The Word Wrangler

So you’re a new writer looking to start a freelance career. Problem is: You have no samples and - in order to get work - you need them.

How do you go about getting good clips when you haven’t had any experience yet?

Fake it.

No matter what market you’re aiming at, there are plenty of opportunities for you to strut your stuff and get that first gig.

Let’s say you want to specialize in writing marketing copy. Start looking through ads and find one that’s weak. (Newspapers are great sources for terrible ads that could benefit from a good copywriter).

Take the ad and make it better with your writing.  Not only do you have a piece for your portfolio, but you have a before and after comparison to show off your genius. If you’re not comfortable re-writing something that’s already been published, you can select a company and come up with your own concept. If you have some basic design skills, go ahead and lay it out, or team up with a design student so you’ll both get a portfolio piece out of the deal.

Don’t just type up your copy on a sheet of paper and stick it in your portfolio to show to a potential client. That’s not going to cut it.

Now, this isn’t cheating and it isn’t underhanded. Everyone has to start somewhere and most clients want to see that you’re capable of handling a project before they give you one. Going in with just your word usually won’t help you get the gig, but a few well-written, professional looking ‘fakes’ can prove to be just the ticket.

A few caveats: Don’t EVER pass these samples off as the real deal. You don’t have to offer that they’re mock-ups, but if asked, be honest. No one wants to work with a liar.

Second: While it might seem like a good idea to design a fake ad for a company and then pitch to that company using that sample, it’s not. Many companies won’t appreciate you toying around with their logos, images and copy - especially if they think you’re showing it around to everyone you’re trying to get a job with. You’d think they’d be flattered, but trust me, they’re not.

Third: Once you start getting real gigs, and real portfolio pieces, ditch the fakes as soon as you can. Real work is always more impressive - at least to potential clients - than mock-ups.

Now get out there and fake it like you mean it.