Sarah Russell Writing Logo
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
  • MY WORK
  • ABOUT ME
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

This one simple thing will improve your copywriting (from the minute you start)

12th January 2019All my copywriting blogs, How to write better copySarah Russell
This one simple thing will make you a better copywriter

This one simple thing will make you a better copywriter

And continue to help you for as long as you do it

There’s no degree in copywriting. No one way to get into the business. No one stand-out course that all the best copywriters take.

Anyone can become a copywriter. At least, anyone can call themselves a copywriter.

But saying you’re a copywriter and actually being able to write copy that stirs people’s emotions, inspires them to act and grows businesses are two very different things.

So what can you do to improve your copywriting?

There are some really good courses you can take. I’ve trained with Andy Maslen, Drayton Bird and Nick Usbourne and can highly recommend them all. What they taught me changed how I write and how I run my business.

Some degrees can be useful too. Lots of copywriters have degrees in marketing, business, English and psychology. But equally, lots don’t.

And none of these degrees specifically focus on copywriting. And none of the courses that do are long enough or comprehensive enough to cover everything you need to know.

In fact, so vast is the potential to continually learn about the art and science of copywriting that you need never stop.

And there is one invaluable thing you can do every day that will help you.

Read

Read widely.

Read everything.

Read books on copywriting. Read novels, great and trashy. Read poetry. Read fiction and non-fiction. Read the newspapers. All of them. Read magazines. Read ads. Read blogs, menus, directions, websites, letters home from your kid’s school, reminder texts from the vet, cards from your mum. Read your kid’s picture books, their teen novels. Read the Bible. The IKEA catalogue. Read it all.

Read about subjects new to you to challenge your brain and make new connections.

And read things more than once.

When you read widely you get to see first-hand the different ways people use words to get their message across. You discover new rhythms, styles and ways of writing. And you expose yourself to how different people think and feel. Without realising it, you absorb all this information so it’s there for you to draw on next time you write for a client.

Drayton Bird, one of my copywriting heroes, says:

“I started studying how to write copy before I even got a job in advertising. I sat in Manchester Public Library and read everything I could find. I have never stopped. If others have done the job before you, start by studying and copying the best people you can find. It’s the only way to learn.”

And Stephen King, the much loved and admired bestselling author, says:

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time – or the tools – to write.”

Do you?

 

Hello. I’m Sarah Russell, a freelance copywriter from near Cardiff in the UK.

I have an out-of-control compulsion to buy books. I promised myself I’d control it this year. Yet today is January 12th and I’ve already bought four books. If I continue at this rate, I’ll have 121 new books by the end of the year. Yikes!

As you can see I have time to read. Which means I also have time to write. For you.

Call me on: 01873 776 153

Email me at: [email protected]

Connect with me on: LinkedIn

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you found something in it to help or inspire you, or to make you smile. Please feel free to share it.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • How to write killer copy with the first rule of comedy
  • This one simple thing will improve your copywriting (from the minute you start)
  • How to target your copy so your words hit home

Categories

  • All my copywriting blogs
  • Celebrating copywriting
  • How to choose the right words
  • How to write better copy
  • When copy has worked – and when it hasn't

Get in touch:

Tel: 01873 776153
Email: [email protected]
Or use my contact form

LinkedIn

Useful Pages

Home
Services
My Work
Testimonials
About Me
Contact
Terms
Privacy Policy
Site Usage Policy

Organisations:

COPYRIGHT SARAH RUSSELL WRITING 2015 – SITE DEVELOPED BY I-PIXEL

I use cookies on my website. They collect data that shows me how people use the site so I can make it more relevant and helpful. The data doesn’t identify you in any way and I’m the only person who sees it. You can see more information in my privacy policy here. If you continue to use the site then I’ll assume you’re OK with this. If you’d like to use the site without cookies you can find out how to do that here.