How to Write a Resume for a Writing Job: Clips, Samples, Skills and a Layout Editors Actually Read

Knowing how to write a resume for a writing job comes down to one idea: prove you can write by showing published work, not by saying you are a “passionate wordsmith.” Lead with your best clips, add numbers where you have them, list the skills the job names, and keep the page to one clean sheet.

I am part of the BidStaff team, and we read a lot of writing applications while hiring and bidding for clients on Upwork. The ones that win look alike. They are short, specific and easy to scan. This article covers clips, samples, skills, a sample layout and the mistakes that sink good writers.

Why is a writer’s resume different from other resumes?

Most resumes describe duties. A writer’s resume is also a sample of the product. The editor reading it is judging your sentences while they read your job history. A typo, a vague line or a wall of text tells them what your drafts will look like.

That raises the bar, but it also helps you. You control the whole page. Clear verbs, tight lines and real links show your craft in under a minute.

Whoever you send it to, editors and hiring managers read fast. Employers often spend only a short time on a first look, so the top third of the page has to carry your strongest proof. Put the portfolio link where the eye lands first.

How to write a resume for a writing job, step by step

Here is the order I use when I help someone on our team build one, and it works for any writing role. Do the steps in this order, because the early ones decide what goes in the later ones.

1. Read the job post twice. Note the type of writing (blog posts, product copy, technical docs, news), the subject area and the tools mentioned.
2. Pick your three to five best clips. Choose the ones closest to that job, not your favourites.
3. Write a two-line summary. Say what you write, for which audience, and one proof point.
4. Write experience bullets with results. Start with a verb, add the output, then the effect.
5. List skills the job names. Match their words where you honestly have the skill.
6. Add education, certificates and awards only if they support the case.
7. Proofread out loud, then send it to one friend. Fresh eyes catch what yours skip.
8. Save as a PDF unless the employer asks for another format.

The same reading habit helps when you bid on freelance work. Our article on how to send proposals on Upwork uses the same idea: mirror what the client asked for.

How long should it be?

For how to write a resume for a writing job, one page is the safe choice for most writers. Senior writers with many years of experience may need two, but only if every line earns its place. If you are cutting, cut old duties before you cut clips.

How do you present clips and a portfolio?

When you plan how to write a resume for a writing job, clips are the heart of the page. A clip is a published piece with your byline, or a piece you wrote for a client even when the byline was not yours. Give each one a one-line note so the reader knows why it is there.

A good clip entry has four parts: the title, where it ran, the date, and a short note. The note can mention the audience, the word count, a result or the type of piece.

• Link to the live page when you can. A dead link looks careless.
• Use a short portfolio URL and test it on your phone.
• Choose variety only if the job needs it. A health editor wants health pieces first.
• Mention numbers you can back up, such as page views, email open rates or rankings. Do not guess.

If you are building a portfolio from scratch, our guide on choosing the right work samples explains how to pick pieces that match what a client wants. The logic works for editors too.

Ghostwritten work

If you wrote under a client’s name, check your contract before you list it. Many writers describe the work without naming the client, for example “Wrote 40 long-form articles for a software company’s blog.” It depends on the agreement, so follow what you signed.

What about writing samples when you have no published work?

Everyone starts somewhere. If you have no published clips, create samples. A writing sample is a short piece written to show your skill for a specific kind of job. Our article on what a writing sample is for an internship covers the format in detail.

Good sample options include:

• A blog post on a topic in the employer’s field, 500 to 800 words.
• A rewritten product page or email that improves a weak original.
• A short explainer that turns a hard topic into plain language.
• A school paper or newsletter piece, if it is polished and relevant.

Host them on a simple page, a Google Doc with view access or a free portfolio site. If you are early in your freelance path, how to start freelancing with no experience shows how to get your first paid clips.

Testimonials add proof too. A line from a client or teacher is useful, and how to get testimonials from clients explains how to ask for one without awkwardness.

Which skills should a writer list?

Skills sections often become a dumping ground in a resume for a writing job. Keep yours short and tied to the job. Split it into two small groups so a scanner finds what they need.

Group	Examples	Why list it
Writing skills	Long-form articles, copywriting, editing, proofreading, interviewing, research, SEO writing	Shows the type of work you can deliver
Style and standards	AP style, Chicago style, brand voice guides, fact-checking	Shows you follow editorial rules
Tools	WordPress, Google Docs, Grammarly, Canva, a CMS the job names	Shows you can work in their setup
Strategy	Keyword research, content calendars, analytics basics	Shows you think beyond the draft

Only list a tool if you can use it on day one. An interviewer may ask you to show it. If you want a free second opinion on grammar and clarity, Grammarly is a common choice among writers, though your own read-through matters more.

Soft skills like “creative” or “detail-oriented” rarely help on their own. Prove them with an example in a bullet instead.

What does a good sample layout look like?

