Freelance Writer Resume—Example & Writing Guide for 2023

Your vein strikes under a shower, and you can’t live a day without writing in your diary. You can’t miss a copywriting update, and your last money goes on fine liners. Well, you’re a flesh-and-blood writer!

But you’re not just a random guy who enjoys sitting by a desk and leaving work promptly at 4 PM. You’d instead prepare copywriting masterpieces on a paradise island, swim in a floating boat, or sunbathe on a rooftop terrace.

So, what stops you? Create a freelance writer's resume that takes you wherever your artistic soul can go.

In this guide:

• A freelance writer's resume sample better than most.
• How to make the perfect freelance writer job description for resumes.
• How to write a resume for freelance writers that stands out.
• Expert tips and freelance writing resume examples to boost your chances of landing a freelance writer job.

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Need a resume for similar positions? Check our dedicated guides:

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• Writer Resume Sample

Freelance Writer Resume Sample 

Freelance writers prepare various content for different channels: website content, blog posts, press releases, emails, grant proposals, or newsletters. A freelance writer’s resume should prove you can manage diverse content types that bring quantifiable results.

Let’s break down the freelance writing resume structure to help you make an equally good resume sample. Here’s what to do:

1. Set the Best Freelance Writer Resume Format

Writers tend to fall into two camps: they either prepare a plan for writing in advance or go with the flow, writing by the seat of their pants. While creative tasks don’t necessarily require a strict plan, documents do.

To start with your freelance writer resume, prepare a solid resume format that makes your writing seamless and flowing:

• Choose the reverse-chronological format and expose your recent gigs first.
• Apply regular resume fonts like Georgia or Cambria in 10–12pt.
• Use 1-inch marginson all sides and keep enough space between sections.
• Go for a one-page resume. This time, spare your words.

• Include these resume sections: Header, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and Additional.

As a writer, you likely love to scribble and doodle when possible. But, this time, keep your piece neat and easy to read.

In the end, consider saving your resume in PDF or DOC. PDF works best as it keeps everything in line and prevents a crossover between what you’ve worked out and what a recruiter will see.

2. Make Your Freelance Writing Resume Summary a Captivating Intro

As a writer, you likely were born with an innate ability to convince with words. Not your case? Chances are, you’ve learned it through schooling, coursing, or self-learning.

Us, writers, are magicians, too. We have that unique flair to clothe things into words that make them anything we wish. So, why not use your talent to craft a resume that sparks interest from the very first lines?

Begin with an encouraging resume summary that draws. Here’s how:

1. Start with an adjective (dedicated, reliable, passionate).
2. Call out your job title (freelance writer).
3. Summarize years of experience (3+, 4+...).
4. Charm them with 2–3 achievements (rewrote HP website content, helping to increase their monthly organic traffic by 40%).
5. Say how you’ll contribute (toapply creative skills and vast web writing knowledge).

Read through these examples:

Freelance Writer Resume Summary—Example

So, what’s the diff? Can you spot it with the unaided eye?

The first is a striking example of hitting a hiring manager from the word go. This sample provides concrete accomplishments that speak for your candidature. No waffle, just the proverbial meat of the matter.

The other one? It doesn’t really prove you’re a great writer. It’s amazing if people read your emails and share your social media posts. But how does it translate into performance? Did an email CTR increase thanks to your involvement? Did your social media post reach a wide audience thanks to valuable shares?

Now, variant two. You’re a beginning writer, learning to play with words and lightly engage your readers. In such a case, use a resume objective and discuss achievements from previous projects.

Freelance Writer Resume Objective—Example

The first example shows a jobseeker is motivated in their job search and oriented toward contributing to the company they want to join. Despite limited experience, they exposed achievements that speak for their candidature.

The bad one? It is too self-oriented. Whether writing a resume summary or objective, think about the company you want to join rather than your goals and motivations. Focus more on how the firm can benefit from your employment and which of your skills might be of value to them.

