I’ve been freelance writing for a year now, and I finally feel like I have enough experience to put together a “writer’s portfolio” – yeah!
But now what?
I’ve never actually seen another writer’s portfolio. What should I put in it? How should I put it together? I’m thinking it should be more than a three-ring binder, but less than Toula’s wedding planning album (see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”).
Do I include my head shot?
Should I make photo copies of my articles, or just include a printed copy of what I submitted?
How inclusive should it be – one article from each publication? two? just my favorites?
I posted this question to the writers at the American Christian Fiction Writers Association loop and hope to share some of their tips with you later today. In the meantime – what does your portfolio look like?
Portfolio, hmmm? I'd use something like this for a job interview. Which auditioning for publication sort of is, but with a twist. By the time you'd get to show a portfolio to land a permanent job, you'd have passed a lot of tests. With landing that writing contract, you have one short chance. Think more like auditioning for a temporary theatrical part. Ninety per cent is on how you look on your glossy 8×10 to represent the part and there are hundreds out there just like you. The casting department already thinks you can act if you got that far. That's first impression, which in publication translates to your pitch/one sheet. Whatever you want to call it. By all means, gather clips–your best ones. List your social on-line networking presences and the organizations to which you belong and how often you show up at events and name drop like crazy. Ninety per cent of the time, getting a contract has to do with that old first impression. How you present yourself, and whether what you're pitching is right for their production needs at this moment. Get the goods first by looking at what and who they publish, then go, and submit likewise.
Portfolio? I don't think I have one. But, it's not a bad idea. I can't wait to hear what you find out from the ACFWA.
Actually, I had to search even further (Lisa – you're the ONLY person who had any ideas!).
I'm going to pull together what I found out and put it in another post. I had quite a few people ask me to share what people told me, so I think it deserves some special attention.
Yikes, I don't have a portfolio either. I'll definitely be looking forward to your post on what you came up with, as it's the kind of thing that'll be useful for going to conferences and some such. I usually just leave a one-sheet or sample articles on the resource table, but a real portfolio would probably make all the difference…