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Copywriters

A group for fellow wordsmiths, ink slingers, and scribes.

Network Leader: Kirk A. Norris

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Dana Leavy My colleagues at Tangerine-Watson are conducting the first-ever national study of diversity practices in the ad industry, and are seeking feedback from ad industry professionals. They'll also be giving away a couple of career coaching sessions to 1 participant. Share your story! http://tinyurl.com/bn5rwge

10 weeks ago from Advertising Professionals, Copywriters, PR & New Media, Generation Y Marketers and Web 2.0 3 more

Dana Leavy Hi everyone - colleagues of mine over at Tangerine-Watson diversity staffing are conducting the advertising industry's first-ever national survey of the attitudes and perceptions of professionals from various backgrounds and ethnicities. We've gotten some great response, and want to invite you to share your feedback for a chance to impact the ad industry (and perhaps win an iPad or career coaching session in the process). To learn more about the Impact Study visit http://tinyurl.com/bn5rwge

11 weeks ago from Advertising Professionals, PR & New Media, Copywriters, Social Media Marketers and Interactive Design 3 more

Regina Richardson: I just took the survey...shouldn't it be interested in responses from those of us who've never worked in/around/with an ad agency, when dealing ...MoreI just took the survey...shouldn't it be interested in responses from those of us who've never worked in/around/with an ad agency, when dealing with perceptions? I didn't get asked anything once I answered "no, never worked witn an ad agency". :(
11 weeks ago

Dana Leavy: The agency doing it does cater specifically to the ad world, but that's still good feedback, and I'll relay it! Thanks for taking the time anyhow ...MoreThe agency doing it does cater specifically to the ad world, but that's still good feedback, and I'll relay it! Thanks for taking the time anyhow Regina - appreciate it!
11 weeks ago

Natasha Smith How did you go about building your portfolio when you started copywriting professionally? Did you do a lot of volunteer work? Did you do speculative work for potential (paying) clients?

20 weeks ago from Copywriters and Freelancing

Rebecca Thorman recommended this

Ben Locker: I tried to build a broad portfolio across different industries, so I was never dependent on any one. I did do speculative work, but it was ...MoreI tried to build a broad portfolio across different industries, so I was never dependent on any one. I did do speculative work, but it was normally a mistake in the long run.
17 weeks ago

Charlie Martin You know, I regularly see people talking about copywriting as a lucrative writing job. I'm a pretty decent writer, get paid for it regularly, but I've no idea how one breaks into copywriting. Any hints?

25 weeks ago from Copywriters

Jeremy Feldman: Do you have an uncle in the business? To get serious for a moment: you need to put a portfolio of work together and then shop it around in-house ...MoreDo you have an uncle in the business? To get serious for a moment: you need to put a portfolio of work together and then shop it around in-house creative recruiters and creative director/hiring managers at ad agencies or independent creative recruiters. How do you put together a portfolio if you're not working in the business? The best way is to meet an art director trying to break into advertising and team up with him/her to put together a book of spec ads. One way to hook up is to take an advertising class. As for how lucrative the field can be, it depends on your talent, luck and hard work. I wouldn't expect your first job, or assignment, to yield a high salary or rate. Like any business, you have to work your way into it. Copywriting is a craft; the more you do it, the better you become. The better work you have to show, the more you'll be worth. And, the more people you get to know, the easier it will be to find more work.
25 weeks ago

Dana Leavy Seeking a mid or senior-level copywriter for LA-based ad agency to work on very high-visibility brand. This role calls for someone with knowledge of international markets (Europe or Asia), as it will focus around taking the brand's US presence and working with international agency teams to take existing campaign ideas and effectively translate them into campaigns appropriate for individual international markets. Salary up to $175K depending upon experience. Contact dana@aspyresolutions.com.

25 weeks ago from Copywriters, Advertising Professionals, Web 2.0, We're Hiring and Professional Writers and Editors 3 more

Dana Leavy Seeking a few good creatives for cool jobs - can you help? 1) Jr Copywriter with pharma experience (NYC) 2) Traffic Manager with pharma experience (NYC), 3) Art Director - trad. or digital ($100K - NYC), 4) Copywriter fluent in Korean or Mandarin ($100K - location open), 5) Creative Director w/Experiential background (NYC). If you can recommend anyone (including yourself!) please visit http://www.aspyresolutions.com/job-board or contact dana@aspyresolutions. Thanks in advance!

