Why I write – A copywriter’s perspective on life behind the keyboard

I thought it was time I introduced myself … Why did I become a professional copywriter? And why do I keep at it?

I could tell you that I chose a copywriting career because, from an early age words have bubbled up inside me, bursting to be set free. Or that I’m so creative that I need an outlet to express my totally amazing, creative ideas.

Both would be big fat fibs though. (Sorry)

The truth is, I write because people pay me to. A girl’s gotta earn a living, right?

Is that shocking? Or disappointing?

Why copywriting?

Like many copywriters, I joined the throng of copywriters after working in other careers. I worked in IT for a solid double-handful of years before going back to school to do my Master in Marketing. I was working as a Marketing Manager when I heard about copywriting as a thing I could do.

Do something I enjoyed full-time, and be my own boss. Was I dreaming?! I registered my business and started learning, immediately.

In my post about how lucky I am as a copywriter, I explained a little more about that transition but since I began to focus most of my days on the task of writing, I apply myself to work as I’ve never done before.

I won’t pretend that I never have days when I’d prefer to be doing anything else but I really enjoy the process of writing. I stare at my computer, like a zombie, enthralled in the project I’m working on. I don’t take enough breaks. I work evenings. It’s too much! But… I really enjoy the process of choosing the right word to give a sentence the right cadence and rhythm. I also love the psychology behind copywriting. I get to nerd out on marketing and I love sitting back and pondering people as part of my work.

Working with clients is obviously a bit part of copywriting and I get a kick out of figuring out how to shine a spotlight on a business. Praise from my clients, when I get it right, is the dopamine hit I crave.  It’s the hit that keeps me in the copywriting game.

I also enjoy running a business. My business. Especially the marketing. I looooove marketing.

What’s interesting is…

Being a copywriter has changed the way I think. After 10 years, I tend to organise my thoughts on paper and writing helps me think concepts through. If I’m brainstorming ideas, I have to write them out now. It’s part of my work-DNA.

It has also changed the way I see the world. I tear down billboards as I drive and critique advertising as I watch TV. I notice what the people do around me and think about what motivates them, all the time. I pay attention in a way that I didn’t BC (before copywriting). So much so that my husband often nudges me and tells me not to stare. oops!

What is my copywriting like?

I’m a very conversational copywriter. How I sound in your head right now is how I sound in real life (assuming you’re hearing me with an Australian accent, of course).

Naturally, I don’t write client copywriting in my voice (unless they too want to sound like a very funny Australian). That’s why I like to talk through each copywriting brief with my clients. When I can hear their voice – even if the brand voice is slightly different – I can write in that voice.

My goal is to write copy that’s the start of a conversation… a conversation that ends in taking some form of action. The first step is echoing the thoughts and fears of the reader in a voice that will match their experience with the brand.

Over the years I’ve become more adept at finding unique angles for the copy I’m writing… to find the unappreciated feature that customers will go totally mad for. I’ve learned how to avoid cliches and over-used phrases and write copy that has more meaning. It feels fresh but it’s just well-thought out.

Where do I write?

I’m an office decor tragic. I dream of a beautifully well-lit office space. Sigh.

For the first few years of my business, I had an office in my house. A purpose built office with a desk, shelves and a wall painted in whiteboard paint. My pug, Fenris, would nap in the sunny patch near my filing cabinet and I looked out over national park bushland. Ahhh how wonderful that sounds now. It was wonderful. Then I had a kid and immediately moved from Australia to the US. (Those things are coincidental rather than being related, by the way.)

Moving to the US and having a kid was also wonderful but I began working where and when I could. The kitchen bench, the dining room table, the top of the bookshelf … during naps times, while colouring and play dough held her attention, after bedtime.

Five years later, I have a teeny stand-up desk again. It’s a glorious feeling to have a place where my work belongs again.

Who do I work with?

For many years, I worked on once-off projects for small and medium businesses. With a small human to look after (I actually have two now) and time zones to manage came challenges that led me to pivot my business away from once off projects.

Now, I spend most of my teaching copywriting via my Copywriting Master Class and mentoring copywriters to develop their skills and grow their business via my Confident Copywriting group.

The clients I work with now have a big picture in mind, which excited me. They are interested in talking about copy that nurtures (email sequences) through to the copy that converts (sales pages) and the micro-copy in between to bring a smile.

Teaching and coaching and writing. Do I enjoy it? Oh yes. I just wish I had a Time Turner so I could do all the work I want to then do the same day over again to savour time with my small humans. But… don’t we all wish for that?

So that’s me. How about you? Why do YOU write?

Belinda