Write weather lesson plans for a new book to be published
Freelance Writer (ghostwriter for a children's behavior issues book)
Curriculum Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Building a Portfolio
What is a portfolio?
I belong to a few groups online, and one of the pieces of wisdom that pops up often is that to get freelance jobs, a writer needs a portfolio. Okay, so what exactly is a portfolio? The way I understand it, a writer’s portfolio is a collection of clips designed to showcase the quality and range of the writer’s work. If you can clarify or expound on this definition, please chime in!
How does someone entering the freelance educational writing market compile a portfolio without having landed a freelance job? It’s a bit of a Catch-22. You need clips to get the job, but you need the job to get clips. Oy!
There are ways, I think. I’m going to use myself as an example, since I am just pulling my own portfolio together.
Since I work as an editor on professional development materials, I have the opportunity to use some of that work in my portfolio, for both editing and original writing. That's a good start.
Straight out of the classroom
But what if I had never been an editor? What can I put in my portfolio straight out of the classroom?
Once school year, I wrote a research manual (twenty-three pages) that was printed up for the entire 8th grade. I think a clip from that might serve to show my skills. I also handled the team newsletter for a time. This would serve as an example of my writing and possibly even my design skills. As the NJHS sponsor, I wrote press releases and a brochure. I plan on including those in my clips.
When I first started teaching, I designed and taught week-long summer workshops in computing, both basic (what’s a mouse?) and desktop publishing to teachers. That written curriculum might have served to show my instructional design skills, but who knew to keep them?! (Kick!)
What about college?
I wrote a feature story and a book review for the college newspaper. I think I can include those. I also did proofreading and desktop publishing for a journal at our university press. I have a copy of that journal. Should I include a scan of the cover for proofreading and layout experience? I don’t know about that one. I was also editor of the literary magazine one semester. I was responsible for the whole magazine. I didn’t sleep much that semester, but I did remember to keep a copy.
What can I include?
Will any of this help me land a freelance job? I guess that’s my question. My recent freelancing has been assessment item writing, and I’m not sure I can include any clips of those because of nondisclosure. Sure, when I land a gig, I’ll start putting the recent stuff in the forefront. But until then? Is it a good or bad idea to include older work?
What’s in your portfolio? Can there be too many clips? How do you choose what makes it in?
I think I’ve gone on long enough.
Laura
I belong to a few groups online, and one of the pieces of wisdom that pops up often is that to get freelance jobs, a writer needs a portfolio. Okay, so what exactly is a portfolio? The way I understand it, a writer’s portfolio is a collection of clips designed to showcase the quality and range of the writer’s work. If you can clarify or expound on this definition, please chime in!
How does someone entering the freelance educational writing market compile a portfolio without having landed a freelance job? It’s a bit of a Catch-22. You need clips to get the job, but you need the job to get clips. Oy!
There are ways, I think. I’m going to use myself as an example, since I am just pulling my own portfolio together.
Since I work as an editor on professional development materials, I have the opportunity to use some of that work in my portfolio, for both editing and original writing. That's a good start.
Straight out of the classroom
But what if I had never been an editor? What can I put in my portfolio straight out of the classroom?
Once school year, I wrote a research manual (twenty-three pages) that was printed up for the entire 8th grade. I think a clip from that might serve to show my skills. I also handled the team newsletter for a time. This would serve as an example of my writing and possibly even my design skills. As the NJHS sponsor, I wrote press releases and a brochure. I plan on including those in my clips.
When I first started teaching, I designed and taught week-long summer workshops in computing, both basic (what’s a mouse?) and desktop publishing to teachers. That written curriculum might have served to show my instructional design skills, but who knew to keep them?! (Kick!)
What about college?
I wrote a feature story and a book review for the college newspaper. I think I can include those. I also did proofreading and desktop publishing for a journal at our university press. I have a copy of that journal. Should I include a scan of the cover for proofreading and layout experience? I don’t know about that one. I was also editor of the literary magazine one semester. I was responsible for the whole magazine. I didn’t sleep much that semester, but I did remember to keep a copy.
What can I include?
Will any of this help me land a freelance job? I guess that’s my question. My recent freelancing has been assessment item writing, and I’m not sure I can include any clips of those because of nondisclosure. Sure, when I land a gig, I’ll start putting the recent stuff in the forefront. But until then? Is it a good or bad idea to include older work?
What’s in your portfolio? Can there be too many clips? How do you choose what makes it in?
I think I’ve gone on long enough.
Laura
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Education-Related Freelance Leads for Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Educational Materials Writer (FT in Boulder)
Editor (I think this is FT, but it might be worth finding out)
Good luck!
Laura
Monday, January 28, 2008
Focus on Mazer Creative Services
I received an email from someone at Mazer Creative Services. She'd heard about the blog through the "educational publishing" alerts in her gmail (I'm going to have to ask her exactly how that works.) and thought I might like to mention Mazer. I took a look at their site and I certainly do want to mention them. They have openings, but I think they're full-time. She asked that any K-12 freelancers interested in work send their resume to the appropriate editor. Please send me an email for specifics.
This lovely Mazer contact also gave me a few other gems. (I just love helpful people!) She thought we might like to take a look at Academic Benchmarks. Here's the link to the employment page. She also said that the educational publishing community has a strong presence on LinkIn.com. I joined LinkedIn a little over a week ago and I'm already making strong contacts.
This email came out of the blue and really made my day. I also appreciate all the supportive emails I've received from people who visit the blog. Some are thanks, others are leads, all are very, very welcome. Thanks so much for all of your support.
Happy writing!
Laura
This lovely Mazer contact also gave me a few other gems. (I just love helpful people!) She thought we might like to take a look at Academic Benchmarks. Here's the link to the employment page. She also said that the educational publishing community has a strong presence on LinkIn.com. I joined LinkedIn a little over a week ago and I'm already making strong contacts.
This email came out of the blue and really made my day. I also appreciate all the supportive emails I've received from people who visit the blog. Some are thanks, others are leads, all are very, very welcome. Thanks so much for all of your support.
Happy writing!
Laura
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Education-Related Freelance Leads for Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Introducing the Writers - Round 2
It's time to update the links on my Education Writers list. If you'd like me to add your link, please email me with the address and how you want to be listed (eg. Laura Coulter - Assessment writer & copyeditor). Try to make the link go directly to a resume or description of your services. I plan to update the links on Tuesday.
Thanks!
Laura
Thanks!
Laura
Education-Related Writing Leads for Friday, January 25, 2008
Course Content Editor
Teaching Blog is Seeking Writers
Editor - FT (Thanks, buglady!)
Copyeditors and Proofreaders
Curriculum Writers
High School Chemistry Editors (Thanks, Stephenie!)
Not writing, but still education-related - if you're interested in scoring essays for Pearson, check out the site to see if there's one near you.
CollegeBoard has opportunities for AP Exam Readers, SAT Essay Readers, and workshop consultants, if you've had high school teaching experience.
Good luck!
Laura
Teaching Blog is Seeking Writers
Editor - FT (Thanks, buglady!)
Copyeditors and Proofreaders
Curriculum Writers
High School Chemistry Editors (Thanks, Stephenie!)
Not writing, but still education-related - if you're interested in scoring essays for Pearson, check out the site to see if there's one near you.
CollegeBoard has opportunities for AP Exam Readers, SAT Essay Readers, and workshop consultants, if you've had high school teaching experience.
Good luck!
Laura
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