trade magazines are a great way to jump-start your writing portfolio. Trade magazines may not pay as much as you'd like, but many of them do offer fair rates, and as I just said, you have to start at the bottom, and trade magazines are the best place to start. Moreover, many trade magazines are open to accepting new writers.

Following are a few search tips for finding trade magazines, as well as some links:

Using Google or your favorite search engine, enter the terms trade magazines+writers guidelines and/or "trade magazines" (leave the quotes around these terms). If you're not directed to the writers guidelines page, then you can try following the other links on the trade magazine's Web site to find that page. Sometimes you'll find a link to their writers guidelines on their about us page or the contact us page. If they have a search feature on their site, try searching for guidelines or writers guidelines. Still can't find their writers guidelines? Send a quick e-mail requesting their guidelines.

Another way to build your writing portfolio is through a blog. Go ahead and create a blog (more than one if you like). In this blog, write reguarly about the topic(s) you've chosen to write about. A blog helps you build your expertise on the topic(s) you've chosen, gives you an audience, and when potential clients visit your blog (through the link in your portfolio), they will not only discover that you know your topic, but they'll also see the comments your readers leave for you. For some great tips to help you with your new blog(s), and for some tips on how to make money while blogging about your chosen topic(s), read Bryan Mc's "Niche Marketing Blog: 5 Tips to be Successful With Yours."

Start a free e-zine about another one of your topics. Not only will the e-zine help you to build your portfolio and expertise on the subject, but it will also give you an editor title, which looks great on a writing portfolio. If you'd like more information on creating a successful e-zine, check out "Tips for Writing and Implementing Newsletters or E-zines" by Ryan Tinsdale.

Finally, offer your services at a discount to non-profit organizations.

After you've published a few articles in trade magazines, blogged for about a month on your chosen topic(s), gained readership with an e-zine on another chosen topic, and maybe created some articles, promotional ads or etc. for non-profit organizations, pat yourself on the back, and then start putting your writing portfolio together. For an example of a writing portfolio (a.k.a., resume), you're more than welcome to study mine.

Have you completed your writing portfolio? Are you happy with the writing portfolio you've put together? Great! Now advance to the next step up the ladder as you set off on your search for writing jobs. Best wishes for much success!