A creative professional writing sample is a piece of work that combines the writing processes of a creative professional with the business processes of an organizational expert to solve real-world problems. It bridges the gap between the functional and the creative writing process, making it a valuable asset for any business.
The Functional and the Creative Processes
Writing an effective business plan, developing a winning sales pitch, or crafting an error-free marketing email – each of these processes requires distinct sets of skills that your typical business student might not be exposed to in sufficient depth.
The functional processes involved in these tasks can be defined as those activities required to bring a product to market; to collect payments; to grow the business; and to maintain administrative systems. These are the tasks that an organizational expert (say, a business administration or management degree holder) would be called upon to complete while holding a functional role in the organization. For example, a marketing manager might be responsible for composing sales pitches for clients, tracking marketing results, and analyzing the performance of sales teams.
On the other hand, the creative processes that make up the bulk of the writing effort required for these assignments can be defined as those activities that contribute to the production of a literary work, such as developing characters, creating an intriguing plot, and adhering to the conventions of good writing.
As a business student, you will have completed some functional processes – for example, analyzing the competition, creating demand analysis, and developing sales strategies – but you may not have had the opportunity to hone your storytelling skills or to practice the art of drafting a marketing email. In this context, a creative writing sample provides you with the opportunity to practice and develop the necessary functional and creative skills, while also providing employers with a glimpse of your organizational and writing skills.
Why Should an Employer Care about a Creative Professional Writing Sample?
To begin with, a business that cares about its employees understands that their well-being affects the overall performance of the organization. Therefore, addressing mental health issues can have a direct effect on the bottom line.
A business can also achieve a higher degree of employee engagement by appealing to their creative side – whatever that may be. When you craft a pitch for a new product, you are essentially advertising the company’s wares, but you are also inspiring your audience to action. One could argue that advertising that inspires action is more effective than typical marketing methods, which often rely on fear-based tactics to grab the attention of consumers.
Finally, employers that care about their reputation in the community will find that a focus on employee well-being and engagement can have a significant trickle-down effect. After all, satisfied employees are more likely to provide great customer service, to offer suggestions for improving processes, and to contribute ideas for new product development. An engaged, satisfied workforce can also be a positive impact on the local community – by participating in local events and supporting local businesses, for example.
In a nutshell, a creative professional writing sample that combines the functional and creative processes is a valuable asset for any business. It offers an opportunity to practice both sets of skills, to integrate your knowledge of marketing and communications, and to develop your storytelling, copywriting, and editing skills.
How Does a Creative Professional Writing Sample Differ From Other Types of Samples?
As the name would suggest, a creative professional writing sample is supposed to be creative in nature – that is, it should offer something new and unique to the reader. Because it combines the functional and creative processes, it often contains both the novel and the business aspect, blurring the lines between inspiration and execution. This makes it distinct from other types of samples.
The fact that it is supposed to be creative also gives it the potential to be more engaging than your usual functional or organizational sample. One of the most important skills to develop as a business student is the ability to understand and analyze different types of data. The more you read, the better – but nothing quite says ‘I am a dedicated business student’ like a 200-page business plan. A good thesis statement should be supported by facts, figures, and rigorous analysis – but none of this can hold a candle to the excitement of seeing your ideas come to life in beautiful black and white on a piece of paper.
The Structure of a Creative Professional Writing Sample
Like most types of professional samples, the structure of a creative professional writing sample should follow the structure of conventional writing – including a heading, several paragraphs, and a conclusion. The heading of a business plan, for example, should be no more than six words and should be used to hook the reader. In most cases, the heading will be something like ‘Executive Summary’.
Likewise, the first paragraph of your business plan should provide the reader with a brief overview of the problem you are solving, the market you are serving, the market share you have, and the various components of the business model you are pursuing.
Now is the perfect time to insert your corporate vision statement – a short pitch for why your company was founded and what you intend to achieve going forward. Remember that you are practicing creative and professional writing, so you can take your time and be as creative as you need to be.
After you have provided the background information, it’s time to integrate the unique selling proposition (USP) that your company offers to solve a particular problem. Here you can put forward the differentiating factors that make your product or service special – a compelling reason for customers to choose you over your competitors. The USP should be concise, easy to understand, and memorable.
While the USP might be the ‘hook’ that draws the reader in, the body of the business plan explains how you intend to execute on the idea – that is, how you intend to make the business a reality. This might involve bringing in outside experts to help you with the implementation, securing funding, or seeking industry partnerships. Your task, as the business student, is to bring your ideas to life in a way that they are not simply ideas but actual, tangible steps that you can measure to determine the success of your business plan.
How to Approach Developing a Creative Professional Writing Sample
If you are interested in pursuing a career in business, marketing, or communications, you should develop the habit of collecting and synthesizing information – both published and unpublished sources, quantitative and qualitative data, and so on.
As a first step, you should start by taking a look at how other businesses have approached similar problems – either through first-hand experience or through secondary research. While you will learn a tremendous amount by doing this, the best learning occurs when you put this information into practice and apply it to your own challenge.
As a general rule, you should approach writing a business plan like you would any other type of academic paper – by starting with a compelling introduction, laying out the problem you are facing, and then providing the reader with the appropriate information. If you are writing a marketing plan, you will want to do the same, but in addition to the business problem, you will want to consider the competition, the target audience, and the various segments you are trying to appeal to – as well as the problem you are solving and how the customer will benefit.
With a little bit of planning and research, you will be able to develop a good outline for your business plan, which will then help you to build the content throughout. It is never easy to start a business – but with a little bit of help from friends, family, and experts, you will be able to overcome any obstacles that stand in your way. With a little bit of dedication and hard work, you can become the successful entrepreneur that you were born to be.