As you know, I coach writers, so I talk with writers every day. Initially, some resist when I suggest they put their best stuff on their blog. You can’t publish what others have paid for, of course. If someone hires you to write, that’s a “work done for hire” and you lose all rights in it.
But what about the writing you do for yourself? While chatting with a writer about a short report he was writing, according to the strategy in “Write Short,” I suggested he posted half of it to his blog. He spluttered: “But I’m SELLING that!”
Yes, he is, and what better way to show potential clients what they’re getting? He’s customizing his reports anyway, so he’s losing nothing. At the very least, the material works brilliantly as a writing sample.