29 weeks ago from Advertising Professionals, Brazen Careerists in New York City, Copywriters, Interactive Design and Web 2.0 3 more

Dana Leavy Seeking mid & Sr level Copywriters fluent in Korean or Mandarin for full time opportunities. The more senior-level role (ACD-level) is based in Los Angeles with salary up to $175. Must be a creative cultural expert on Korea and understand how ad campaigns will resonate with the Korean market. Mid-level role is location-open with salary up to $100K. Must also be fluent in either Korean or Mandarin, reading/writing/speaking. http://www.aspyresolutions.com/job-board or dana@aspyresolutions.com.

35 weeks ago from Copywriters and Professional Writers and Editors

Nikole Bordato I am trying to re-write a way more awesome "about me" for my website (www.nikolebordatophotography.com) and am struggling. I find I am either too cheesy or boring. Any suggestions?

37 weeks ago from Copywriters

Erika Gimbel: Nikole - I liked this post about "about me" pages and took some of the advice, that really an "about me" page should be about your potential ...MoreNikole - I liked this post about "about me" pages and took some of the advice, that really an "about me" page should be about your potential customers -- what you can do for them. I hope this helps!

http://www.blogtyrant.com/best-about-us-pages/
37 weeks ago

Ty Unglebower I wanted to announce my new online business card. It is still a work in progress, and I have I few bugs to work out with customer service, but you get the idea. It's a central location with links to and feeds from both of my blogs and Twitter, complete with writing portfolio and contact information. Plus links. (Including my Brazen profile of course.) I am thinking about registering a private domain name re-direct, but I am not sure yet. Check it out! http://bit.ly/f8eQid

53 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Networking Tips, Washington D.C. and Copywriters 2 more

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Jeff Tong: businesscard2 is nice, but flavors.me feels better
ex: Morebusinesscard2 is nice, but flavors.me feels better
ex: http://flavors.me/gundamwing4132
52 weeks ago

Iris Aikins-Afful: @Jaime A Ellis sound like you have the right approach. I have heard the same about DC as well as all over. I heard a speaker once say that a bar ...More@Jaime A Ellis sound like you have the right approach. I have heard the same about DC as well as all over. I heard a speaker once say that a bar is a good place to network and perhaps make business contacts and that if a person doesn't drink, they could just order water, soda or the like. Also, if you have friends/former colleagues who know someone who could perhaps lead you to a contact
45 weeks ago

La Donna Lokey I'm working on a research project and need to identify companies that are similar to or competitors of Razorfish, in particular any companies that might have a presence in Texas, NY, or Florida. This would be companies that hire User Experience Devs/Designers, Web Devs, Project Mgrs, graphic artists, copy writers, HTML coders, etc. Can you name some of these companies, and also indicate which ones are the best or have the best reputation?

50 weeks ago from PR & New Media, Professional Writers and Editors, Project Managers and Copywriters 2 more

Rebecca Thorman recommended this

Brandi To all you aspiring writers out there - find out what Borders filing for bankrupcy may mean to you, and your ability to get published. Join Writer's Digest for a FREE webinar on Friday at 1 pm EST: http://bit.ly/i2YaG4

50 weeks ago from Write a Book! and Copywriters

Ty Unglebower I have been setting up an online business card/portfolio thing this week. It's a pretty big step, and I will send a link when all is said and done. But the question is, how would you include previously published clips? Would you scan them as readable image files, to prove that you have been published, or type them up as word documents, post those, and then mention where it can be found?

54 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Copywriters and Washington D.C.1 more

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Ty Unglebower: Well, as it stands now most of my clips are from publications that have no online presence. The only visual for me having written for them at all ...MoreWell, as it stands now most of my clips are from publications that have no online presence. The only visual for me having written for them at all is the actual paper. But I of course want to include them in my portfolio. I have a hardcopy portfolio and of course, making a clear photocopy works just fine there. But I just wonder if it is feasible to scan same, and put it on this site. I want it clear that these items were actually published in legitimate publications, not just something I made up.

The service lets you post a file, which visitors can then open and observe. This can be a jpg scan, or a Word document among other things.
54 weeks ago

Rose Medlock: Personally, and from the perspective of someone who has hired people in the past, I would scan the clips rather than use Word docs.
54 weeks ago

Monica Valentinelli Recommend me a book that helped you further your career. No title too small. No book too long. Just tell me why this book matters to you and what you hope I get out of it.

