A necessary marketing tool for any writer is a writer’s portfolio. Starting a writing career includes establishing a portfolio of your best works. What are the most important things to know when establishing how to make a writing portfolio? While it shows your strengths and experiences it is important to learn why having one is important and how it plays an important role in getting yourself established as a professional writer. As stated by writers at WritingJobz, your portfolio will grow over time depending on your interests, skills, and niches you select. Here are basic tips to help learn how to create a writing portfolio for your writing endeavors.

Knowing the Basics of Building a Portfolio

Establishing a portfolio doesn’t take long, but the more time invested in creating it the better the outcome for you leading to more clients. The portfolio for a writer may vary from one writer to the next. It is important to know what to include and how to present it because it often makes a first impression on your behalf to potential clients. Things such as your bio, writing experiences, and writing samples are included. The portfolio may be in print or digital through an online website. There are different ways to get attention to your portfolio, but you want it to look its best first because it can continue to help you obtain writing opportunities for an extended time period.

Selecting Samples for Your Professional Writing Portfolio

What are samples for a portfolio? They are written content that show your writing talents and capabilities. An important aspect when learning how to do a portfolio is to know which writing pieces to include. Your writing pieces show you’re an expert or have experience in certain niches. If you specialize in a niche you can provide variations of the type of research and writing you’ve completed. The samples may be articles, essays, or reports created for your portfolio or content created for others. While your writing pieces provide insight on your abilities, as you learn more about how to start a portfolio, your biography will help tie together your experience while showing your professionalism as a writer.

Creating Your Bio

One element to review when understanding how to build a writing portfolio includes writing your biography. For inspiration consider reading bios of writers you admire. Consider personal details accordingly. It can be a summary of your writing experience and your reason or purpose for being a writer. If you have any accomplishments related to writing mention them. Your bio is a great opportunity for people to get to know you as a writer and what influences you to write. Write a draft bio with ideas of what you want to mention about yourself and revise before finalizing. As you see how to build a portfolio consider how you want others to view your abilities and experience.

Using Other Platforms to Display Your Portfolio

Another important factor of creating a freelance writer portfolio is learning about ways to showcase your content using online options such as hosting websites and choosing the right design. Some webhosting sites provide templates for portfolios with variations in designs, colors, and themes. Some writers have an online portfolio and a print portfolio to show potential clients in-person. They are great marketing tools and you can include contact information to encourage clients to connect with you. Upon exploring ways to display your portfolio compare pros and cons to help choose the best option for your work.

After learning how to put together a writing portfolio you should have a good idea how you want to showcase your abilities to obtain the opportunities you want. Your portfolio will include basic details about you and your writing experience. Mention other accomplishments related to your writing experience such as eBook writing or other skills you’ve acquired such as translating languages, editing, proofreading, and so on. As you review other writer portfolios you’ll notice each one is very different. Think about details people want to know about your writing experience and incorporate it into your portfolio. Show your best work and provide insight on how you can help others get the written content they need.