Comments on: How I Became a Copywriter: Part Two http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/ Fresh culture. Served daily. Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:49:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Karen http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Karen Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:20:54 +0000 http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/#comment-1019 You are so right! I made the mistake of throwing away a bunch of writings awhile back. I thought that there was no point in keeping them. Little did I know that I would actually want to pursue this. Oh well, I am keeping all future writings so that I will have a portfolio. I'm also going to compile all of my poems, journals, etc. Thanks for the advice Daniel. Just know that you have at least inspired one person in this world to continue to write. ME!!! :-) P.S. Happy Easter! You are so right! I made the mistake of throwing away a bunch of writings awhile back. I thought that there was no point in keeping them. Little did I know that I would actually want to pursue this. Oh well, I am keeping all future writings so that I will have a portfolio. I’m also going to compile all of my poems, journals, etc. Thanks for the advice Daniel. Just know that you have at least inspired one person in this world to continue to write. ME!!! :-)

P.S. Happy Easter!

]]> By: Daniel http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1016 Daniel Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:36:03 +0000 http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/#comment-1016 Degrees are good for your resume... they can get you in the door for an interview. Most companies who post job ads for copywriters ask that you have a degree in English, Journalism, or related field to the company. Even without an English or Journalism degree, you stand a fair chance at landing a writing job for a company focused on human resources, HR software, HR services, etc. Actual writing experience is far more valuable than the degree, though it's sometimes hard to get the one without the other. I'm compiling a list of tips right now to help aspiring copywriters get started... I hope to post them within the next couple days. For the moment, I'll just say that volunteering to write for free to build a portfolio is one of the quickest and most effective ways to get into the industry. You'd be surprised how many companies or non-profit organizations would love to have your help on a dozen writing projects which they don't have the time or manpower to finish. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you write, and if anything you write is published into a format like PDF or print, get copies for your portfolio. Words are wonderful, but they're even better when they flow with a brand, a company identity, or newsletter theme. Degrees are good for your resume… they can get you in the door for an interview. Most companies who post job ads for copywriters ask that you have a degree in English, Journalism, or related field to the company. Even without an English or Journalism degree, you stand a fair chance at landing a writing job for a company focused on human resources, HR software, HR services, etc.

Actual writing experience is far more valuable than the degree, though it’s sometimes hard to get the one without the other. I’m compiling a list of tips right now to help aspiring copywriters get started… I hope to post them within the next couple days.

For the moment, I’ll just say that volunteering to write for free to build a portfolio is one of the quickest and most effective ways to get into the industry. You’d be surprised how many companies or non-profit organizations would love to have your help on a dozen writing projects which they don’t have the time or manpower to finish.

Keep copies of EVERYTHING you write, and if anything you write is published into a format like PDF or print, get copies for your portfolio. Words are wonderful, but they’re even better when they flow with a brand, a company identity, or newsletter theme.

]]> By: Karen http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Karen Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:11:36 +0000 http://www.culturefeast.com/how-i-became-a-copywriter-part-two/#comment-1015 This is great Daniel! Thanks for posting. I saw that you said your degree is in English which I believe you told me that before. I'm at a point where I'm almost done with my Master's Degree in Human Relations. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Managment. I don't have much experience when it comes to writing. I don't know if I should try to get a 2nd Bachelor's degree in Journalism. What do you think? I get so excited at the idea of writing for a living. Even if I just wrote on the side. By the way, I work for Fort Bragg MWR. Their web site is www.fortbraggmwr.com. You can also see our latest publication of the MWR In Motion magazine at http://www.fortbraggmwr.com/MWRpublications/Spring07.pdf. There is also the Fort Bragg newspaper publication called The Paraglide that I'm going to look into. I believe they are constantly looking for writers. The articles I'm writing will not be published until our Summer issue. I'm currently writing a page about the Army 10-miler which is a run the base holds. Along with that, I'm writing about tips for runners. We also have what's called Family Flix where families can watch a movie but outside on the base lawn. This leads me to writing about movie trivia on the history of drive-in movie theatres. It's kind of cheesy, but I'm just excited to be able to write. My articles are due on Thursday so if I can, I will post them for you to read. This is great Daniel! Thanks for posting. I saw that you said your degree is in English which I believe you told me that before. I’m at a point where I’m almost done with my Master’s Degree in Human Relations. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Managment. I don’t have much experience when it comes to writing. I don’t know if I should try to get a 2nd Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. What do you think? I get so excited at the idea of writing for a living. Even if I just wrote on the side. By the way, I work for Fort Bragg MWR. Their web site is http://www.fortbraggmwr.com. You can also see our latest publication of the MWR In Motion magazine at http://www.fortbraggmwr.com/MWRpublications/Spring07.pdf. There is also the Fort Bragg newspaper publication called The Paraglide that I’m going to look into. I believe they are constantly looking for writers. The articles I’m writing will not be published until our Summer issue. I’m currently writing a page about the Army 10-miler which is a run the base holds. Along with that, I’m writing about tips for runners. We also have what’s called Family Flix where families can watch a movie but outside on the base lawn. This leads me to writing about movie trivia on the history of drive-in movie theatres. It’s kind of cheesy, but I’m just excited to be able to write. My articles are due on Thursday so if I can, I will post them for you to read.

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