56 weeks ago from Productivity & Time-Management, Professional Development, Copywriters, Creative Writing and Professional Writers and Editors 3 more

Becky Benishek, sudan, Brianna Swartz and Liz Kasell and 1 others recommended this

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Jake Poinier: I echo Brett's comment. "Getting Things Done" is fantastic!
55 weeks ago

Cooper: I'm not a business type, but I think the only book anyone needs was written decades ago by Dale Carnegie " How to Win Friends & Influence ...MoreI'm not a business type, but I think the only book anyone needs was written decades ago by Dale Carnegie " How to Win Friends & Influence People". I was given this book by a friends father for graduation from high school. I kid you not. It's the only self help book I'll ever need.
55 weeks ago

Jake Poinier Have you hired a freelancer in the past year, or do you plan to in 2011? Are you a part-time or full-time freelancer? If so, Friday, Jan. 14 is your last chance to participate in this year's Freelance Forecast survey: Please head to http://deardrfreelance.com/2010/12/freelance-forecast-2011-surveys for links to the client and freelancer versions of the surveys. All participants receive a copy of the results and an entry for a $100 gift card to iTunes, Staples or OfficeMax. Thanks!

56 weeks ago from Freelancing, Hire A Freelancer, Entrepreneurs, Professional Writers and Editors and Copywriters 3 more

Ty Unglebower Well, I tendered my resignation for the part-time reporter job I have had over the last 18 months or so. That makes it all sound more dramatic than it is. It never really seemed like a good fit to me. I was usually uncomfortable with the nature of the work, and the community is very cloistered. Not open to strangers like me. Couldn't get my phone calls returned, and I sense no advancement of any kind within the paper. Many would have stayed, since all work is good work, but I wanted to move on.

59 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Copywriters, Washington D.C. and Baltimore Brazen 2 more

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Jonathan S. Ross: If it makes you feel any better, a friend of my parents (someone now in her late 50's / early 60's) related the following reason. She worked on ...MoreIf it makes you feel any better, a friend of my parents (someone now in her late 50's / early 60's) related the following reason. She worked on Wall Street during a time when advancement for women was fairly uncommon, but apparently she was a top performer and worked her way up the ladder. She said the day she knew she had to leave the job was when she was in a meeting, looked around the table, and fantasized about shooting everyone else in the room because she felt they were such despicable individuals.

This is not to make light of workplace violence or threats thereof; it was her way of saying that when she realized the environment had turned toxic for her and her beliefs and values, she had to get out...
59 weeks ago

Michael Dvorscak: leaving a job=liberating your future?
58 weeks ago

Jake Poinier As a freelancer, you're always hopeful that a query letter is going to land an assignment. At the same time, it's easy to be paranoid that your fantastic story idea is going to be 1) appropriated and written in house or 2) assigned to another freelancer. One of my readers had a recent bad experience, detailed here: http://bit.ly/b5BR5e I'm curious to know your experiences -- on either side of the desk. Are freelancers right to be paranoid?

64 weeks ago from Copywriters, Freelancing and Professional Writers and Editors 1 more

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Therese Pope: Hi fellow copywriters, I'm new to Brazen Careerist and this group. Jake, I found you via another site and like your Dr. Freelance site.

I've ...MoreHi fellow copywriters, I'm new to Brazen Careerist and this group. Jake, I found you via another site and like your Dr. Freelance site.

I've heard similar stories over the years, and I'm sure some of the article pitches that were rejected by newspapers and magazines ended up in their editorial calendar.

I guess as a copywriter this doesn't really phase me since I write for others in their "voice" and have taken on ghostwriting projects. It just doesn't happen with article queries/pitches. It happens in marketing, PR, sales - you name it. Ideas are stolen all the time. Look at Mark Zuckerberg. He was sued for allegedly stealing the original Facebook idea from those twins.
61 weeks ago

Aaron Evans: Recently, prominent aviators and builders got together in honor of the anniversary of the Wright Brother's flying invention. The idea was to ...MoreRecently, prominent aviators and builders got together in honor of the anniversary of the Wright Brother's flying invention. The idea was to recreate the invention, with the same materials and technologies, and make it fly. They failed.

These were the top minds in aviation and flight building, and they could not reproduce the result of the Wright brothers.

As a society we are constantly fine tuning other's ideas in a way that is more convenient, better, more marketable, etc. sometimes not even knowing or being able to reproduce the original idea. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it is happening.

Ideas can be stolen or reimplemented, but PASSION and EMOTION are yours and yours only. Doing the right thing is what sets people apart from the others today.

Zuckerburgs are everywhere, and occasionaly (as often as winning the lottery) they get lucky with another's idea, but it's not just the idea, it is how it is implemented.

Don't worry about whether others steal your ideas, just be passionate about your idea and implement better than anyone else. It is not worth the stress that it brings, is it?

All the best,
Aaron
61 weeks ago

Kate Davids How often do you think something is cool while those around you think it's just normal? I wrote a post on this combined with marketing, but I'd love to know what you think! http://katetheprofessional.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/one-mans-dull-is-ano...

62 weeks ago from Internet Marketers, Young Professional Women (YPW), Copywriters, London Brazen Careerists and Advertising Professionals 3 more

Kirk A. Norris Interesting article from Adage, "You are what you watch". See where you fit in: http://tinyurl.com/3859vjq

66 weeks ago from Copywriters

Kate Davids What would you say are the international best practices for using RSS feeds, CSS formats, and topic tags to market content? I'm doing a project for grad school, so please also include how you wish to be cited. This will also (hopefully) wind up in a blog. ~ Thanks!

67 weeks ago from Internet Marketers, Blogging Ideas, Graduate Students, Advertising Professionals and Copywriters 3 more

Cathy Reisenwitz: I'm not sure what you mean by market content. But for RSS, full feeds are is definitely preferred by readers as opposed to partial feeds. Hope ...MoreI'm not sure what you mean by market content. But for RSS, full feeds are is definitely preferred by readers as opposed to partial feeds. Hope that helps. Let me know what you mean by market content.
67 weeks ago

Richard Sher: I can't help you with RSS feeds, CSS formats, my specialty is art and design. I work in 3-D.

MoreI can't help you with RSS feeds, CSS formats, my specialty is art and design. I work in 3-D.

www.richardsherdigitalart.com
67 weeks ago

Kirk A. Norris "He had the gift". Rest in peace Mike Harden: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/10/13/mike-...

69 weeks ago from Copywriters and C-Bus

Kirk A. Norris Interbrand's list of Top Global Brands. BP and Toyota dropped in the rankings....hmm, weird. http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/...

72 weeks ago from Copywriters

TOP IDEA: Jenn Pedde Hey #brazen fans! So I'm working on launching a new website called Eat Your Serial, that will feature up and coming writers mainly in the area of fiction. We're looking for writers and editors and are currently reviewing submissions. If you're interested in publishing a story and getting some free promotion, take a look at our pre-launch blog and send in some story ideas! http://eatyourserial.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/join-the-eat-your-serial-f... Would LOVE to have any Brazen writers!

92 weeks ago from Copywriters, Creative Writing, Creatively Inspired, Freelancing and Professional Writers and Editors 3 more

Sarah Peck, Ryan Paugh and Richard Dedor recommended this

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Max Bottaro: sounds cool. what are you guys looking for? shorts or like a novel?
77 weeks ago

Sarah Peck: Jenn - I love your website idea! I'd definitely be interested in talking to you about either writing or editing. Check out my blog for writing ...MoreJenn - I love your website idea! I'd definitely be interested in talking to you about either writing or editing. Check out my blog for writing samples: www.waterfallingupwards.com -- I can also send you some other stuff if you're still looking for people.
73 weeks ago

Ellen Nordahl Do you have a way with words? Epic's currently looking for sharp college grads to join our writing team. Find out more the opportunity here: http://bit.ly/aQWnC5

75 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Journalism and Journalists, Blogging Ideas, Copywriters and Entry-Level Young Professionals 3 more

Ryan Healy and Melissa Breau recommended this

JR Moreau: I wish they were hiring when I was still in Madison!
75 weeks ago

Ty Unglebower After months of research, I have decided to pitch to the following magazines. Anyone connected with/been published by any of the following? -Sofa Ink Quarterly -Acapella Zoo -Big Bridge -Writing that Works -The Sun -Fate Magazine -Next Step Magazine -The Funny Times -Go Magazine

75 weeks ago from Professional Writers and Editors, Freelancing, Copywriters, Washington D.C. and Baltimore Brazen 3 more

Kirk A. Norris 10 weeks ago I started a blog for a fiction story that I've been writing. My goal was to post a new chapter once a week. Though I've had a few gaps, I am now up to 11 chapters and back on track. So far I consider the experiment a success. I have picked up a few readers here and there (including a friend who gets on me if I haven't updated). Having an audience (even a small one) relying on me for content keeps me motivated. Read more about "Atlantis" at: http://atlantistheblog.wordpress.com/

89 weeks ago from Copywriters

Kaite Welsh: OK, that's great -but what are you planning on doing with it? A lot of publishers won't touch something you've already published, even if it is ...MoreOK, that's great -but what are you planning on doing with it? A lot of publishers won't touch something you've already published, even if it is only on your blog. And how good is it? I presume it hasn't been edited by anyone - what sort of feedback are you getting?
82 weeks ago

Kate Davids: Kaite has a point. Is this something that you are expanding? Having a blog and gathering a fan base is a good idea if you wish to publish a book, ...MoreKaite has a point. Is this something that you are expanding? Having a blog and gathering a fan base is a good idea if you wish to publish a book, but the book can't be a conglomeration of blog posts. Though it would help with book sales if you had a fan base, publishers generally don't want to publish what's already available somewhere else for free.
79 weeks ago