Creative Writer CV Example
Updated 16 July 2026
A creative writer CV must do two things at once: prove you can write and prove you have been published or hired to write. This page shows you how to build a CV that foregrounds your portfolio, demonstrates range across formats, and attaches measurable impact to your work so employers see outcomes, not just output.
Creative Writer CV examples
Junior Creative Writer
entryLeads with published work and portfolio despite limited paid experience, showing range across blog, fiction, and social formats.
Mid-Level Creative Writer
midDemonstrates versatility across copywriting, editorial, and branded content with strong metrics and a named portfolio of published work.
Senior Creative Writer
seniorShowcases leadership, high-profile bylines, and measurable commercial impact across editorial, brand, and strategic content work.
How to write a creative writer CV
A strong creative writer CV is clean, text-based, and treats the document itself as a writing sample. One typo can disqualify you in a way it would not for other roles, so proofread ruthlessly and keep voice and tense consistent throughout.
Format and length
Two pages maximum. Use reverse-chronological order. Keep the layout simple and ATS-friendly: a heavily designed or infographic CV can be silently rejected by applicant tracking systems that only parse text. Save the visually creative version for your portfolio or interviews.
Section order
- Contact details plus a prominent portfolio link (your own site or a curated online profile).
- Personal statement (2-3 sentences leading with where your work has appeared).
- Published work or portfolio highlights (3-5 strongest pieces with title, venue, and date).
- Experience (with metrics and outcomes, not just duties).
- Skills (CMS, analytics, style guides).
- Education and certifications.
- Additional info (publications, awards, volunteering) if relevant.
The sections below explain what to include in each part and how to make every line count.
Personal statement examples
Creative content writer with five years' experience in copywriting and editorial work, with work featured in The Guardian, Stylist, and national brand campaigns. Skilled in producing high-impact copy across digital, print, and social formats, with a track record of driving engagement and traffic through compelling storytelling.
Passionate and creative writer looking for opportunities to use my skills. I love storytelling and have a strong attention to detail. I am a team player who is eager to learn and grow in a dynamic environment.
Writing your experience
Most writers describe duties but never quantify impact. Attach readership numbers, sales figures, engagement, or traffic to your pieces so the reader sees outcomes, not just output.
The result-plus-metric pattern
Every bullet should pair what you wrote with what it achieved. Use this structure:
Action verb + what you wrote + measurable result.
For example:
- Wrote SEO-optimised articles and blog posts, increasing web traffic by 30% for key clients.
- Produced 12-15 pieces of long-form content monthly, maintaining a 95% on-time delivery rate and zero published errors.
- Wrote 24 long-form features on local culture, with an average readership of 8,000 per article.
Before and after
| Weak (duty-focused) | Strong (outcome-focused) |
|---|---|
| Wrote blog posts for the company website. | Wrote SEO-optimised blog posts, increasing organic traffic by 28% over 12 months. |
| Responsible for social media content. | Produced social copy for six campaigns, achieving a 22% average engagement rate. |
| Edited articles for publication. | Edited and fact-checked 300+ articles, maintaining zero published errors across 18 months. |
Action verbs for writers
Use verbs that signal both creation and impact: wrote, produced, edited, proofread, fact-checked, commissioned, researched, interviewed, pitched, adapted, optimised, delivered, published, increased, drove, contributed.
Avoid passive constructions like 'was responsible for' or 'tasked with'. Show what you did and what it achieved.
Key skills & ATS keywords
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords
Education & certifications
Writers are hired on portfolio, not credentials. If you have a degree in English, creative writing, or journalism, list it. If you do not, lead with your published work and freelance experience instead.
What to include
- Degree title, institution, and classification (e.g. First Class Honours, 2:1).
- Relevant modules, dissertations, or final projects if they demonstrate writing skill or subject expertise.
- Any writing prizes, scholarships, or distinctions.
Certifications and training
Formal certifications are rare in creative writing, but the following can strengthen your CV:
- NCTJ Diploma in Journalism (for editorial and news writing roles).
- Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) accreditation (for editing-focused roles).
- Google Analytics or SEO certifications (for content marketing roles).
- Completed creative writing courses or workshops with named tutors or institutions.
How to present it
List education in reverse-chronological order. If you have limited paid experience, expand the education section to include relevant coursework, writing projects, or publications from your studies.
Common mistakes to avoid
Listing duties instead of outcomes ('wrote blog posts', 'managed social media')
Attach metrics to every piece of work: 'Wrote SEO-optimised blog posts, increasing organic traffic by 30%.' Show impact, not just activity.
Sending a generic 'writer' CV to every role
Tailor which writing sub-identity you foreground. A copywriter emphasises persuasive, on-brand copy; an editor emphasises error-detection and house style; a novelist emphasises long-form storytelling. Match the CV to the job.
Burying the portfolio link at the bottom or omitting it entirely
Place your portfolio link prominently near your contact details. Employers want to read your work before they read about it.
Showing only one type of writing (e.g. all blog posts or all fiction)
Demonstrate range deliberately. Include a mix of formats (a feature, a script, ad copy, a short story) so the reader sees you can switch register and voice across audiences.
Submitting a CV with typos, inconsistent tense, or clunky sentences
Treat the CV itself as a writing sample. Proofread it as ruthlessly as you would a piece for publication. A single error is disqualifying for a writer in a way it is not for other roles.
Using a heavily designed or infographic CV for online applications
ATS software only parses text. Keep a clean, text-based version for applications and reserve the visually creative version for direct submissions, interviews, or as a portfolio piece.
Junior vs senior: what changes
| Aspect | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement | Leads with degree, published pieces in student or small outlets, and transferable skills. | Leads with years of experience, high-profile bylines (e.g. The Guardian, Wired), and measurable commercial impact. |
| Portfolio highlights | 3-4 pieces from university projects, freelance gigs, or volunteer work, with links to the actual text. | 4-5 pieces from national publications, major brands, or award-winning campaigns, with readership or engagement metrics. |
| Experience bullets | Focus on output and consistency (e.g. 'Wrote 12 blog posts monthly, maintaining a 95% on-time delivery rate'). | Focus on leadership, strategy, and revenue impact (e.g. 'Led a team of six writers, delivering campaigns that generated over £2 million in client revenue'). |
| Skills section | Emphasises CMS, basic SEO, and one or two style guides (e.g. AP, house style). | Emphasises content strategy, analytics tools (Google Analytics, SEMrush), team mentoring, and mastery of multiple style guides. |
| Published work | Student publications, Medium posts, volunteer pieces, or self-published work. | National or international publications, industry awards, and commissioned work for major brands or outlets. |
| Editing and proofreading | Lists proofreading as a skill, may mention self-editing or peer review. | Demonstrates editorial leadership: commissioning, fact-checking, and managing editorial teams or external contributors. |