Question re: writer's resume

Hi! I'm a bit new here, having spent a lot of time on the screenwriting forums and working on other projects. I'm trying to draw up a writer's resume. I've done a lot of freelance work, but it was for free or low-paying sites. I'd like to get into some better and higher-paying gigs. I've found several examples of writer's resumes and I'm curious-all of them have sections for awards/honors/memberships etc. What if I don't have any of these? Am I out of luck? What "counts"?

I haven't won any awards apart from a Versatile Blogger Reward from a fellow blogger, I haven't received any honors that I know of and am not a member of any well-known groups. I've moderated forums on a spirituality site for 11 years and another for 5, but I'm not sure if that "counts" for those categories. Also, one is a "secret" board. I don't have certifications apart from my degree (Communication), and I'm not sure my Christian sorority would be appropriate since it has nothing to do with writing.

I've written training materials but don't have any online samples. Would I include these and, if so, how? I've written advice columns for an online women's magazine, but that magazine has not launched yet and, honestly, I'm not sure it will.

Also, is it "proper" to include links to our work? I'm thinking of profile pages that show everything I've written for a particular site. I've also written for eight other blogs. Is that too many? I also have a personal blog but not everything there is, um, kosher.

Thanks! I'm a bit "thick" sometimes.

I guess my biggest problem is not knowing what counts as "published works". Deb, I could be wrong, but are a lot of things on your resume in printed form? Because mine are not. I'm confused as to whether online articles, a personal blog or blogs I wrote for money would "count" as being published in this day and age. Like I mentioned, I've written for several blogs and websites such as Womensforum and AllWomenStalk, but these are online only. Also, I was made an administrator on the former and was able to self-publish as opposed to going through someone else. Does this count? Does it matter whether you wrote something for pay or if you did it just for fun? What about articles for "content mills" such as Factoidz? Do those count? If they did, would I list individual posts or give the blog address in general?

I'm sorry for the barrage of questions! I'm just easily confused.
I don't have professional memberships, certifications beyond my degree, or really any writing jobs in the "real world" beyond things I did in my own time. I don't know what qualifies as "experience" or if I should even bother putting anything together.

WeaselFire said:

If you don't have them, you don't put them on your resume. Leave the section out. It's the same with a resume for any job.

Now, why don't you have any memberships? There are plenty of groups to belong to, writing-related or not. Any could be the hook in your resume that someone takes notice of.

Jeff

Click to expand...

Would LinkedIn or Meetup.com groups count? I'm also a moderator on a couple of message boards (one for over 10 years), but I thought of that more as experience.

I guess if I'm applying to publish an article about Christianity I can add my Christian sorority, Sigma Alpha Omega? I was part of the founding class. I've put it on resumes before for jobs that required organizational and promotion skills without the word "Christian" in the name, but that's another thing altogether.

I wasn't sure if leaving the space for memberships or honors blank would make the resume way too short to be taken seriously. Kind of like a "real world" resume for someone with little to no work history. Thanks, everyone.

Abderian said:

I think you're overthinking this. We're in the world of targeted resumes nowadays. Whatever job you're applying for, provide links to relevant articles you've written (no, work doesn't have to be in print form to count as published). If you're applying to be a blog, include links to blog posts. If you're applying to be a content writer, provide links to content you've written.

Potential employers might actually be more interested in your personal, unedited writing because this shows them the raw product they'll receive if they give you work.

Click to expand...

That's what I was hoping, that my online work would count. Does it matter where the articles are (i.e. content mill, blog etc)? Content mills aren't exactly known for quality. Of course, I would include *good* articles, but seeing "Factoidz" or "Knoji" in the URL might make you wonder.

Oh, the blog is raw, alright. In fact...WordsRWeapons, if someone applying for your team includes a link to a blog post, do you look at the rest of the blog or only the post mentioned?

Also, is bad language a problem? I wasn't sure if my blog would be a good idea since there are a few posts with depressive ramblings and swearwords. It's not like I say the "f" or "s" words and make innuendos all over the place, but those are alongside some posts about Christianity, which I know can make me look like a hypocrite. At least, that's what I've been told. That was what I was concerned about when it came to Christian publications.

Anyway, thanks for listening to me babble. I'm paying attention, even if it doesn't seem like I am. ADHD sucks.

veinglory said:

Yes it does matter where it is--some markets will take a content mill clips as a mark against you. To be honest I never made a resume. I write a pitch and attach a short bio and my 2-3 most relevant clips.

Click to expand...

That's what I thought about content mills.
Who's that nice-looking man in your avatar?

I've also helped create policy (make new rules) and have been consulted about such on several occasions. I'm really happy to hear that a lot of things I've done will count than I thought.

(thinking out loud, I do this a lot)
I wonder if the experiences I've written about in my blog (there have been some doozies) would count on their own...or if something I submitted one of my "fan" articles as a "general" writing sample could lead to something on sites about that show...)