No Writing Clips? Here’s How to Land an Assignment Without Them

Pining for writing clips? Don't despair!

When I teach freelance writing, students often ask what they should do if they don’t have any published clips (which is another name for writing samples). Often they feel discouraged or overwhelmed by the fact that they haven’t published anything yet, so how can they demonstrate to editors that they can write?

Truthfully, it might be tough for an unpublished writer to land a plum assignment with The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, but I do know freelancers who’ve managed to break into national magazines without any other credits to their name.

Here’s how to get around that catch-22 of not having any clips.

1. Play up other areas.
   Whatever you do, do not apologize for your lack of clips. This shows a level of insecurity that might be off-putting to editors. Instead, emphasize whatever expertise you do have. Are you a former HR exec pitching an article on job interview techniques? Mention your HR credentials. Are a mother of twins who wants to write about throwing a kids’ birthday party on a budget? Include a few sentences on why you’re the perfect person to write this piece. If an editor writes back asking for clips or credits, you can explain that you’re just breaking into freelancing, but don’t lead with this information.
2. Use what you’ve got.
   Maybe you haven’t written for national magazines, but you have your own food blog or you wrote for your college newspaper. Some editors might scoff at you sending them to your blog, since it doesn’t involve working with an editor or interviewing sources, but others will welcome the chance to see what your unedited writing looks like. (That’s why you should always, always check for typos or bad links before sharing your blog with an editor.) Over time, as you start gaining newer and more relevant clips, you can phase out the blog posts or the articles from your college paper, but this gives you something to work with for now.
3. Pitch something only you could write
   If you pitch a generic reported piece, it’s likely that piece might be assigned to someone the editor already knows. For your first few pitches, try to find some ideas that you’re uniquely qualified to write. Do you have any unusual medical issues? Celebrity connections? Knowledge of a specific niche? I know someone who broke into a national women’s magazine with a humorous essay about an embarrassing health problem. Although she had zero clips, the editor loved her writing style and her candid point of view, so she was in! Essays are a great way to go, because although they’re ultra competitive, they depend more on writing style than on reporting skills.
4. Make your query sparkle.
   Your query should reflect the style of the publication you’re pitching, but that’s especially important when you don’t have clips. If that’s the case, then treat your query as the writing sample. Use active verbs and clear, specific language, check for typos, and otherwise make sure the query reflects your very best work. Also check out these additional query tips for more info.
5. Write it on spec.
   Normally I’m against the idea of writing on spec (meaning writing without a contract in the hopes that the editor will buy the piece). But that’s actually how I got my first few clips back when I didn’t know any better. I’d only recommend doing this after you feel out the editor for interest (don’t just write the piece and send it blindly unless it’s an essay) and only for a reputable publication. There are tons of publications out there, so choose judiciously. Sometimes an editor will ask if you’ll write on spec because you’re inexperienced, and if you think that clip will lead to more assignments, then go for it! But don’t feel like you have to write on spec forever. Once you’ve got a few clips under your belt, you’re ready to aim higher and hold out for a contract.

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