Six Steps to a Writing Portfolio That Makes a Good Impression

Catherine Lovering reports:

"Talent is an important component to a successful career as a writer. Talent also requires promotion; writers must show publishers that their work is of value. A portfolio is one tool to showcase your composition ability and to demonstrate your understanding of how to write for specific audiences. Time spent organizing your writing into a high-quality portfolio will pay off when it reaches the right person who will open the door to the next step in your career...Identify the audience for your portfolio. Tailoring your portfolio to a specific purpose...is important to ensure its impact is greatest. For your college application, you may wish to demonstrate that your writing is well-rounded and that you can produce work in various genres. If you are applying for a job, narrow your focus to the kind of writing you need for the position...Choose your strongest pieces. Include weaker pieces of writing only if they demonstrate a key skill you wish to demonstrate...If you have a shorter piece in a well-known publication, the name recognition will reflect well on your professional stature as a writer...Compose an introductory essay. No more than one page, an introductory essay will simply introduce your work to the reader of your portfolio. The essay can also reflect your unique voice and tone as well as your approach to writing. If the portfolio is intended for a job application, you should outline your experience and particular skills that match the qualifications for the position...Revise and update your resume. Along with your selections of writing and your introductory essay, a resume that includes your work history and education is an important part of a portfolio. The resume can target particular skills if you are a candidate for a paid position, or provide a comprehensive listing of your background if you are applying for a college program that takes all aspects of your life history into account...Index your portfolio and provide a table of contents. The table of contents should provide a listing of each item in your portfolio and the page number of its location. Organize your portfolio in a logical order...Type a page number on all pages of the portfolio or include page dividers so readers can quickly skip to the pages that interest them...Package your portfolio in a professional and attractive manner. Purchase a professional portfolio case from an office supply store and include matching tabs and sheets of paper that include your work. Produce electronic portfolios using a standard office word processing software or [PDF] file, which will prevent any formatting loss upon transmission to the reader."