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How to Write an Effective "About Me" for Your Writing Portfolio

Written by Monica Shaw

Your “About Me” page has one job: help clients quickly understand who you are, what you do, and why you’re the right writer for their project. Yet it’s often the hardest page for writers to write. If you’ve searched for writing portfolio about me examples that actually convert readers into clients, you’re in the right place.

I’m Monica Shaw — founder of Writer’s Residence, computational & applied mathematician turned data storyteller, and a writer who’s been freelancing since 2008. I’ve reviewed thousands of writer portfolios, and the About pages that consistently win clients aren’t the longest or the flashiest — they’re the clearest. They focus on what clients need to know to trust you.

This guide will help you write a strong, client-focused About page and give you real writing portfolio about me examples you can model. If you need a full guided walkthrough of building your entire writing portfolio, start with our Online Writing Portfolio Guide.


Table of Contents


Why Your About Page Matters

Your About page is often the second-most visited page on a writing portfolio (after the samples). When clients land there, they’re asking a simple question: “Is this the right writer for my project?”

Strong About pages do three things well:

  • Signal niche and expertise immediately
  • Build trust quickly with relevant background and achievements
  • Help the client imagine working with you

As someone who built Writer’s Residence from scratch, I’ve seen that writers who treat their About page as a sales asset — not a personal memoir — attract more high-quality work.

What Clients Want to See in Your About Page

1. Clear Professional Identity

Clients need instant clarity. “I’m a B2B fintech content writer.” Not “I’m a passionate storyteller who loves words.” The second sounds nice. The first gets you hired.

2. Relevant Experience & Credentials

Include the background that reinforces your niche: industry, education, certifications, previous roles. (I mention my mathematics background because it’s directly tied to my data storytelling work.)

3. What You Do for Clients

Frame your expertise around outcomes: traffic growth, conversions, clarity, reduced support volume — whatever matters in your niche.

4. Evidence (Proof You’re Good)

Case studies, metrics, testimonials, publications, recognizable clients. This reinforces your claims instead of making readers take you at your word.

5. Personality & Working Style

Clients want a sense of what it’s like to collaborate with you — but keep it relevant. Warm, human, professional.

What NOT to Include

  • Your life story
  • Irrelevant hobbies (unless tied to your niche)
  • Apologizing for lack of experience
  • Vague statements (“I’m passionate about writing”)
  • Niche-incoherent information (“I write SaaS content, travel blogs, pet care tips, and astrology articles”)

Every sentence must help a client decide to hire you.

Step-by-Step: How to Write Your About Page

Step 1: Start With Your Identity

Open strong: “I’m a [niche] writer who helps [audience] achieve [outcome].” Place your niche in the first line.

Step 2: Add Relevant Background

Share industry experience, education, unique expertise — and connect it directly to your writing.

Step 3: Describe What You Do for Clients

Make this client-focused. Share deliverables + the results they drive.

Step 4: Add Proof

Include metrics, logos, project types, client outcomes, publications, or testimonial snippets.

Step 5: Show Your Working Style

Convey collaboration style, process, or values — briefly.

Step 6: End With a Clear CTA

Example: “If you need a healthcare writer who translates medical complexity into clarity, let’s talk.”

Monica’s About Page Template

[Professional Identity]
I’m a [niche] writer helping [audience] achieve [outcome].

[Background]
My experience in [field] gives me insight into [specific advantage relevant to writing].

[Services + Benefits]
I specialize in [deliverables] that help clients [results].

[Proof]
My work has been featured in / has helped clients achieve [metrics/recognition].

[Working Style]
I’m [personality traits] and believe [brief statement of approach].

[CTA]
If you need a writer who [unique value], I’d love to hear about your project.

How to Implement This Using Writer’s Residence

Use the Guided Bio Structure

Updating your About Me page in Writer’s Residence only takes a moment. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the Pages section of your portfolio

After logging into your Writer’s Residence dashboard, look for the Pages tab along the top navigation bar. This is where you manage all the core pages of your portfolio—Home, Writing Samples, CV, About, and more.

2. Select About and click “Edit”

You’ll see a list of your existing pages. Find About and click Edit to open the page editor.

3. Update your content

Inside the editor, you can rewrite anything you like—your bio, your story, your niche, or what clients can expect when they work with you. The editor gives you formatting tools for headings, bold text, bullet points, links, and more, so it’s easy to structure your page cleanly.

4. Save your changes

Once you're happy with your update, click Save changes. Your About page updates instantly on your live portfolio.

Advanced Tips for a Standout About Page

  • Turn your background into a positioning advantage
  • Use numbers or client testimonials to boost trust
  • Update your About page quarterly
  • Link internally to key samples that you're really proud of
  • Optimize for niche keywords related to your industry (without stuffing, obviously!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Writing in third person
  • Hiding your niche
  • Making the page all about you
  • Using clichés
  • Including outdated information
  • Listing services without context
  • No CTA
  • Long, dense paragraphs (especially on mobile)

Conclusion

Your About page is one of the most powerful pieces of your writing portfolio. By studying writing portfolio about me examples, focusing on client needs, and using a clear structure, you can create a page that attracts the right clients and helps them trust your expertise.

Writer’s Residence makes the entire process easier with guided prompts, sample organization tools, custom domain support, and beautifully simple portfolio templates.

Start your free 30-day Writer’s Residence trial → https://writersresidence.com/users/sign_up


Monica Shaw

Monica Shaw is a computational and applied mathematician turned data storyteller, writer, and founder of Writer’s Residence. Since 2008 she’s helped thousands of writers build professional online portfolios while running her own freelance practice writing white papers, research reports, web content, and conversion-focused copy. When she’s not deep in words or data, she’s a qualified mountain leader guiding wild adventures with her outdoor project, Eat Sleep Wild.

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