Are you the one who is passionate about writing and wants to start your writing career from scratch, but does not know what to do? Well, don’t worry, as this blog has got you! As a fresh writer, you can start from freelance writing by putting your work out there so that you can build a strong portfolio that gets you the writing jobs you want.
Now you must be thinking, “Why would anyone hire me?” or “I don’t have experience”. While these questions are relevant, the good news in all of this is that everyone starts from somewhere. To begin with writing, you don’t need to have past job experience, but a writing portfolio to start your journey. You can build one from scratch, and in this blog, you will learn how to do that step by step.
What is a Freelance Writing Portfolio?
A freelance writing portfolio is a compilation of your best writing samples, which will show potential clients what you can do. The portfolio helps clients understand your writing voice, style, skills, and topics you write about. Even if you have never had clients before, you can still produce strong samples by creating blog posts, articles, social media content, and other writings, all on your own.
A strong portfolio will help you differentiate yourself from the competition, build trust, and increase your chances of getting hired, especially at the initial stage. Many amateur writers, and mainly students, seek help from a portfolio writing service at topcv to establish a great beginner’s profile to get clients.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON CREATING A WRITING PORTFOLIO WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
Here are some of the steps you can take to develop a writing portfolio without experience:
Choose A Niche
Writing is a very vast field. It is filled with so many genres and niches that you would get lost if you tried to explore them all. So, as a writer, you have to determine what you love to write about.
Now that could be anything, be it tech, baking, cars, or even something cliché, such as flowers or sea creatures. To create a portfolio, you need to determine what your niche will be. You don’t have to pick only one; you can pick two or three, depending on how many things you can focus on easily when it comes to writing about them.
Write Sample Pieces
Once you have selected your niche, it’s time to start writing, even if you haven’t been hired or applied for a job. This practice is crucial to building a writing portfolio for beginners. You compile your samples to showcase your abilities and writing skills, not because you’re paid to, but to secure that paid opportunity.
You can write two or three articles in the areas of your interest. Keep the article between 500 and 800 words. Ensure that these articles are well-structured, free from spelling and grammatical errors, and have a logical flow of ideas.
Here are some ideas:
- Write “5 Best Family-Friendly Places to Visit in the UK” if travel is your specialty.
- Write about “Easy Exercises You Can Do at Home” if your specialty is health.
- Try “10 Easy Dinners You Can Cook Under 30 Minutes” if you specialize in cooking.
Starting a Free Blog or a Website
These days, you don’t have to be a tech expert to create a website.
WordPress, Wix, or Blogger are some of the best portfolio websites for writers, where you can create a simple site in a few minutes. This is where you will upload your sample of writing and also have the opportunity to advertise your services by answering questions about who you are and what you do. This is the best way to construct a professional writing portfolio website, which plays a huge role in your personal branding.
It is your virtual home on the internet where your work can be found. Make your site look good and clean. Put a short bio, a pic (if you want), and means of people to contact you.
In case you do not wish to begin a whole site, you can upload your writing samples on Medium.com or LinkedIn Articles. They are also helpful to demonstrate your portfolio online with no cost.
Write for Free
The best way to get your name out there and gain experience at the same time is to write for free. Yes, it sounds absurd, but the best way to establish your image is to start this way because no one rejects anything they are getting for free.
So, you can write for a local charity, a friend’s business, or a school’s newsletter. Remember that you don’t need to work for free forever. Once you have gained sufficient experience and compiled some work samples, you can begin charging a fair amount for your services. The reason for doing free work is to add those pieces to your portfolio, and also to ask for a testimonial from those clients to add to your portfolio.
Join a Writing Platform
The best way to establish a writing portfolio for students is to join a reliable platform and simply start writing. Many beginners start their writing journey on platforms such as:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- PeopleperHour
- Freelancer
You can create your account, upload your writing samples, and start applying for jobs on the website. You should start first with a low pay and slowly move your way up into the higher pay bracket by gaining experience and collecting reviews. The better you get, the better the reviews mean higher pay.
Guest Post on Blogs
Guest posting is when you write an article for another blog. There are many websites that feature guest writers, and this is a perfect opportunity to establish your name in the digital sphere. You may not get paid for your writing, but in return, you receive a byline (your name on the article) and a backlink to your website or profile.
You can search for websites in your niche and look for pages that say “Write For Us” or “Guest Post Guidelines.” Follow the rules and send them one of your best writing samples. Even if you only do one or two guest posts, you can add a lot of value to your portfolio and establish your reputation in the readers’ community.
Make a PDF Portfolio
As a writer, you should have everything available all the time. Many clients don’t have the time to go through websites or blog posts, so they ask for your portfolio in a document.
You must have it prepared in the form of a document. You can create a PDF portfolio using tools such as Canva or Google Docs. Add your best 3-5 writing samples, your name, and a short introduction with your contact info.
Keep it simple:
- Add a title for each article
- Mention what kind of writing it is (e.g., blog post, newsletter)
- Use clean fonts and simple colors
Many professional portfolio writers in the UAE use the same tactic as it’s efficient, fast, and the best way to get your samples out there when someone asks for it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
How do freelance writers get paid?
Freelance writers get paid through PayPal, bank transfer, or platforms like Upwork.
Do I need a degree to be a freelancer?
No, freelancing does not require you to have a degree; skills and experience matter more.
Can freelance writing be a stable full-time career?
It can be, but it depends on the consistency of the work you get and self-discipline.
FINAL TAKEAWAY!
