A lot of potential employers will be reviewing your writing sample (also known as writing sample or article). Before you send it off to them, you need to make sure that it does what they’re looking for. Otherwise, you’ll be bitterly disappointed once they decide to pass on your application.
There are many different ways to write a writing sample. Some prefer to write in third person, while others prefer to write in first person. Some like to write essays, while others like to write short stories or creative non-fiction. The style you choose will depend on your preferred audience and what they prefer to read. Your choice of word also influences the kind of content you’ll be able to pull off – you don’t want to choose a word like ‘frustrating’ and expect to write an exciting story about solving math problems!
When it comes to your writing sample, it’s important that you choose the right word. While it’s great to have an eclectic vocabulary, it won’t help you if you don’t know how to use it correctly in a sentence. For example, if you only know the meaning of “vocabulary,” using it repeatedly in your writing sample could hurt your overall score. Instead, you can use your existing knowledge of words such as “vocabulary” and “grammar” to form your own unique words and phrases. This will make you sound more intelligent to an English teacher, and it will also give you something new to add to your vocabulary.
The Differences in Structure
One of the most important things you need to keep in mind when writing your sample is the structure. Your story doesn’t have to have a set structure, but you should know what elements your potential employer is looking for. If you don’t have any background in writing, it can be quite the daunting task to pull off an effective and engaging story when you’re not even sure where to begin. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the common elements of storylines before you start writing. This will help you form a solid foundation for your story, and it will also help you determine the pace at which you should be writing. The more you practice, the more you’ll be able to do, and the better your writing will become.
Scene 1 – Presentation of the Problem
Your first paragraph is typically the most important paragraph in your story. It gives the reader the clearest picture of what the story is about. In your presentation of the problem, state the problem in a nutshell: “I want to write a story about [theme 1], but I don’t know where to begin.”
As you are presenting the problem, you can use the second paragraph to flesh out the details of what you’re going to write. You don’t need to go into great detail, yet you should give the reader enough information to understand your position. Include details about the timeframe in which you’ll write the story. If possible, cite some specific sources (such as a book or documentary) that you consulted in order to form your own opinion. The more you can do to establish your authority on the subject, the better. Don’t forget to end the paragraph with a call to action: “So, here’s where I need your help.”
Theme 1 – The Main Theme
You’ve stated your purpose, so the next step is to identify the main theme of your story. The main theme is the theme that ties the entire story together. It should be concise and easy to understand. In order to determine your main theme, ask yourself the following question: “What is the overriding topic of this story?” If you’re not sure, ask a friend or relative who’s familiar with your work. They can give you an idea of what to focus on.
Scene 2 – The Setting
While the problem may be general in nature, your solution (or the effort you put into solving the problem) is specific to your situation. Since your story is about you, it’s only natural that your setting would be personal. You can briefly mention places and things from your own experience, but you should try to keep your setting as realistic as possible. Make sure you don’t go overboard in the description. You want your setting to come off as authentic, not like you’re reading a novel about English aristocrats in the Napoleonic era. You want your settings to feel like the places you’ve seen, or the events you’ve experienced. If you don’t have much experience with fiction writing, take some time to get to know the places and things in your own country. Touring them will make them more real to you, and it will help you determine how much detail to include when you’re not there.
The Characters
Your story doesn’t need to be about real people in order to be considered “realistic.” Make up some fictional characters and give them names and backstories. If you do need more help, look up some character sketches or biographies. These will give you an idea of how to approach the characters. Remember, like with the setting, you should limit the information you give about the characters. If you don’t have much experience with storytelling, make sure you leave some room for the reader to imagine what the characters look like. If there’s a lot of detail, it can make the story hard to follow. Keep the details simple and to the point. In the same way you described your problem, you should do the same for your characters. Start by giving them names, then add details about their past relationships and experiences. Make sure you include physical descriptions as well. If there aren’t any specific descriptions of height, weight, and hair color – save those for the settings, and make up some details about your characters instead.
Themes and Motivation
As you continue to write, you’ll want to keep returning to the theme and motivation. These are basically the reasons why you decided to write the story in the first place. It could be because you wanted to share your experience, or it could be because you wanted to encourage others to stand up for what they believe in. Whatever the reason, it should be consistent throughout the entire piece. Make sure you have a clear sense of why you’re writing this story, and what you hope to get out of it. This will make it easier to stay focused, as well as to determine whether or not you’ve accomplished your goal. If you do decide to pursue publication, it will also help to identify the target audience, and give you an idea of what to include and what to leave out.
Style And Tone
Like with the vocabulary, you can make the decision to use either formal or informal language. Informal language is commonly used in letters and emails, while formal language is more commonly used in novels and stories. Your style and tone should be able to portray the information you’re trying to get across. If you’re not sure what these terms mean, ask a friend who’s familiar with your work. They can help you determine your voice, and help you find the right words to express yourself. If you’re looking for a creative writing class that can help you find your voice and style, check out these creative writing courses nearby.
Once you’ve written the first draft, take some time to edit it. Make sure you correct any spelling errors, and look for places where you can tighten up the story. Once you’ve done all this, you can send it off to potential employers. If you do end up getting a chance to show them what you’ve written, make sure you’ve prepared something worthwhile. Your editor and any potential reviewers will thank you for taking the time to outline the story ahead of the draft. Consider it a gift, as it will help them navigate the story much more easily. Even for experienced writers, it’s a pain to search for the right words, while also trying to keep the story moving along at a reasonable pace. This tool allows you to do all that, while simultaneously keeping your sanity! So, as you can see, there are many different ways to write a story. The best way to get started is by choosing a style that you feel most comfortable with. Once you’ve done that, it’s easy to move onto the next step. Good luck!