It’s important to keep up a writing resume to track your writing achievements. If you don’t keep track of what is going on in your writing career right when it happens, back-tracking will be very difficult. Having an up-to-date resume will help you put together proposals, show the strength of your platform, and may also help you get speaking/teaching engagements. Here are some of the items to keep track of on your writing resume:
Awards: When you receive notification that you are a semi-finalist, finalist, or winner be sure to add that to your resume. This goes for writing contests, too. If you’ve been awarded any honor for your writing, be sure to keep track of it.
Conferences: Another part of your resume should be conferences attended. It’s a great idea to show on your resume how you are continuing to grow as a writer by attending conferences and learning from experienced writers and marketers.
Speaking: Keep track of your speaking engagements, too. Be sure to get down the date of the event, the location, the topic you spoke on, and approximately how many people were in the audience. If you’ve taught at conferences, keep track of those events as well. It also is a good idea to film yourself speaking (well, to have someone film you) occasionally. Having a video can come in handy for booking future engagements or for marketing purposes.
Books/Articles published: Keep track of all of your published works. When and where did your published work appear? If you’ve written an article, what is the readership of the magazine? If you’ve written a book, keep track of how many copies have been sold.
Subscriptions/Memberships: Are you a member of RWA, ACFW, CWG, SCBWI, a critique group, or do you subscribe to something like Platform University? Be sure to keep track of these items and put the start and end dates of your involvement.
I hope you all have been keeping good track of your writing profiles on your resumes! I know that I haven’t kept track of my speaking engagements and conferences. If I were to put together my “agent resume” it would take me weeks at this point, and I’m sure I would forget to include important items.
Were you able to attend online conferences in 2020/2021? Be sure to include online conferences and speaking in your resume, too.
If you have a writing resume already, what other types of things do you put on it?
How have you done with keeping track of your writer profile?
Carving Up Your Popular Content to Reach and Satisfy Your Audience
Thanks for the reminder, Rachel! As I read this, I went back and updated my writing resume. I have attended a virtual conference and at least one online course (I’m having a hard time remembering them all, I should have written them down sooner!) and so I added that and updated awards and book releases. You were the one who first made me realize that I needed something like this and it is good to get a reminder to keep everything updated. I was sure I would remember everything at first, because each writing victory was so momentous. But time blurs even the most thrilling of days and so I totally see the need for this record now. Thank you!
I don’t keep track of what I’ve done,
and now it’s gone all hazy;
I’ve been having too much fun,
and I’m just too lazy
to curate all the bygone days
and set them carved in granite,
for I think that there are better ways
to spend time on this planet,
but I can see this is a flaw
of character and aspiration,
for no-one can know and draw
on recorded motivation
to see what profits I might bring
even if I am worth publishing.
Andrew just now asked for our prayers this morning. He had a bad fall yesterday, and it’s worse than he first thought. Many thanks to all who pray for him here! He treasures them all.
Thank you for these reminders.
Rachel,
I’ve read this multiple times, as I am both intrigued and convicted by the idea. Do you know of an online example of a writing resume we can look at for ideas on how to put this together?
This is something I’ve intended to do for a while and your post gave me the kick I needed to get it done. Thank you!
I also include interviews and links to anything online: articles, stories, audio/video of speaking engagements or interviews.
For me, writing has always been difficult and incomprehensible. I don’t like writing, and no matter how much I try, it’s all in vain. I envy people who can write something beautiful and hope that soon I can learn to write as well.