Q&A - Getting Started With No Credits
Lara, who blogs at The Crayon Virtuoso, posted this question in comments here:
This is nice advice, but I never had a career before staying home with my kids. And I’m more interesting in copy writing/copy editing. How do you convince prospective clients you know what you’re doing when you have no experience? How do you convince prospective clients you know what you’re doing when you have no experience?
Hi Lara, thanks for the question.
Actually, Peter Bowerman’s book, The Well Fed Writer, will help you even if you’ve never written a bit of copy. That’s part of what he teaches.
Your blog acts as a sample you can use… you could, for example, become an associate with Amazon, and review books using copy writing principles and point there. You could also do a tiny bit of copy writing or editing for free for a non-profit and use that as sample.
None of us were born knowing any of this stuff. For example, I got my first tech writing job by going around a conference and telling people in booths that if they could explain to me what was going on, I could write a manual that was truly usable. Moxie is often more important than experience… of course, you’ve got to perform once you land something.
Hang in there, it can be done.
If you’d like your question about freelance writing answered, send me an email (anne@annewayman.com), put Q&A in the subject line and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.
Write well and often,
Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Ask Anne, the Pro Writer
4 opinions for Q&A - Getting Started With No Credits
John Clausen
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:08 pm
When you say copywriting and copy editing, it seems like two different things. I associate copywriting with commercial jobs, such as direct mail, ad copy, collateral material. Copy editing, on the other hand, seems like something you might do for a magazine or book publisher. As for breaking in to commercial copywriting, here’s what I’ve seen done before: First, figure out what kind of copywriting you’d like to be doing and get together some samples to study. Then together with an equally talented but sample-poor graphic designer and put together a portfolio of spec ads and original samples. Make them specific to a profession or product that you’d like to promote. Make an appointment to see the creative director of the agency handling said profession or product and bring your portfolio. Make sure the portfolio is as professional looking as possible. The creative director won’t care if the ads aren’t actual clippings as long as you explain it up front…and as long as the samples are up to par. At least that’s what a Madison Avenue creative director told me to do a few decades ago when he was shoving me out the door after an interview during which I’d tried to impress him with my one, solitary ad sample.
Anne Wayman
Mar 18, 2008 at 7:33 am
John, you’re right, they are two different things… thanks
KathleenL
Mar 18, 2008 at 8:20 am
Moxie, self-confidence… yep, that is a good part of what is needed.
We need to sell ourselves and our abilities. Learning, not only, how to edit, but how to write great self-promoting cold call introduction letters is one of the keys I have found extremely useful from day one.
Anne, you are right. In the beginning of many a Freelance’s career is “free”. But the payoffs are the clips that you can put on your resume or work list/published list.
Don’t forget the business cards. Design something simple and direct. Have them printed and hand them out like water. You are your best ad.
Anne Wayman
Mar 18, 2008 at 9:32 am
yes, yes,
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: