The past few weeks, I’ve been working in The Tea Building, the former Lipton Tea warehouse, in Shoreditch, E1, an interesting, edgy area: a mixture of dilapidation and gentrification. There are quite a few new businesses here, but no central gathering place where everyone goes to shop and eat. So the retailers in the Box […]
A freelance copywriter friend asked me to look at some ad concepts she and her art director had done. The posters were visually arresting. Headlines were short and witty. And the concepts held together as a campaign. But something was wrong. I just didn’t feel like buying the service they were selling, and I couldn’t […]
I saw an extraordinary guy walking through Golden Square the other evening. He had a style all his own. A lean, wiry chap of at least 60 years, and white haired, he wore an incredibly loud sky-blue, close-cut suit. He also had on white shoes, a bright tie and a red wool ear warmer, which […]
If you’re ever really bored, bind your legs together with tape and try running around. You’ll feel like a copywriter trying to work with a typical set of brand guidelines – if the ones I’ve come across are anything to go by. It’s not easy trying to perform when you’re restrained by loads of rules. […]
Some copywriters and art directors I know would say that question is a contradiction in terms. It’s like asking them, what makes a nice serial killer? For them, planners are people who mess up the creative process and prevent us from producing outstanding work. I don’t buy that view, at least not entirely. As a […]
Phew! What a busy few weeks I’ve had. I’ve been typing my way out from under a mountain of briefs. The work is what marketing people call CRM. And what we copywriters call letter writing. The direct marketing specialists say that such work involves skills distinct from those of advertising. And I agree, up to […]
Dear marketer, I think you ought to treat your agency better. Not for their sake, but for your own and your company’s. As a freelancer I work at a lot of London agencies. And I see the effects your decisions have on the great campaigns they create for you. So often, excellent ideas (and they’re […]
I thought it was a crazy question another copywriter asked me: “What music do you listen to when writing copy?” My answer was “None”. I don’t listen to any music when I’m writing copy or thinking up campaign ideas. And I don’t understand how anyone can. To write my best copy, I need to be […]