Keep the design plain. A single column with clear headings reads well on screen and passes through applicant tracking software. The Purdue OWL resume guide is a trusted reference for standard resume structure.

Here is a layout you can copy:

Section	What goes in it	Sample line
Header	Name, email, city, portfolio link	Jordan Lee | [email protected] | Austin, TX | jordanlee.com
Summary	Two lines	Content writer who turns technical topics into clear articles for software buyers. Wrote 60+ published posts for B2B blogs.
Selected clips	3 to 5 links with notes	“How Payroll Software Works” | Company blog | 1,800-word explainer
Experience	Role, company, dates, 3 bullets	Edited a weekly newsletter sent to a subscriber list; kept a steady publishing schedule.
Skills	Short grouped list	SEO writing, editing, AP style, WordPress
Education	Degree or certificate	B.A. English, State University

These names and lines are made-up examples to show the shape. Swap in your own facts.

Fonts and spacing

Use one readable font at 10.5 to 12 points, normal margins and a bit of white space between sections. Tools like Canva’s resume templates are fine if you pick a simple one, but avoid heavy graphics and text inside images.

How should the resume change for each type of writing job?

One resume rarely fits every role. Make a base version, then adjust the top third for each application.

• Content or blog writer: lead with organic traffic, SEO knowledge and the range of topics you handle.
• Copywriter: lead with ads, landing pages and emails, and any test results you can share honestly.
• Journalist or reporter: lead with bylines, beats and sourcing skills.
• Technical writer: lead with documentation, tools and how you work with engineers.
• Editor: lead with the volume you edited, the style guides you know and the writers you coached.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics page on writers and authors describes the duties and typical qualifications, which helps you choose the right words for each role.

Freelancers can use the same approach for client work. When we bid on writing jobs, we match the sample to the client’s niche. It also helps to write in the client’s tone, which we cover in writing Upwork proposals in your own tone.

Do you need a cover letter too?

For most writing jobs, yes, or at least a short email. The cover letter is a second writing sample, and it shows whether you can write to one specific person. Read do you need a cover letter for a resume to decide, and always follow the employer’s instructions.

A cover letter is the same craft as an Upwork proposal: a short, specific note to a stranger who decides in seconds. That is why our BidStaff features focus on the first lines of a proposal and on attaching the best sample. BidStaff does not write resumes or letters for jobs, but the discipline of being specific carries over.

If the job also asks for a personal intro, see how to describe yourself in a resume for wording the summary.

What mistakes should writers avoid?

• Typos. One in a writer’s resume can end the application.
• Vague claims. “Excellent communicator” says nothing. “Wrote a weekly column read by local subscribers” says something.
• Too many clips. Ten average links are worse than four strong ones.
• Broken or private links. Open every link in a private window before you send.
• Fancy design. Columns and icons can confuse tracking software.
• Copying the job post word for word. Match keywords, but write your own sentences.
• Listing every job. Keep only roles that support this application.

Another common slip, after you know how to write a resume for a writing job, is skipping the follow-up. If the post gives a date and you hear nothing, a short, polite note a week later is normal. It depends on the employer, so check their process first.

Frequently asked questions

Should a writer’s resume include a portfolio link?

Yes. Put it in the header and again next to your clips. Make sure it opens without a login.

How many writing samples should I send?

Send what the employer asks for. If they do not say, three to five relevant pieces is a sensible range.

Do I need a degree to get a writing job?

Not always. Many employers care more about clips than a degree, although some roles, such as journalism or technical writing, may ask for one. Read each post closely.

Should I use a resume or a CV for a writing job?

In the US, a resume is the usual choice. Academic and some international roles use a CV. Follow the employer’s wording.

Can I list unpaid or student work?

Yes, if the pieces are good and relevant. Say what they are honestly, for example “student newspaper” or “personal blog.”

Is it fine to include a photo or design flair?

For a US application, skip the photo. Keep design simple unless the role is in design or creative direction.

Is how to write a resume for a writing job different for freelancers?

Use the same layout, but lead with client results and niche. For marketplaces, your profile acts as the resume, so keep it consistent with your PDF.

Does BidStaff write my resume?

No. BidStaff helps freelancers and agencies on Upwork with proposals, job scoring and client checks. It does not write resumes.

Conclusion

Now you know how to write a resume for a writing job that shows, not tells. Choose clips that match the role, keep the page to one clean sheet, and let your own sentences prove the skill.

Your action list:

1. Pick three to five clips that fit the job and check every link.
2. Write a two-line summary with one proof point.
3. Turn each experience line into a result-first bullet.
4. Match the top third of the page to the job post.
5. Proofread aloud, save as a PDF and send.

If you also pitch clients on Upwork, see how BidStaff pricing works and try the same specific, sample-backed approach in your proposals.

Other related articles

• How to describe myself in a resume
• What is a writing sample for an internship
• Do you need a cover letter for a resume
• How to start freelancing with no experience
• Add the right work samples for Upwork

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.