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Table of contents

Writer resume examples
Related resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your writer resume
How to write a writer resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your writer resume
Commonly asked question about resume writing

From web content to magazines to newspapers, writers are responsible for what’s on the page. As a writer, you’ve already got the skills to put your observations into words. Now, all you need is a little help applying your lexicon to your very own resume.

With the help of some easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume and some excellent resume examples for reference, we’ll help you hit the ground running with a resume that shows off your talent for prose, your attention to detail and your passion for the written word.

Here, you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to write an impressive writer resume in a matter of minutes.

Keep reading to learn more about:

Examples of writer resumes for applicants with and without experience.
What makes a writer resume example great.
Tips and tricks for writing a resume for a writer.
What to include in every section of your writer resume.
How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.

Not all writing is built equally. If drafting a novel sounds a lot more fun than writing your resume, give our professional AI Resume Builder a try. Our builder provides professional advice, suggestions and step-by-step help so you can build a job-winning resume in just a few minutes.

Writer resume examples

Entry-level writer resume example

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What makes this a great writer resume sample?

It focuses on skills
This writer is in the early stages of his copywriting career, so it makes sense to emphasize skills over experience. Showcasing transferable abilities plays to his strengths instead of highlighting his lack of experience.
It’s goal-oriented
This resume opens with a career objective which states the candidate’s goals for the future. Focusing on professional development shows ambition, motivation and passion instead of dwelling on inexperience.
It highlights soft skills
Creativity, leadership and problem-solving skills are all valuable assets for a writer. This candidate displays these, and other soft skills, prominently in the skills section of his resume.

Experienced writer resume example

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What makes this a great writer resume sample?

It’s nicely branded
The design of this resume shows character and creativity without becoming a distraction. This goes a long way toward conveying the candidate’s style as a writer.
It focuses on experience
This candidate has extensive writing experience, which she lays out in detail using active language to convey her impact. This experience is the meat of her resume, so it’s displayed prominently.
It includes a portfolio link
Writers, like many other creative professions, often develop a portfolio over the course of their careers. Many positions will ask to see a portfolio, but even those that don’t will likely be interested in seeing some of your finished work. Linking to a portfolio is a great way to make this easily available.

Choose the right resume format for your writer resume

As a writer, you know that the way you organize information has a huge impact on the way it’s read. Make the most out of Your word count by selecting a resume format that plays to your strengths.

Experienced applicants should consider a chronological resume format to highlight work experience and a strong career progression.
Applicants with little to no experience should consider using a functional resume format.
Midlevel applicants with three to five years of relevant experience should consider a combination resume format to showcase a balance of skills and work experience.

Visit our guide to learn more about how to format a resume to highlight your candidacy.

Select an appropriate writer resume template

Create your resume

While every resume template will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right template.

Depending on the specifics of your writing career and the role you have in mind, there are a few different choices that make sense for a writer resume template. For writers who want to emphasize an artistic and unique personal brand, a creative resume template is a great way to stand out. For a template that is a bit more sleek and professional, take a look at our library of modern resumes.

How to write a writer resume in 5 simple steps

While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for competitive writing jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek.

In this section, you’ll learn how to write a resume that speaks directly to what the company is looking for in a writer so you get the interview.

Step 1

Study the writer job description

Just like an article or a story must be thoroughly researched and fact-checked, your resume must be custom-made to target the position that you want. Nobody wants to read a generic boiler-plate resume, especially when looking to hire a great writer. Plus, you need to be sure that your resume holds up under the scrutiny of applicant tracking systems (ATS).

ATS screens resumes for certain keywords that the hiring department wants to see. Necessary skills or competencies are given to the ATS, which automatically eliminates resumes that lack them. To make your resume ATS-friendly, you need to pay close attention to the wording of the qualifications listed on the job ad.

Treat the job ad as a sort of rubric and build your resume around the requirements that it lists. You shouldn’t lie about your qualifications, so if you truly don’t have them then don’t include them. But if you have what they need, then devote some attention to showing that you’re a perfect fit.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Just like an article or an essay which starts with an introduction, your resume should begin with a resume profile. This is your place to introduce yourself as a writer and describe some of the most important features of your career so far. There are two types of resume profile that you may choose.

Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective. This focuses on your professional development, career goals and transferable skills. Seasoned writers should use a professional summary, which summarizes your career achievements.

Here are some strong examples for your writer resume:

Writer professional summary example:

Experienced writer with over 11 years of expertise in copywriting and editing. Proven track record of creating compelling and impactful content across a diverse range of industries and platforms. Adept at crafting engaging copy that resonates with target audiences, driving brand awareness and customer engagement. Skilled in tailoring tone and style to match various brand voices while maintaining consistent messaging. Detail-oriented editor with a keen eye for grammar, punctuation and style, ensuring impeccable quality in all written materials. Collaborative team player who thrives in fast-paced environments and consistently meets deadlines. Ready to leverage extensive experience to deliver persuasive and polished content that achieves desired results.

Writer resume objective example:

Experienced writer with one year of content publication on a personal blog. Seeking a role that offers growth potential to apply storytelling skills and contribute to impactful content within a professional writing team. Committed to continuous learning and collaborative efforts, aiming to achieve collective success in dynamic writing environments. Eager to deliver creative contributions while adapting to diverse audiences and refining content techniques. Ready to leverage proven blog experience in a professional context to drive engaging narratives and support team objectives.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant writer skills

Regardless of your experience level, your writing skills are what really determines what you can accomplish. Skills for a writer resume should be added to your resume skills section and demonstrated throughout your work experience and resume profile sections.

As a writer, you draw on both hard and soft skills to meet your deadlines. Hard skills are the techniques that you’ve learned through experience and education. The content management systems that you’ve mastered are a good example of a hard skill. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more like personality traits. Your attention to detail and innate curiosity are good examples of soft skills. Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.

Hard and soft skills for a writer resume

Hard Skills

Wordpress
Microsoft Office
SEO analysis
Chicago manual of style
Short and long form blog content
Google Search Console and Analytics

Soft Skills

Time management
Attention to detail
Collaboration
Enthusiasm
Creativity
Resourcefulness

Here is an example of a strong writer skills section:

Proficient in SEO analysis using Ahrefs and Semrush tools
Passionate writer with an eye for detail
Skilled at time management with a proven track record of meeting deadlines
Familiar with Chicago, MLA and APA style guideline

Pro tip

Soft skills are a huge part of any successful writing career. Your ability to adhere to a specific style guide or use a specific piece of software is important, but none of that matters if you can’t stay organized and keep track of deadlines. Don’t underestimate your crucial soft skills.

Step 4

Write a strong writer work experience section

While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.

Be sure to organize your experience in reverse-chronological order and use impactful language and data to showcase the value of your work history.

Here is an example of a great writer work experience entry:

Editorial Writer, The Daily Diamond
Virginia City, NV
August 2018 – Present

Produce over 400 high-quality, well-researched and engaging editorial pieces on a wide range of topics, consistently meeting tight deadlines.
Collaborate closely with the six-person editorial team to brainstorm, pitch and develop compelling story ideas that resonate with target audiences.
Conduct thorough fact-checking, source verification and content validation to ensure accuracy and credibility of all published articles.
Craft headlines and subheadings that capture the essence of each piece while maintaining the publication’s tone and style guidelines.
Edit and proofread colleagues’ work for clarity, coherence, grammar and adherence to editorial standards, providing constructive feedback to enhance overall quality.
Consistently optimize content for SEO, increasing organic traffic by more than 33% and enhancing the publication’s online visibility.
Collaborate with graphic designers and layout artists to create visually appealing and reader-friendly article layouts.

Pro tip

Numerical data and action words help make your achievements stand out by giving them a sense of energy and impact.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training on your writer resume

To be hired as a writer, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. Top candidates for this role often list a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications or a related field. For some roles, a master’s degree may be required, but it is also possible to find writing opportunities with minimal education requirements. No matter what level of education you’ve completed, it belongs in the education section of your resume.

How to list your writer education:

Education

Bachelor of Arts: English
University of Nevada, Reno – Reno, NV

Certifications:

HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) Copywriting Certification

Pro tip

If you have professional certifications or special training, add them to your resume. You can include them in your education section or add a special section to highlight them.

