<p>…or has any experience with the job? I was thinking of becoming a copywriter because I like writing, the pay is good, and it seems to fit well with the skills I have. The only issue is that I don’t know if I’m creative or able to think off my feet fast enough. Now that I think about it, I do not think my grammar is ideal either. Hopefully, I’m not beyond the help of an editor.
Do you have any experience with being a copywriter or a freelance writer? If so, how is your typical day like? Are you satisfied with your career?
Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Oh c’mon! NO ONE?</p>
<p>Well, yeah, sorta. “Copywriter” covers a lot of ground. What did you have in mind?</p>
<p>I guess I would do business writing or commercial ads. I would also like to inform others with my writing rather than only persuading. I would try technical writing, but I do not understand enough about technology or science to do such writing. I would also like to do freelance writing for periodicals. I apologize if this sounds very vague, but I just learned about this career days ago.</p>
<p>“The only issue is that I don’t know if I’m creative or able to think off my feet fast enough.”</p>
<p>You better have confidence in both of those going in. They are the two most important characteristics needed for a copywriting career.</p>
<p>I was a copywriter for a while. It was very demanding…I worked freelance for a couple of different advertising agencies and as an intern while in college at another. While it sounds great to work freelance because you can make your own hours and be creative you have to write well and on a deadline. That part was fairly easy for me. What I didn’t like: I got very little feedback. I was always paid well but often more than one freelancer would work on the same project and you would not be told whether your work or someone else’s was eventually chosen by the client.
Once I was in the car and heard one of my ads on the radio. That was the only way I knew my work had been selected.<br>
The other thing I did not like was the need to be creative on a deadline. While I consider myself a good writer and have advanced education in writing/publishing I found that being clever doesn’t always come when you need it to. There were days at my internship where I found myself nearly in tears and doubting my ability.<br>
I would be wary of copywriting now because the advertising business in general is in trouble. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.</p>
<p>I have been a professional copywriter for 10 years. If you don’t trust your creativity or your ability to work quickly, I suggest looking into a different profession. You also need to feel confident in your writing without the help of an editor, and your writing must be flawless in order to compete with the thousands of others in this field.</p>
<p>I agree with above posters, and I guess I’d add “flexibility” as a requirement. If it bothers you to have your copy 90% done and then be told that the Account Exec has decided to change direction then this field is not for you. On the positive side, even two years’ experience in this field will provide communication skills that will benefit you for a lifetime.</p>
<p>NewHope, yup flexibility. What you describe is pretty much what made me decide it was not for me.</p>
<p>I have new found confidence in being an aspiring copywriter. While I was watching TV, I carefully studied many commercials then suddenly thought, “I can do this!” The next day I wrote some commercials and even a few catchphrases with ease. It is a coincidence how I described my aging computer the same way an actress did for a computer recycling commerical I saw yesterday. The ironic thing is that I wrote pretty much the same thing in a sentence as my facebook status a week before I even heard of copywriting!
A few days ago I met a woman at a party who has a friend who copywrites. She says she will introduce her to me someday. The copywriter friend also does freelancing for pharmaceutical companies and does not even have a scientific background! All she had to do is translate it into layman’s terms. I also have a cousin who has written articles in periodicals such as Psychology Today.
I’m just here to say that I think being a copywriter is a good fit for me. I’m open to more advice. Thank you!</p>