Building your writing resume

By now, most people have learned that they need to tailor their resumes to focus on the skills that are relevant to the job they are going for. It is the same for a writing job - whether you have set your goals on becoming a best selling author, prize winning journalist, poet laureate, or content creator for the blogosphere - you need to showcase the skills in a resume, because sooner or later someone will ask for it - even if they just say "can you send me a list of your previous works".

What are some of the things that go on a "writing resume"?

• Blogging - your own or guest blogs you've written
• Articles submitted to newsletters, newspapers, journals, ezines that have a byline (i.e. "by You" included)
• Publications that you have edited, like club newsletters
• Any personal reading of your original writing done at an Open Mic (poetry or prose)
• Any writing organizations that you belong to and for how long; plus any offices held and/or volunteer positions that you fulfilled in those organizations
• Any "writing oriented" projects or events that you actively participated in - such as Living History events where you had to research and present
• Any completed writing project not yet published or purchased, but that has been registered, for example scripts registered with Writers Guild of America West

You get the idea.

Also - remember to keep it updated and keep it available. Add a page to your blog with your writing resume on it. Or keep a copy on a jump drive (aka thumb drive, aka usb drive) with you. Have it ready for that golden opportunity.

Mini Bio

And while you are at it, get your mini bio written and saved as well. Typically you will need a mini bio, short bio, and a longer bio - that will include your links to social media and your website/blog. Get them ready now, you can always update them - but a lot of submission sites will ask for your bio (and give guidelines for how long it should be). I find it easier to edit something I've already written rather than trying to compose something on the fly. Plus, you won't be under pressure, if you have one prepared.

Start listing your work today. Get your bio written. You can always revise it later.

Good luck, and if you feel like writing about writing, being a writer, or the hurdles of being a writer - feel free to submit your article here for this site. If accepted, you'll get a byline and another item to list on your writing resume.