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No Writing Clips? No Problem!You probably have the writing tearsheets you need.When you read a freelance writing job description or market listing, you're likely to find they want clips or tearsheets. (A tearsheet technically is an actually article torn out of a magazine or newspaper - copies work just fine.) This may seem impossible if you've never been published. Why Editors Want Tearsheets and ClipsFirst of all, the reason editors ask for clips or tearsheets is they want a demonstration that you can write well. Since most editors are always looking for fresh voices for their publications, they are open to new writers - they just don't want to waste time with the gillions of wannabes that couldn't put a good sentence together, let alone a whole article, no matter how hard they tried. That's good news, because it means you can use all sorts of things as writing samples. What have you written?Think about what you have written, in any context. If you've been in any sort of business environment, the chances are you've written a sales letter or two, even if you didn't think of them that way. But letters that introduce a product or a service or even yourself can be used to show you have real writing ability. So can all sorts of customer service responses. Make Up a ListMake a list of anything and everything you've ever written, even if you no longer have copies. Now, get a bit creative with the list. Reframe the items in ways that reflect what the writing accomplished. For example, if you wrote a classified ad that sold a bird cage, you might state it this way: A stint at writing a newsletter for your church could be listed as: Do you see how this works? You're showing off your ability to write in the best possible light while telling the truth. Then you simply shape up the list, label it 'Writing Credits,' and send that along. Don't worry too much about sending copies of the actual items. The truth is they are rarely read. Remember, the only thing the editor is really interested in is feeling relatively certain you can write reasonably well. A well constructed list of credits accomplishes the same thing in a professional manner. Sure, once and awhile you'll run into an editor who actually wants to see copies of your work; if you have them, great, but if you don't, move onto the next market until you have more to show. I use a credit list exclusively; you can see it at: AnneWayman.com/resume.htm. Don't let it discourage you, I've been in the game a long time. Use it for inspiration as you create your own. Write well and often!
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