You don’t need strong experience to start your writing journey. All you need to do is provide a few strong writing samples and establish a writing portfolio. Start by writing about topics that you enjoy, and consider creating your own blog or using a free platform to share your work. Do a little free writing and build your name by guest posting or joining a freelance platform. Remember, every writer started without any experience, so take the step and start doing what you enjoy.
Nida Abdullah
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Are you the one who is passionate about writing and wants to start your writing career from scratch, but does not know what to do? Well, don’t worry, as this blog has got you! As a fresh writer, you can start from freelance writing by putting your work out there so that you can build a strong portfolio that gets you the writing jobs you want.
Now you must be thinking, “Why would anyone hire me?” or “I don’t have experience”. While these questions are relevant, the good news in all of this is that everyone starts from somewhere. To begin with writing, you don’t need to have past job experience, but a writing portfolio to start your journey. You can build one from scratch, and in this blog, you will learn how to do that step by step.
What is a Freelance Writing Portfolio?
A freelance writing portfolio is a compilation of your best writing samples, which will show potential clients what you can do. The portfolio helps clients understand your writing voice, style, skills, and topics you write about. Even if you have never had clients before, you can still produce strong samples by creating blog posts, articles, social media content, and other writings, all on your own.
A strong portfolio will help you differentiate yourself from the competition, build trust, and increase your chances of getting hired, especially at the initial stage. Many amateur writers, and mainly students, seek help from a portfolio writing service at topcv to establish a great beginner’s profile to get clients.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON CREATING A WRITING PORTFOLIO WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
Here are some of the steps you can take to develop a writing portfolio without experience:
Choose A Niche
Writing is a very vast field. It is filled with so many genres and niches that you would get lost if you tried to explore them all. So, as a writer, you have to determine what you love to write about.
Now that could be anything, be it tech, baking, cars, or even something cliché, such as flowers or sea creatures. To create a portfolio, you need to determine what your niche will be. You don’t have to pick only one; you can pick two or three, depending on how many things you can focus on easily when it comes to writing about them.
Write Sample Pieces
Once you have selected your niche, it’s time to start writing, even if you haven’t been hired or applied for a job. This practice is crucial to building a writing portfolio for beginners. You compile your samples to showcase your abilities and writing skills, not because you’re paid to, but to secure that paid opportunity.
You can write two or three articles in the areas of your interest. Keep the article between 500 and 800 words. Ensure that these articles are well-structured, free from spelling and grammatical errors, and have a logical flow of ideas.
Here are some ideas:
Starting a Free Blog or a Website
These days, you don’t have to be a tech expert to create a website.
WordPress, Wix, or Blogger are some of the best portfolio websites for writers, where you can create a simple site in a few minutes. This is where you will upload your sample of writing and also have the opportunity to advertise your services by answering questions about who you are and what you do. This is the best way to construct a professional writing portfolio website, which plays a huge role in your personal branding.
It is your virtual home on the internet where your work can be found. Make your site look good and clean. Put a short bio, a pic (if you want), and means of people to contact you.
In case you do not wish to begin a whole site, you can upload your writing samples on Medium.com or LinkedIn Articles. They are also helpful to demonstrate your portfolio online with no cost.
Write for Free
The best way to get your name out there and gain experience at the same time is to write for free. Yes, it sounds absurd, but the best way to establish your image is to start this way because no one rejects anything they are getting for free.
So, you can write for a local charity, a friend’s business, or a school’s newsletter. Remember that you don’t need to work for free forever. Once you have gained sufficient experience and compiled some work samples, you can begin charging a fair amount for your services. The reason for doing free work is to add those pieces to your portfolio, and also to ask for a testimonial from those clients to add to your portfolio.
Join a Writing Platform
The best way to establish a writing portfolio for students is to join a reliable platform and simply start writing. Many beginners start their writing journey on platforms such as:
You can create your account, upload your writing samples, and start applying for jobs on the website. You should start first with a low pay and slowly move your way up into the higher pay bracket by gaining experience and collecting reviews. The better you get, the better the reviews mean higher pay.
Guest Post on Blogs
Guest posting is when you write an article for another blog. There are many websites that feature guest writers, and this is a perfect opportunity to establish your name in the digital sphere. You may not get paid for your writing, but in return, you receive a byline (your name on the article) and a backlink to your website or profile.
You can search for websites in your niche and look for pages that say “Write For Us” or “Guest Post Guidelines.” Follow the rules and send them one of your best writing samples. Even if you only do one or two guest posts, you can add a lot of value to your portfolio and establish your reputation in the readers’ community.
Make a PDF Portfolio
As a writer, you should have everything available all the time. Many clients don’t have the time to go through websites or blog posts, so they ask for your portfolio in a document.
You must have it prepared in the form of a document. You can create a PDF portfolio using tools such as Canva or Google Docs. Add your best 3-5 writing samples, your name, and a short introduction with your contact info.
Keep it simple:
Many professional portfolio writers in the UAE use the same tactic as it’s efficient, fast, and the best way to get your samples out there when someone asks for it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
How do freelance writers get paid?
Freelance writers get paid through PayPal, bank transfer, or platforms like Upwork.
Do I need a degree to be a freelancer?
No, freelancing does not require you to have a degree; skills and experience matter more.
Can freelance writing be a stable full-time career?
It can be, but it depends on the consistency of the work you get and self-discipline.
FINAL TAKEAWAY!
You don’t need strong experience to start your writing journey. All you need to do is provide a few strong writing samples and establish a writing portfolio. Start by writing about topics that you enjoy, and consider creating your own blog or using a free platform to share your work. Do a little free writing and build your name by guest posting or joining a freelance platform. Remember, every writer started without any experience, so take the step and start doing what you enjoy.