Are you looking for an opportunity to write about your experiences and show off your skills? You can do this through a writing sample.
A writing sample is simply a section of your writing that you have allowed to be published in order to demonstrate your skills. It could be a blog post, an article for publication in a magazine or newspaper, or a book – in fact, it could even be a short story, novel or play!
As the name implies, a writing sample is usually only available in written form, though it could be in the form of a graphic, a video or even an audio recording. Keep in mind that the sample should be of a high enough quality to be published. Otherwise, it would not make sense to publish it.
The Purpose Of A Writing Sample
Even if you have been writing for some time, you might not be entirely aware of the purpose of a writing sample. The explanation for this is that the purpose of a writing sample is not necessarily to show off your talents or to gain employment. Sometimes, it is simply a case of having something available in case there is ever a question about your writing or your qualifications.
For example, if you have written an article for publication in a national newspaper and they ask for a sample, you might have to send them a piece you previously published. If you then get an offer of a job from this newspaper, you can be confident that you will be able to write more accurately and with greater depth about the subject matter than most people can.
The advantage of this is that it makes you appear more professional than if you were simply applying for a job with no previous writing experience. It also demonstrates your interest in the subject matter and shows that you have taken the time to become knowledgeable about it.
Tips For Writing A Quality Sample
If you are serious about getting a quality writing sample, you should make sure that you practice beforehand. This means taking time to write a sample which is as good as the day you write it. You should not polish off a rough draft and then try to rewrite it without any errors. Instead, you should take time to re-read and revise it as many times as necessary until it is error-free.
To give you an idea of how important it is to have a polished, error-free sample, here are some of the criteria that most companies look for when judging your application:
- grammar
- spelling
- punctuation
- syntax
- structure
- sentence length
- thought content
- organization
- thesaurus
- word processor compatibility
- formatting
- page layout
- word count
- formatting
If you meet these criteria, you will be able to write a high-quality piece which is suitable for a number of different platforms. This will allow you to appear more versatile and qualified than you would if you were simply producing written content for a company.
Where Can I Get Started?
If you are determined to write a quality piece, the first thing you should do is determine the location of the piece. This will depend on the type of content you are trying to write. For example, if you are writing for publication in a magazine or newspaper, you might want to consider writing something longer rather than a quick blog post. This will then allow you to format it appropriately and give it more depth.
Once you have determined the location of the piece, you can start thinking about the next step.
This is where most people get stuck. When it comes to writing a sample, there are just so many different places you could start. To make it simpler for you, I have put together a quick list of tips which will help get your creative juices flowing. Without further ado:
Research The Topic
Before you start writing, you should make sure that you have the necessary knowledge and information about the topic. If you do not have any previous knowledge about the topic, take the time to do some diligent research. This will then make it easier for you to write with accuracy and detail. Ensure that you have covered all the major points and have referenced the resources which you have used. In general, do not rush this stage as it can often be the source of many errors. Take your time and do it right.
Develop A Plan
A common mistake made by beginning writers is that they think about the piece itself rather than the process of writing the piece. Before you start actually writing, you should develop a plan for the piece. This should include things like the title, outline, the major points you will make and so on. In addition, you should consider how you will go about proving these points and developing the story line. You are much more likely to write something cohesive and have a plan if you do this first.
You should then take the time to write a sample that is as close to the final product as possible. In most cases, this will be a polished piece of content which has gone through a number of edits and revisions. Even if you write the piece in one sitting, taking frequent breaks to re-organize and edit the material is important. In this way, you are ensuring that you have created a piece which is as close to flawless as possible. This will then make it much easier for you to get it published. In most cases, you should be able to get a polished piece of content with an hour or two of effort.
Think About The Audience
This point cannot be stressed enough. When you are writing for a general audience, you should always consider the audience who you are writing for. If you do not do this, you will often write something which is either too sophisticated or too mundane for the intended audience.
In most cases, you should write for the widest audience possible while still being mindful of the criteria which your specific audience might have. For example, if you are writing for a scientific journal, you should ensure that your vocabulary is appropriate and that you use the correct syntax. In terms of structure, you should follow a logical flow from one point to the next and avoid making leaps which might confuse the reader. In terms of content, you should write about something which will interest a wide audience while not writing about something so personal that only a handful of people will be interested. In most cases, you want to write about something which everyone can learn from and make their own lives better. This is the type of content which will interest a wide audience.
Get Inspired
Most people get stuck in a rut when it comes to writing. They think that if they want something new, they have to sit down and force themselves to write. In terms of getting inspired for writing, you should make it a point to look for the different and to be unique. Find something which inspires you and utilize it for the betterment of your writing.
This is often the hardest part of writing. If you want to write a quality piece, it is very important that you take the time to get inspired and that you do not simply rush into writing. Find an idea which means something to you and then use it as a starting point to develop an idea for a piece. If you do not do this, you will often find yourself writing about something which does not interest you or something which is merely a copy of something which has been done before.
Finding the different is important. You should not simply look at what has been done before you and aim to do the same. Instead, you should look for the good and the bad of what has been done and then find a way to do better. In terms of getting inspired, you should make it a point to look at things which are not usually associated with writing. Visit places which you would not usually go to and try new things. Most importantly, be open to new ideas and concepts. This will then make you a better writer for it.
Revise
Once you have written the piece, you should take the time to revise it. In most cases, this will mean going through the piece and making minor edits and changes which enhance the overall quality of the content. In general, you should work against the grain. This will often require going back to previous drafts and editing them to fit the flow of the final product. Even if you are writing with perfect grammar and sentence structure, you should still go back and re-word things to make them better. In most cases, this will not take very much time and it will be well worth it in the end.