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A great question! A thread on narrative portfolios:
Publication and anything you can point to in terms of professional or produced work is always great, but to teach no one cares about portfolios is wild to me.
/1 https://twitter.com/ArcherIsEpic/status/1323011266009616387
Publication and anything you can point to in terms of professional or produced work is always great, but to teach no one cares about portfolios is wild to me.
/1 https://twitter.com/ArcherIsEpic/status/1323011266009616387
What studios look for in portfolios can vary dramatically from place to place. When helping to put together a writing portfolio or samples, I like to start with what the writer has produced or written. /2
In terms of priority for your portfolio, here's what I'd encourage to include:
1. Your best writing
2. Your most high profile piece(s)
3. A selection across mediums, favoring the kinds of content that the place you're applying does
4. A selection across genres, same as above
/3
1. Your best writing
2. Your most high profile piece(s)
3. A selection across mediums, favoring the kinds of content that the place you're applying does
4. A selection across genres, same as above
/3
1. Your best writing.
Got something that is your best stuff? That's won contests/awards? Include it! The biggest caveat: KEEP IT SHORT. If it's a novel, excerpt a chapter (or less).
As an example, one of my samples is just the cold open of a tv episode. /4
Got something that is your best stuff? That's won contests/awards? Include it! The biggest caveat: KEEP IT SHORT. If it's a novel, excerpt a chapter (or less).
As an example, one of my samples is just the cold open of a tv episode. /4
2. Your most high profile pieces.
Anything that's been published, that has received recognition, that is live in game, helps establish credibility. It's also going to be (hopefully) some of your stronger work. /5
Anything that's been published, that has received recognition, that is live in game, helps establish credibility. It's also going to be (hopefully) some of your stronger work. /5
3. A selection across mediums.
@kchironis had a great thread about barks and why you want to consider including them in your portfolio. Your samples shouldn't be 5 chapters from 5 novels. Showcase a variety of styles of writing if you can! /6 https://twitter.com/kchironis/status/1320425206632960001?s=20
@kchironis had a great thread about barks and why you want to consider including them in your portfolio. Your samples shouldn't be 5 chapters from 5 novels. Showcase a variety of styles of writing if you can! /6 https://twitter.com/kchironis/status/1320425206632960001?s=20
4. A selection across genres.
Similarly, your samples should show you can write in many different genres/voices. CAVEAT: if a studio only does one genre, you could consider picking pieces that match. I always feel demonstrating versatility is important; your mileage may vary. /7
Similarly, your samples should show you can write in many different genres/voices. CAVEAT: if a studio only does one genre, you could consider picking pieces that match. I always feel demonstrating versatility is important; your mileage may vary. /7
Picking the pieces for your portfolio should balance all fo those concerns. The higher a sample "scores" on multiple axes, the more likely I am to include it. Studios that ask for portfolios also will often say if they're looking for anything specific as well. /8
Hope that's helpful info! And if you're a narrative writer, director, or story human with experience, thoughts, and insight on what YOU look for in a portfolio, please chime in! /end
