by Rebecca Forster
One of the biggest challenges a creative person faces is establishing creative credibility.
After college, I applied for a job as a copywriter at a major department store. Teachers told me I wrote well, and I was sure that would be enough to land the position. It wasn’t. Still, I got the job because my dad knew the hiring manager and put in a good word. I’m not sure he should have done that.
All types of writing are not created equal.
I quickly discovered that writing a term paper was not the same as writing a press release, an ad, or an executive bio. Each of those things required a different point of view, an understanding of a unique audience, and a targeted tone.
When I transitioned to the business side of advertising, I wrote marketing plans, letters to vendors and potential clients, and creative directives to my team. I had to learn a different language.
Years later, I wrote my first book. I was back to pitching myself with no relevant experience. The challenges were no different than those first jobs and the learning curve began again.
In short, my career trajectory could have been quicker and easier if I had some experience before I asked for the job.
Yes, it’s about the chicken.
No job without the experience; no experience without the job. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
I believed that if someone (preferably a decision maker in a prestigious business or publishing house) gave me a chance, I would prove myself. I also believed the only credible creative work was that for which I was paid.
The first notion is fantasy. Decision makers run businesses. Each hire must be an asset. This includes publishers. The second notion was impractical. If I was not an asset, I did not deserve to be paid. In fact, the time it would take to teach me would be a drag on the bottom line.
After a lot of trial and error, I found a solution to my problem:
I went where I was needed.
Volunteer
Other professions have embraced the nonprofit strategy as personally fulfilling and professionally strategic. Lawyers work pro-bono, doctors cross borders to help those less fortunate, retired business people mentor start-ups.
But nonprofits need more than counsel. They need the kind of exposure writers, filmmakers and artists can provide. Whether you’re looking for that that first portfolio piece or expanding an already established one, aligning yourself with a nonprofit offers you a wealth of creative opportunities.
Start off on the right foot.
Determine your level of commitment. Become a member of the organization, or approach the nonprofit and offer to help as needed. In both instances, make your preference for communications known so you don’t end up on the baking committee.
Before you do either, familiarize yourself with the organization.
If you are not excited about the subject matter, it will show in your writing. I once volunteered to help inner-city girls learn to write college application letters. The group, while wonderful, was more political than I expected. I found my space with my local hospital and have been volunteering there for over ten years.
Respect the organization. Rather than insisting your way is the right way, find out how your words to enhance their mission. Remember, your objective is to build a portfolio and show that you know how to write to task.
Newsworthy Ideas
- Profile a volunteer
- Interview an administrator
- Write a about a fundraising event or the history of the nonprofit.
- Spotlight the success stories of their clients.
All of these efforts are newsworthy. Whether your writing will be showcased in a brochure or picked up by a newspaper, your portfolio is growing.
Watch the social media feeds to see if there is growth in following or likes for your stories and document that success. Use it to build your own following with a ‘contact’ line at the end but only after asking for permission.
Case Study
Eric, my son and aspiring writer, volunteered for the Peace Corps in Albania. While there, he wrote plays about his experiences and submitted them to Disney. Disney produced one of his plays at the Disney Center in Los Angeles and named him a playwright to watch. He used the proceeds of the production to fund a mobile library for the villages in the Albanian mountains.
His efforts also opened doors to publishers and employers.
My volunteer work at the hospital paid off recently when I needed inside information to write my book, The Ninth Witness. I never would have understood the workings of a hospital or had access to the legal department without it.
Final Thought
The next time you’re looking for a way to showcase your talent, look no further than your community. Your heart, your community, and your writing career will benefit from your generosity.
Have you found writing benefits from volunteering? Please share your experience (and what you did) down in the comments!
About Rebecca
Rebecca Forster started writing on a crazy dare and found her passion. Now a USA Today and Amazon best selling author, Forster is known for her legal thrillers and police procedurals. Over three million readers have enjoyed her Josie Bates thrillers in the Witness Series alone. With over 40 books to her name, Rebecca had a long career in traditional publishing before becoming an indie author. Her fast-paced tales of law and justice are known for deep characterization and never-see-it-coming endings.
In an effort to make her work as realistic as possible, Rebecca has graduated from the DEA and ATF Citizens academies, landed by tail hook and spent two days on the nuclear submarine U.S.S Nimitz, engaged in police ride-alongs, and continues to court watch whenever possible.
Rebecca has taught at the acclaimed UCLA Writers Program and various colleges and universities. She is a sought-after speaker at bar and judges' associations as well as philanthropic groups and writing conferences. Rebecca is also a repeat speaker at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Rebecca has just released The 9th Witness, the final book in her acclaimed Witness Series, Josie Bates Thrillers. Find all her books at any online bookstore or here: https://www.rebeccaforster.com/.
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