Optional sections for your writer resume

Awards and certifications

Incorporating awards and certifications into your resume is a great way to highlight your skills, accomplishments and credentials. Awards underscore outstanding performance or leadership, while certifications provide concrete proof of your proficiency and competence in a particular area.

Featuring awards and certificates in your resume differentiates you from other candidates, signaling to potential employers your genuine commitment to your field and your potential to make noteworthy contributions to their company. As a result, this enhances your prospects as a candidate.

How to list awards on your writer resume:

2021 Top Blog Post Award | Writers’ Spotlight
2018 Social Media Impact Award | Digital Marketing Awards

Projects

As a writer, there’s a good chance that when you send in your resume you’ll be sending a portfolio or some writing samples along with it. Even if you don’t do this, you may be asked to provide some samples or to simply describe some of your past writing projects.

In any case, your completed writing projects are a really important chance to show employers who you are as a writer. Use the projects section of your resume to describe your work or add context to your portfolio.

How to list projects on your writer resume:

1. “Exploring Sustainable Travel Trends” | Travel Insights Magazine

Researched and authored an in-depth editorial piece highlighting emerging sustainable travel trends, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the travel industry’s evolving landscape. The article garnered significant reader engagement and was featured as a cover story in the magazine.

2. “Navigating Remote Work Challenges” | Workplace Dynamics Journal

Produced a thought-provoking editorial that delved into the challenges faced by remote workers and offered practical solutions for maintaining productivity and work-life balance. The piece received widespread recognition for its relevance to the evolving work environment.

3. “Impact of Climate Change on Urban Infrastructure” | Urban Planning Quarterly

Researched and interviewed experts and crafted an editorial piece exploring the intricate relationship between climate change and urban infrastructure resilience. The project involved extensive collaboration with subject matter experts and was commended for its depth of analysis.

Languages

For a writer like you, communication is your bread and butter. And knowing more than one language can really broaden your communication horizons. If you’re multilingual, this shows employers that you have the mental agility to learn the vocabulary and grammar of your own native language and a whole other language. This is a significant asset, so don’t sell yourself short! Highlight the languages that you speak in the languages section of your resume.

How to list languages on your writer resume:

Fluent in English and Vietnamese
Proficient in Spanish

Interests and hobbies

Adding hobbies to your resume is appropriate as long as they’re relevant to the job. They offer an opportunity to show your personality and meaningfully connect with a potential employer. Plus, they emphasize your transferable skills, like creativity or leadership — qualities you take from job to job.

Finally, hobbies and interests can demonstrate whether you’re the right culture fit for a company. They enrich your overall profile, showing the employer how you are a unique and fully defined person.

How to list interests and hobbies on your writer resume:

Passion for blogging and web design
Amateur graphic designer with a particular interest in brand identity
Enthusiastic book club organizer

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

Adding a writer cover letter to your application can help you stand out. You know better than anyone how important it is to have the opportunity to say what you need to say in your own words.

Your cover letter frees you from some of the constraints of resume formatting and allows you to simply explain why you want the job and why you feel that you are the right choice. Learning how to write a cover letter means learning how to communicate your candidacy. Study our cover letter examples to learn how to describe your career in a compelling way and how to format your cover letter for success.

Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Builder, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.

Key takeaways for your writer resume

Follow our steps for a standout resume

Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all contain information that is targeted to the job ad.
Select the appropriate resume format

Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your writer resume — strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the template that will help you put your best foot forward.
Be specific to the role

Use specific information from the job ad rather than generic resume filler when crafting your document. Again, a well-written job description will tell you the critical credentials you must emphasize on your resume.
Include both hard and soft skills

Being a writer requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
Make your work experience section shine

Accomplish this by using action verbs, data and metrics to show the impact of your work.
Choose an appropriate resume template

If styling your resume stresses you out, it never hurts to default to the basics. Try a simple resume template for a pared down and professional design with no distractions.
Go the extra mile

Including a well-written writer cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview, so don’t skip the opportunity to include one with your resume.

Commonly asked question about resume writing

How do I list references on a resume?

How important is font size on a resume?

How to prepare for a phone interview?

What are computer skills and why are they important?

How do I list technical skills on my resume?

What are core competencies and how do I list them on a resume?

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.