Quick Wins - How to Use AI to Create Portfolio-Worthy Writing Exercises

As we discussed recently in "Why You Should Diversify Your Writing Portfolio", a strong, diverse portfolio is essential for attracting high-quality clients and standing out as a freelance writer. But what if you're new, changing niches, or your writing samples currently resemble tumbleweeds rolling through your portfolio?

In this post, I'll show you exactly how you can use AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to quickly whip up realistic organisations and professional-quality writing briefs. By following this method, you'll be able to create polished, compelling portfolio pieces that clearly showcase your skills and value—even if you've never had a paying client in that niche before (or ever).

1. Why Create Realistic (But Imaginary) Organisations and Briefs?

Building or refreshing your portfolio often means facing a familiar conundrum: you need client work to get client work. Creating realistic yet imaginary organisations and briefs allows you to produce genuine, relevant writing samples without waiting for clients to magically appear. Think of it less as fiction and more as your "imaginary friend"—but way more professional.

2. How AI Can Quickly Generate a Realistic Organisation and Brief

AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can be your unpaid intern (who never complains and works ridiculously fast), effortlessly generating believable organisations along with detailed project briefs.

Here’s how to do it.

Open up your favourite AI tool.  Then use a simple prompt like:

"Please create a realistic organisation, including its name, industry, target audience, and overall mission. Then provide a clear and detailed brief for a travel article aimed at women over 50 traveling solo."

Within seconds, you'll have something like:

Organisation: JourneyWoman, an online newsletter and magazine dedicated to empowering and inspiring women over 50 who are traveling solo.

Brief: Write an engaging and informative travel article on "10 Essential Safety Tips for Solo Women Travelers Over 50." The piece should be practical, supportive, and inspiring, encouraging readers to explore confidently.

Voilà—a foundation for your portfolio piece without breaking a sweat.

Of course, you can refine the prompt to include more (or less) detail.  For example, you can stipulate the number of words, the tone of voice or even a particular viewpoint on the topic.   

Another thing you can do is to ask your AI tool to create two prompts about the same topic, but with a different slant … or for a different audience.

It’s great practice to repurpose things you’ve already written for another audience.

Or you can go to our Calls for Pitches page, choose one of the publications on the list and ask the AI tool to create a brief for that magazine. If you do, I'd also add in the guidelines URL that's supplied and stipulate what type of article the brief should ask for.

However you instruct you AI took, it’s up to you and your imagination to define your prompt so that the resulting “practice” brief is as detailed (or simple) as you want it to be.

3. Writing Your Portfolio Piece (Using the AI-Generated Brief)

Treat your AI-generated brief seriously, as if it's paying your rent:

• Stick closely to the brief and its required tone, style, and objectives.
• Write as though your dream client is watching you (no pressure!).
• Include realistic calls-to-action, facts, and references (even though AI can help you fake expertise convincingly, just don’t.  Be sure to do your own research!).

The aim of sticking closely to the brief is to produce writing that feels genuinely like commissioned client work, demonstrating your skill and versatility.

4. Getting Constructive Feedback from AI on Your Writing

One fantastic perk about using AI tools is receiving instant, constructive feedback without the need to bribe anyone with coffee.

Once you’ve finished writing your piece (as per the brief), ask your AI tool something like:

"Review this article for JourneyWoman on safety tips for solo women travelers over 50 for clarity, engagement, tone, and effectiveness. Provide specific feedback and actionable suggestions for improvement."

The AI tool will quickly highlight strengths, point out hiccups, and offer practical tips, helping you perfect your portfolio piece faster than your "real-life" editor would respond to an email.

5. Showcasing Your New Portfolio Piece

When adding your piece to your portfolio, honesty is essential—don't fake it until you make it here. Label your piece clearly as a "sample project" or "spec work," with an explanation:

"Sample Project: Travel Article for JourneyWoman (an online magazine focused on solo women travelers over 50, crafted specifically to show off my incredible travel writing skills)."

Transparency wins points and trust with potential clients, every time.

So...

Using AI tools to create realistic client scenarios and professional briefs is an absurdly easy yet surprisingly powerful way to build your writing portfolio. This approach puts you firmly in control, showcasing the exact skills you want clients to see—without waiting around for them to discover you first.

Time to Take Action

Try creating your first AI-assisted portfolio piece today, and share your experiences or any hilarious AI-generated surprises in the comments. I'd love to hear how this method helps you attract your dream clients!