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No matter what stage you might be at in the development of your writing career, it will become clear you need a writing portfolio. And if you are a ghostwriter, this can present a multitude of troubles. A writing portfolio allows you to show clients what you are capable of writing and how your skills might be able to help them. However, when you are a ghostwriter or you are just starting out, you might not have anything to show. So, what can you do? How can you create a portfolio that makes clients beg for a piece of your time?

What Kinds of Pieces to Include

A solid writing portfolio should be one that includes pieces which demonstrate areas of expertise. For example, if you like to write about health matters, you should include several pieces that reflect his interest and this skill. Ideally, your portfolio should show several different kinds of writing as most successful writes are diverse ones. Include nonfiction pieces as well as creative pieces and any other styles you feel comfortable writing in. You want to have a few Internet applicable pieces as well – i.e. SEO pieces. And if you can, try to include sales pieces as well – sales letters, web copy, etc.

Where Do These Pieces Come From?

The trick is that if you don't own the pieces you want to include in your portfolio, you're not supposed to show them to anyone else. When you do this, you are stating that you have the right to use the item for your personal use – and most clients will have their writers sign away their rights. If you're not sure, it never hurts to ask past clients to see what they might think. Just let them know you are using them as portfolio pieces and not on a site or in any other public format – and then stick to your promise. It will also help if you have some sort of documentation that your client said this was okay. You can also create these pieces in your free time to help boost your marketability. Sit down and write about current topics and events to help fill up your portfolio. Of course, you need to make sure these pieces are pristine – free from errors and engaging.

What If I Don't Have a Portfolio?

There are some writers who are uncomfortable having a portfolio or they just don't have one at the time – or the time to create one. First of all, it's essential that you have this portfolio created at some point, so you need to make sure you are figuring out a way to get started on it. Until then, you need to be honest with clients about why you don't have one available. And then you can offer them a free sample of your writing to help them make their decision about whether or not to hire you. Just ask for a topic from them and write a few hundred words for them to review. In fact, if you amass enough of these samples, you might have the beginnings of a portfolio – especially when the client doesn’t accept your work. At least those samples can impress other clients down the road.