3. List the Perfect Freelance Writer Job Descriptions

Copywriting rule #27: don’t use weasel words. When writing headlines, subheads, or body copy, don’t you dare to write vague phrases. There’s no place for maybes.

The same rule applies to resume writing. With limited space (and the recruiter’s time), you shouldn’t mince words. Give them concrete examples of your writing expertise, and make your words bright like you did all Udemy copywriting courses.

The next thing to prove your writing familiarity through? The work experience section with killer job descriptions and dynamic phrases.

Seeing the freelance writer job description for the first time? No worries. The below samples will help to wrap your head around it.

But first, catch a few tips on how to put freelance work on a resume:

1. Study the job ad carefully, like the most renowned idiom dictionary.
2. Spot demanded freelance writer skills and duties as quickly as you would behold a glaring grammar error.
3. Think of situations where you’ve used those skills. Put them into words; you know how to do it.
4. Create resume bullets with key highlights. Pick the best achievements and add exact numbers for evidence.

And the promised examples:

Freelance Writer Job Description for a Resume

So you see the difference. Even if you don’t have quantifiable achievements on your record, try to make them as precise as possible. Furthermore, you can always show off any successes from previous gigs or projects if you're a fledging writer. 

4. Catalogue Your Most Astonishing Freelance Writer Skills

Freelance writer job adverts are pretty straightforward. They often state that the ideal candidate should be well-versed in creating unique content that invitingly interests the reader.

So basically, they look for a modern-age Hemingway, wearing a funny cap and loose pants and engaging fellas with fun stories.

Do you have that ease? Show them. List skills that help you thrive in this role and prove you have the toolkit to work out any type of content they want to design.

Skills for a Freelance Writer Resume

Word limits? Any. Use as many unique skills as possible, but make sure you don’t make up a tale. Be real unless they want another Jean de La Fontaine. 

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4. Turn Your Education Into an Interesting Read

Whether reading a book, a newspaper, or a blog article, you can always come upon a paragraph or two that bore you to death. Repeatable sentences, treading-water descriptions, or simply dull contents make you want to pray to a Writing God for a better future.

In your resume, no single line should be ill-conceived. Make every resume section appealing so a recruiter doesn’t have to jump over bland phrases. This applies to the education section, too.

Freelance Writer Education—Example

See? You can expand on your education, adding some highlights to it. Just as if you tweaked a concise copy to make it more convincing.

5. Conclude Your Freelance Writer Resume With Added Sections

You might feel you’ve already exhausted the subject, describing your work experience, skills, and education history. What else could help you get that dreamy freelance writer job under the palm trees?

Yet, your friend said added sections could take your resume to the next level and help you finish it with grace. Like a captivating P.S. that makes you want to leave everything and reply to the message you received. So, stretch a point and apply a few interesting facts about yourself.

Think of one or two of these bonus sections:

• Activities
• Languages
• Courses
• Awards
• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteering
• Certifications
• Professional references

Now, without further ado, see these examples:

Freelance Writer Resume—Extra Sections

Whoa! You’re there, having an appealing, on-point resume. Concise, relevant, and accurate. So, what’s next? Pack your luggage and expect to live a life of leisure in a freelance mode!

Expert Hint: If you’re not knackered yet, consider writing a tailored cover letter. Dedicate a minute or two and learn how to write the best cover letter that helps you win the job you want. It pays off!

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Key Points

For a freelance writer resume that takes you to the Balearic Islands or wherever else you crave:

• Follow the freelance writer's resume template that does that one job up for grabs.
• Accentuate your freelance writer achievements. Weave themin your resume summary, work experience, education, and added sections.
• Disclose your most fabulous freelance writer skills. Don’t build tension; tell them straight away. Psst, just make sure they overlap with the job posting requirements.

• Write up a freelance writer's cover letter. Don’t cut corners; make it another reason to hire you.

Questions or doubts about writing a freelance writer resume? Not sure how to approach your freelance writer resume sections? Drop a comment. We’ll answer promptly!