If you write with a career of freelancer in mind, you soon discover that a diversified portfolio is very important. Being able to create a document in any genre or style becomes vital to your success. To break into the freelance business without prior experience or publishing credentials requires that you initially create documents about anything and everything, keeping copies filed away for future use.

It is possible for a full-time career in writing to be within your grasp as you learn the different styles within the genres. Having a broad portfolio that demonstrates samples of your ability, style, and tone will ultimately work to your advantage. Creating a portfolio with examples in several genres helps clients and publishers evaluate the range of your ability, and gives them confidence that you will be able to write the content they need.

• Copywriting and sales copy are quite easy and are good experience for the beginning freelancer. Examples of your ability in this genre are important additions to your portfolio. As a copywriter, you can cover a range of assignments, from web site content to blogs to informative articles, and the best freelancers must be able to research any given topic and produce quality, informative content based on that research.

  Since copywriting is keyword driven, meaning that specific keywords must be placed throughout the article or website in order to attract online traffic through search engines, it is a good way to get started. While there is a fine line between too many keywords and not enough, most clients will want to see at least a 3% ratio (this means that the keywords should be at least 3% of the total word count). It might be a good idea to include one portfolio example with a higher ratio and one with a lower ratio to show that you understand the concept.

  One additional facet of copywriting is the press release. A mixture of marketing strategy and engaging content, the press release shows your ability to say a lot within a few words. A well-written press release also demonstrates your ability to write to different audiences, regardless of the genre or tone of the writing.

• Becoming a technical writer encompasses everything from copywriting to how-to manuals to presentations, and your portfolio should include examples of any of your previous work in these areas. To compose a good technical paper demonstrates that you have a thorough grasp of grammar, conciseness, and flow which can easily translate into more creative ventures.

• You should also have examples of creative writing in your portfolio, even if you plan to focus your freelance career on technical writing assignments. Creative writing allows clients to have a glimpse into your personality and drive as a author and tends to demonstrate more of your persona than that which is shown in your technical writing examples. Regardless of how mundane or seemingly un-creative their projects might be, clients are aware that freelancers must possess a certain degree of imagination and vision in order to produce quality work. Creative writing within your portfolio allows them to see these things in the variety of the documents.

• Some great creative writing additions to your portfolio would be op-ed (opposite editorial) pieces, magazine articles, creative blogs, or short stories.

• Also, many publishers are looking for someone to ghostwrite a work of fiction or nonfiction for them, and will want to see your abilities on the creative front for writing a book-length manuscript. Including an example chapter in your portfolio would be a great way to show them your capabilities on this front. If possible, try to include two chapters—one for a work of fiction and one for a work of nonfiction. If you have not previously written an entire chapter, consider doing so for the sole purpose of inclusion in your portfolio. The opportunities for ghostwriters are, in some cases, greater than those available in other genres; and the pay is often better as an added bonus.

As a freelance writer, your portfolio is your business card and resume wrapped into one. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your abilities, in addition to your range of skill in writing. Also know that presentation is key to any first impression. Ensure that the items in your portfolio are impeccably edited and formatted into an easy-to-read font. You could have all the skills a client is looking for, but without the proper presentation of those skills, you could very well be disregarded.

Your portfolio is a work in progress. At those times when you do not have a specific contracted job, write something in a genre that is missing from your portfolio. When you have successfully submitted a document and it is published, then include it in your portfolio, along with all information regarding when and where it was printed. It is also a good idea to include a copy of the original magazine or paper where your document appeared. Continually add documents and vary the topics of both short and long files. If you are prepared in all kinds of topics, you stand a better chance of being taken seriously by a publisher. Often, the stepping-stones into the world of publishing are the little achievements you’ve made along the way.