How to become a copywriter
Thread poster: Annika Hedqvist
Annika Hedqvist
Annika Hedqvist  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 12:27
Member (2008)
English to Swedish
+ ...
Apr 13, 2008

I've been skimming through the discussions about copywriting vs. translation, but I can't find an answer to how you actually become a copywriter. Is it all just an autodidact thing and you get jobs on experience, or are there any courses you can take to learn and get a degree? When I try to find anything about copywriting online I just run into pages that are trying to fool me to buy expensive software that will magically make me a copywriter. Is there anything out there that won't do that and c... See more
I've been skimming through the discussions about copywriting vs. translation, but I can't find an answer to how you actually become a copywriter. Is it all just an autodidact thing and you get jobs on experience, or are there any courses you can take to learn and get a degree? When I try to find anything about copywriting online I just run into pages that are trying to fool me to buy expensive software that will magically make me a copywriter. Is there anything out there that won't do that and can actually be useful?

I'm guessing, though, that copywriting has the same catch 22 as translation - you have to have experience to get a job, but you'll never get any experience unless someone takes a chance on you and actually gives you a job? And education isn't really worth much. Right?

Any tips and ideas? What do I do if I want to become a copywriter? How do I find out if it would suit me?

Thanks in advance!
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Anna Villegas
Anna Villegas
Mexico
Local time: 05:27
English to Spanish
Where to start Apr 13, 2008

Develop a "presentation" of your own, that is, sell yourself in writing. You are your "product".

Apply for a copywriter position at any of the advertising agencies in your community (Lund?), and file them your "presentation". Let them know how well you write.

Read a lot of American and French magazines. They have wonderful ads. Learn from them.

With regard to online search, use related words like "advertising presentation", "market yourself", and so on.
... See more
Develop a "presentation" of your own, that is, sell yourself in writing. You are your "product".

Apply for a copywriter position at any of the advertising agencies in your community (Lund?), and file them your "presentation". Let them know how well you write.

Read a lot of American and French magazines. They have wonderful ads. Learn from them.

With regard to online search, use related words like "advertising presentation", "market yourself", and so on.

This is an endless topic, but fascinating.
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Viktoria Gimbe
Viktoria Gimbe  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 07:27
English to French
+ ...
A link to a valuable resource Apr 13, 2008

Visit this site and make sure you have plenty of time to read the incredible amount of articles.

http://tc.eserver.org/

Also read Nick Usborne's e-book - it will not teach you anything, really, but will give you a lot of clues.

... See more
Visit this site and make sure you have plenty of time to read the incredible amount of articles.

http://tc.eserver.org/

Also read Nick Usborne's e-book - it will not teach you anything, really, but will give you a lot of clues.

http://www.freeiq.com/thefreelancecopywriterssixpack?a=1

Happy reading! All the best!

[Edited at 2008-04-13 18:11]
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Ieva Englund
Ieva Englund
Sweden
Local time: 12:27
Swedish to Latvian
+ ...
start in your field! Apr 14, 2008

Hello,

I do copywrting as well and I did not find useful literature on copywriting as I came to conclusion that the most important is the knowledge of the topic you are writing about.

I would suggest that you start with deciding what field you would like to do copywriting in. If you would like to produce, for example, marketing texts (such as newsletters, campaigns etc) there is plenty of good literature on that + lots of information and good examples on internet. ... See more
Hello,

I do copywrting as well and I did not find useful literature on copywriting as I came to conclusion that the most important is the knowledge of the topic you are writing about.

I would suggest that you start with deciding what field you would like to do copywriting in. If you would like to produce, for example, marketing texts (such as newsletters, campaigns etc) there is plenty of good literature on that + lots of information and good examples on internet.

If you have time and patience, you can place some bids for the projects at www.getafreelancer.com (Swedish company, by the way). There are hundreds of project posters screeming for copywriting services. Lots of crap too, but you can clearly see the market demand..

Lycka till,
Ieva
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Catherine Brix
Catherine Brix
Local time: 12:27
Swedish to English
+ ...
RMI Berghs Apr 14, 2008

Has a 12-week distance course in English that will at the very least introduce you to the art of copywriting.
http://www.berghs.se/page/238/587

I'm guessing you'd prefer to write in Swedish - and you're in luck, they have Copywriting 1
... See more
Has a 12-week distance course in English that will at the very least introduce you to the art of copywriting.
http://www.berghs.se/page/238/587

I'm guessing you'd prefer to write in Swedish - and you're in luck, they have Copywriting 1 and Copywriting 2 in Swedish.

http://www.berghs.se/page/162/172

Good luck
Catherine
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Annika Hedqvist
Annika Hedqvist  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 12:27
Member (2008)
English to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks! Apr 14, 2008

Thanks a lot you guys!

I lost myself in the wonderful jungle of articles at http://tc.eserver.org/ last night. Thanks for the link. But there was nothing really tangible on how to go about becoming a copywriter.

I guess the answer is that I do know how to do it with the education I have. It's like Ieva suggests: I have to read up on what texts in the genre I want to write in look like an
... See more
Thanks a lot you guys!

I lost myself in the wonderful jungle of articles at http://tc.eserver.org/ last night. Thanks for the link. But there was nothing really tangible on how to go about becoming a copywriter.

I guess the answer is that I do know how to do it with the education I have. It's like Ieva suggests: I have to read up on what texts in the genre I want to write in look like and imitate them. And well, try to be original and come up with new ideas, too. But even if the genre is defined by wanting to be original and break its own limits, it's still a genre, no?

And Bergh's classes look like fun, but there's no way in this world that I could afford to pay 25000 sek (2700 euro/4200 usd) in tuition fees. So thanks for the tip, but this girl's too poor.
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