• The best showcase of your writing is published work.
• The second best showcase of your work is completed and polished in it’s final intended medium, but not yet published work.
• The least favorable showcase is incomplete, first draft material.
• One of the most important things when compiling your portfolio is to make you work (and contact info) easily accessible. A potential client is almost always reviewing many people for a contract, usually way too many. If they don’t see exactly what they want to see in a couple of clicks and a few seconds, they’re gone… along with your opportunity.
• Showcase only a few examples of your best work. Showing dozens of samples contradicts the rule immediately above. Too many samples buries hides what a potential client is looking for and increases the odds that a potential client will see something they don’t like.
• Keep your samples brief. A potential client doesn’t need to read a complete story to assess your work (at least not initially). Keep your samples short and sweet, and make complete samples and additional samples readily available.

That’s it. Pretty straight forward. Follow these guidelines and you’ll have to beat away the gigs with a stick.▪