Tag Archives: COPY

It’s good to be weird

I’m a weird person. But I don’t mind. Being weird means I’m free to say weird things and come up with weird ideas. As a copywriter, I see that as my job. It’s my responsibility to question the norm and wonder if there might be a different way of doing things. But here’s the problem… […]

Form follows function

In 1919 Walter Gropius was appointed head honcho at the Grand-Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts in Weimar. Hardly the catchiest name for a school, is it? It’s one reason you’ve probably never heard of the Grand-Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts in Weimar. But you’ve heard of the Bauhaus, right? That’s because […]

Nuggets of knowledge to get you thinking

It’s nearly Christmas. You’re busy. There’s a man looking at me funny across the café. So let’s not muck about. Here are five fast things to get your brain moving and quite possibly help with your copywriting. Ready? Track your time Your time is your most important asset. And ultimately, as a copywriter, it’s what […]

Ideas are irritating

Sometimes ideas are right there in your face, shouting at you like an arrogant teenage kid who thinks they know best. Other times they’re nowhere to be seen, like your broke mate Steve who’s always in the toilet when it’s his round at the bar. I’ll tell you what… From now on, let’s boycott ideas. […]

Five concise copy thoughts to get you thinking

Here’s the plan… I’m going to hit you with five fast chunks of concise copy thought. Ready? Some Ideas Suck Some of your ideas will suck.⁣ ⁣ And that’s OK.⁣ ⁣ No one hits gold every time.⁣ ⁣ To get the good ideas out of your head you need to let the bad ones out […]

The art of self-doubt

That old Greek thinking guy, Socrates Johnson, is reported to have said something like: If I know anything, it’s that I know nothing. No one quite knows exactly what he said as it was all jotted down by that Phil Plato guy. He could have been making it up himself. No one knows. And that’s […]

Could this be the laziest buzzword in copywriting?

There’s a small, six-letter word used far too much in copywriting. I don’t like it. Do I hate it? Possibly. To me, it’s a sign you’re being lazy, you’ve run out of steam and you can’t be bothered to think properly about what you’re writing. What’s the word? UNIQUE. Wait… Hold on one minute, Glenn. Unique […]

I hope you hate it: A marketing masterclass from Alexander McQueen

Did you hate it?” No, the interviewer replies. “Shame. You’re supposed to,” says McQueen. When it comes to getting someone’s attention, you’ve got to go for emotions. If you don’t at least try, you’re guaranteed to fail. If you’re not thinking about how your audience relates to your writing, you shouldn’t call yourself a copywriter. You’ve […]

Creative paralysis: Don’t let other people’s work stop you creating your own

I get so worried by what other people are doing. It’s the worst kind of anxiety. Right now, I’m reading The War at the End of the World by Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa. It’s great. It’s also massive. 750 pages. And no pictures. I’m halfway through and can’t believe how dense the damn thing is. The […]

Time management tips for stressed-out copywriters

Copywriting should be fun. It should be challenging too. But if you’re finding it too challenging, it’s wearing you down or it’s taking up too much of your time… You’re probably doing something wrong. So here I want to give you some tips on how to better manage your time as a copywriter. Most of […]