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Get Your Articles Published: CV (Resume)

by Lesley Bown and Ann Gawthorpe

Your CV is your calling card – it tells editors that you are professional, focussed and competent. Always include it when you email or write to an editor.

It should cover both your writing credits and the aspects of your life that are relevant to the articles you propose to write. Keep it simple, and short – one page if possible. Use white or cream paper and a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman. Don’t use fancy gimmicks, complicated layouts or photographs – editors won’t be interested in your ability to play with software.

Put your contact details at the top followed by your writing successes in order of importance. You can include unpaid work, apart from anything you have sent to a letters page. Then add extra details such as relevant educational achievements, jobs or hobbies as well as any specialist expertise.

Once you’ve created a basic CV you can tailor it to each publication that you contact, by adding a brief sentence summarizing why you are the right person to write the article and including only the extra details which are relevant. Finally don’t forget to update it each time you sell an article or take on a new subject.


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