Hi all,

Yes, I am new here. Why am I here? Well, I'm 49 going on 50. My career as a sales engineer and consultant has come to a stand-still. I was laid off 4 years ago, spent 1 year with no job and 1 year doing contract work. Now I'm a sales manager for a small consulting firm.

I saw an Internet ad for a copywriter home study course from AWAI. The copy for the course sounded far too good to be true. I don't want to waste the money only to find I have leaped from the frying pan into the fire, as it were. They made copywriting sound like a dream job, no stress, fun, etc. I guess I'm a bit negative or I have been dealing with clients for far too long. All I can imagine is deadlines, pressure, writers-block, financial anxiety, no medical benefits (I'm diabetic) and struggle. I can work on my attitude I guess buying the course and mastering could only do me good in whatever job I do.

What's the real poop? I would like some advice or guidance. I guess I am asking for some friends in the business. I love the idea of being in control of my income. Although, with no experience as a copywriter and never having owned a business, it seems impossible.

Please share your thoughts, experience, successes and anything else that will open my eyes to the reality of this potential blessing or journey into hell. I want things to be better, not worse. I want to enjoy what I do.
Mostly, I want to do something that I can be really good at and have some fun.

I'm sure some of you have stood at this turning point in your careers. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me work through this.

Best wishes,
Greg
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"You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going!" - Mike Litman

Hello Greg and welcome,

To become a good copywriter requires a deep burning passion - and a lot of dedication.

It's not impossible - every single person who is here on this board writing for clients has shown that, but it is not easy either.

Learning from the top guns certainly helps to short cut this process, but in the end, like anything else in life - it takes time and experience to start to feel really comfortable.

I don't know if the grass is any greener on the copywriter hill - sure it has its benefits, and the pay can be pretty good, but the bottom line is - do you love to write copy?

If you have this passion, then this will pull you through the bumps, and give you the fire to keep going in down moments.

I love the freedom (I personally don't mix too well with bosses), I enjoy the people I meet, the new topics that I get to explore like a detective (stuff I would have never studied otherwise)... and the thrill of helping someone improve their life through better results.

I really get a kick out of that.

But the pressure to constantly beat controls can be tough - it requires your top effort, every time - not much room for slacking. If you are the type of person who can thrive off of that kind of pressure, then it can work.

Regarding the AWAI course, I haven't personally taken it, but I have heard good things about it.

Consider that you can work into this gradually- on the side while you work. No need to dive in bruskly. In fact, I would encourage this gradual entrance while you build your wings...

Hope this helps a little,

Tim

Hi Greg,

Tim is right - you have to LOVE to write copy. Well, you have to love to write, period. If you hated writing in school and the thought of researching, outlining and organizing makes you break out into goosebumps, then this career is probably not for you!

But, I imagine that you do like to write, or else you probably would not be here posting.

I currently have a full-time job and started writing copy on the side a few months ago. It's a challenge to juggle everything - a huge one - but I also have the security of regular income while I learn and gain experience in the field. It makes the stress of the learning curve a whole lot easier to accept. I know that if I had simply quit my regular job and jumped right in, I'd be far worse off ... I can't imagine dealing with the burden of learning the ropes on top of worrying about cash flow. I think that if you start off doing it on the side, you really can't lose.

Deadlines and working with people are a reality of copywriting. In essence, you will have tons of 'bosses' - clients! Just as you would in an office environment, you will encounter a broad spectrum of personalities, good and bad. However, as you become better-known and more experienced, you will be able to pick and choose which clients you want to work with.

So far, I love the way things are working out for me. When a client calls me and tells me they've reviewed a draft and are 'blown away', I am walking on Cloud Nine .

Good luck to you ... this is only "impossible" if you think it is! With dedication, patience, and a boat-load of hard work, you can succeed in this field.

Thank you both for such sound advice. I really appreciate it. I have never been afraid of hard word. I am much more afraid of being bored, which is something I am experiencing these days. Having been a sales engineer for all those years means I not only have had my boss but every client was my boss, to some degree. I guess the only difference there is that back then I knew my real boss equaled the bread and butter, if you will.
It sounds like a copywriter has many bosses, each being the bread and butter. I like the idea of the part time approach. Chcunking it down makes it much more doable.

Susan, I think we are neighbors. If fact, we vacation in South County. I live in Connecticut.

Tim, I appreciate what you said about the greener grass may not exist.
I suspected that was the case. The AWAI site and brochure was put together by true masters who can redirect one from the obvious to where and what they want you to see and focus on. I guess if there was proof that their material is good, that would be it.

Again, thank you. I guess I have a lot to think about. The course may be worth taking just for the value it can bring to other areas of my life and career.


Warmest regards,
Greg

What the others have said is true - you have to love to write copy, and you have to apply yourself. That being said, the AWAI course is an effective way to build your skills. I've gone through it (though I never turned in my assignments) and it has taught me direct response copywriting from the foundation on up. I've looked over other copywriting courses out there, and I get a ton of ezines and newsletters about it, but the AWAI course seems to be the most comprehensive and effective approach. Assuming that you are willing to work hard and apply yourself with this course, it gets five stars from me.

If you're looking for a shot of inspiration/motivation, pick up copies of Peter Bowerman's "The Well-Fed Writer" and "The Well Fed Writer: Back for Seconds."

Greg,

Most summed it up very well and Ill also add - never give up. Particularly when starting out its easy to let negative thoughts seep through - no clients are coming, am I good enough, I dont know the industry, what if I get a bad review, etc.

Make sure you dont hold back for fear of making a mistake. Were all human, we all do them. If you have a passion for learning different industries then writing about them to an audience, then you will do quite well as a copywriter.

Best of luck.

Hi Greg,

Like Eileen, I've taken the AWAI copywriting course. I turned in my first (of 2) assignments and the feedback I received was great. The only reason I haven't turned in my final assignment and "graduated" is because I got busy writing copy!

I think you have a good attitude... study the AWAI sales letter as a great copywriting example. If you sign up, you'll receive many more. They constantly try to pitch you upsells, but every sales letter is an example to study and learn from.

The materials are great, and they also have a discussion forum for AWAI students where you can share your ideas, questions, frustrations, etc. It's very helpful.

Bob Bly is a major contributor to the course. If you know his reputation as a world-class copywriter, you'll have a good idea of the course's quality.

"Ditto" to Eileen's recommendation about Peter Bowerman's books, too.

All that being said, THIS FORUM has provided me with the BEST real-world learning opportunities. Be sure to take the time to read every thread, and welcome aboard!