Everyone has to start somewhere, but starting out as a writer can feel especially daunting. A strong portfolio is one of the core components to securing writing work, and yet you need writing work to build a portfolio. It\u2019s a bit of a catch-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So how do you build a writing portfolio with no experience? Though it takes a bit of creativity and hustle, it\u2019s completely possible; in fact, it\u2019s how countless writers get their start. In this article, we\u2019ll explain how to build a writing portfolio even if you have no experience so you can start landing those coveted writing jobs you\u2019re after. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Figuring out what kind of writing you want to do is the first step in the right direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s creative writing<\/a>, technical writing<\/a>, copywriting<\/a> and more. If you\u2019re not familiar with the different types of writing, spend a bit of time familiarizing yourself with each one to get a feel for what you\u2019re interested in. The Clippings.me blog<\/a> is a great resource on this topic.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to deciding what you\u2019re interested in, consider your skills. Do you have a specific vocational knowledge that would set you apart as a technical writer? Do you have the knack for fact-finding that makes for an excellent news writer? Or are you more of a creative spirit? The intersection between your interests and your expertise is your writing sweet spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re just starting to build your portfolio, you may come across opportunities to gain experience by working for free. But is this a good idea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, our belief is that writers should always charge a fair market rate for their work. This not only helps set proper expectations about how much quality writing costs but helps keep writing a lucrative profession for thousands of people worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, when you have no experience, a \u2018fair market rate\u2019 might very well be $0, with your \u2018pay\u2019 being the finished writing sample you\u2019ll score for your portfolio. Don\u2019t discount the value of this; a strong sample will pay you back many times over via the future work it\u2019ll help you win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re new to writing and trying to build up experience, working in exchange for samples is a legitimate way to build your portfolio and gain references from reputable clients. Just make sure the terms and expectations are laid out ahead of time so the project doesn\u2019t wind up being more than you bargained for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Greek philosopher Epictetus is credited with saying, \u201cif you wish to be a writer, write.\u201d There are no shortcuts; building your portfolio comes down to taking the initiative and starting to crank out samples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few ideas to get you started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing \u2018on spec\u2019 (or speculation<\/em>) refers to writing done without a guarantee that the work will be published or paid for. There are many times when this is a bad idea (like when a publication explicitly says they don\u2019t accept spec work). But if you\u2019re just starting out, it can work in your favor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how it works: you come up with a topic and do all the necessary legwork — researching the topic, conducting interviews and writing the actual piece. Then you reach out to editors and publications to see if they\u2019re interested in publishing it. Spec writing works especially well if you have an idea for a niche topic that would be a great fit for a certain publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The upside of spec work is that if one outlet turns the piece down, you can just as easily move on to another one, and another. At the very least, you\u2019ll have a quality writing sample for your portfolio. At best, you\u2019ll get your first piece of writing published. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also land writing work by pitching ideas to publications and blogs. This works a lot like spec work, except you\u2019re gauging their interest in the piece before you actually do any work on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A typical pitch includes a story idea, proposed headline, and a summary of why the idea is a good fit for that publication. Bullet points work well for this. Don\u2019t focus so much on telling your story, but rather showing why it\u2019s of interest to that publication\u2019s audience and how you\u2019d approach it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Start with small outlets like niche websites and blogs, rather than pitching to the New York Times <\/em>straight out of the gate. With a little practice and time spent refining your pitch, you can land a good number of guest posts this way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting a product for others to buy in exchange for a commission on resulting sales. Affiliate marketing has grown significantly in recent years, with affiliate marketing spending projected to hit $6.8 billion<\/a> in the U.S. in 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a piece of the action and build your writing portfolio in the process by writing affiliate marketing articles. In an affiliate marketing article, the writer gives an in-depth analysis of the benefits of a certain product, preferably one they\u2019re personally familiar with. This is a particularly good opportunity to demonstrate your skills as a persuasive writer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to actually earn a commission if anyone buys what you\u2019re recommending, you\u2019ll need to write about a product that offers an affiliate program. You can find thousands of them simply by searching \u2018product name + affiliate marketing.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, perhaps the easiest way to build your writing portfolio when you have no experience is to write mock pieces. Do you have a friend with an interesting story? Interview them and write a feature piece<\/a>. Is there a big event going on in your town? Attend it and write a summary or review. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While it may feel a little funny to create a faux article, remember you\u2019re writing it for good reason–to wow the people who will view your brand new writing portfolio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to have dozens of samples to build your portfolio; a handful is all you need to get started. Begin by registering for an account with Clippings.me<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clippings.me is a free service that helps writers of all genres build beautiful, intuitive portfolios without any coding. Registering is easy and only takes a minute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, there are three steps you\u2019ll need to take to get your portfolio up and running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll be prompted to select one of Clippings.me\u2019s design templates or create your own by choosing colors and fonts. Keep it simple so your samples shine, and be mindful of how your selected design will appear on mobile devices and tablets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where you\u2019ll add your basic information, relevant experience, and other pertinent details like the type of work you\u2019re looking for. You can also link to outside profiles like Twitter and LinkedIn. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIs it Okay to Do Work for Free?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start Writing Samples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Writing Spec Clips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pitch to Publications and Blogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Write Affiliate Marketing Articles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Write Mock Pieces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Build Your Portfolio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choose a Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Complete Your Bio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Add Samples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n