@ Diana: I think that when you are starting out you need to list whatever experience you have. Over time, you can update your resume to make it more current. My first paying freelance writing client hired me on a trial basis without seeing a resume or samples.

Having relevant samples to show a client is always the better way to go. The people I’m working with would rather focus on what I can do for them now than what I wrote in college, even though two of my essays were awarded perfect marks.

I don’t necessarily want to condone the idea that freelance writers should work for nothing, so when I wanted to learn a new skill (in this case, resume writing), I volunteered at a career day for women living in a local shelter.

I really do recommend volunteering your time to a worthy cause as a way to expand your services. Not that volunteering should be a self-serving endeavor, but you do get that satisfied feeling of helping people, and you often make great contacts.

I totally agree with you and Spike. It’s important to include any writing that you’ve done for free especially if it may open a door in an area of writing that would otherwise be closed. I include both on my writing resume.

What do you think?

My BA is in English Writing Arts, so my college writing experience could be a resume on its own. However, a gig writing tech articles really wouldn’t care if I took three years of college poetry writing.