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Collaboration lies at the heart of copywriting, whether you're working with your client to achieve the ideal result or connecting with a team of writers to meet high-volume demands.
We're hugely appreciative of all the digital colleagues we've found since launching Syntactical, and we thought now was the perfect time to inject some wisdom from fellow copywriters into our blog! So, first and foremost, we asked our good friend Sophie some questions.
(We initially met Sophie at university, and ever since, we've been enjoying her friendship and, when we're lucky, her professional skills.)
We hope you love getting to know her as much as we love knowing her!
1. How long have you been a copywriter?
I entered the world of copywriting in 2018 when I was lucky enough to do some work experience with a Bristol agency.
Somehow, I hoodwinked them into keeping me around on a freelance basis, and I was able to step into a full-time role as an in-house writer in July 2019.
2. What inspired you to become a copywriter?
To be honest, fiction has always had my heart. But after I discovered how tricky it is to stay above the breadline telling stories, I knew I had to find another way to make money from writing.
I was introduced to copywriting at university and seemed to have a knack for it. Now, I help to tell brands' stories, which is almost as enjoyable as crafting those with fairies and aliens in.
3. Do you prefer working in an office with others, or working on your own? Why?
In an ideal world, I’d like a mix of both. I’m an anxious ambivert – sometimes, I thrive on conversation, and other times I don’t have the mental energy to socialise.
But one thing I have really missed during the pandemic is being able to bounce ideas off other writers and work through tricky sentences or periods of writer’s block. It’s one of the best parts of being part of a writing team.
4. Do you read books regularly, and if so, what’s your favourite genre?
Yes! I’m a very disloyal reader, and I love everything from fantasy to crime to comedy. I’ll be taken in by any novel that winks at me.
Right now, I’m indulging my guilty pleasure for self-help books and I’m trying (and failing) to get on board with The Miracle Morning.
5. What advice would you give to an aspiring copywriter?
Don’t take criticism to heart.
Copywriting is tricky to learn in theory, and I’ve grown so much since I started writing professionally. You will get extensive amends, you will have to overcome some pretty serious imposter syndrome, but it will get better with time.
Try your best to listen to and act on feedback, but don’t take it to heart.
6. What’s the most bizarre subject you’ve had to write about?
I wouldn’t say the subjects themselves are odd, but the range of topics in my job is wonderfully strange.
I can go from writing about alternative spiritual beliefs (think magic, astrology and paganism) to erectile dysfunction to spectrometres to wills and probate in the space of a few hours.
7. What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Helping companies make sense of complicated or niche topics with simple language that doesn’t oversimplify or remove what makes their products/services unique. And, selfishly, being able to write for a living.
8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Eat delicious food, lift heavy weights, run around local woodlands and spend time with people I love (like you two)!
9. Do you write for pleasure, as well as for business?
I do. I’m currently battling my way through a novel, which is the hardest creative thing I’ve ever done. I suppose that’s technically ‘pleasure’, but that’s really not how I’d describe the process!
10. If you could pick your dream subject to write about, what would that be?
Ooh, tough one! It’s not a subject, but I’d love to write for charities that support causes close to my heart, like Mind or Beat.
That concludes our first Copywriter Questionnaire. In a couple of week's time, we'll introduce you to another talented professional in this industry, Becky.
We love sharing valuable voices on this platform. If you’d like to appear on our blog, please drop us a message.