The Classy Copywriters Olympic Games

“Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson

In Issue #195

Editor’s Note: Today’s guest essay is from AWAI Wall of Famer Laurie Cauthen. Laurie is a testament to what can happen in your career when you keep on plugging and never give up.

The Classy Copywriters Olympic Games
by Laurie Cauthen

It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, but a lot has been happening in my life since my last article. For example, I experienced two epiphanies at the AWAI Writer’s Retreat Workshop in Wintergreen, Virginia, this past May.

Not only did the event improve my writing skills, but it also inadvertently upgraded my view of the copywriting profession—and my life in the process!

Epiphany # 1

In the beautiful mountains of Virginia, where Earl Hammer found inspiration for his popular novels, I found my own inspiration to take charge of my life, and make some needed changes within myself…

Or to be more exact –from the outside in.

The mountain resort was beautiful, but as a former native Floridian comfortable with the flatlands, the steep inclines and thin mountain air had me huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf!

The mountains reminded me that where I’m headed is up – landslides are no longer an option. They truly provided my final wake up call to lose the excess weight that I’ve been carrying.

I was able to throw that old” baggage” over the mountain and leave with a clean slate, (except maybe for a few bad jokes I told- but you won’t hold that against me will you?)

Now I’m well on my way to losing the extra “dead weight” I had once carried as an undeserving ball and chain – leftover from an unfulfilled not-so-long-ago, previous life.

And that leads me to my next enlightenment…

Epiphany # 2

Since everyone’s been watching the Olympics lately, I wanted to share something that to me was similar to a Copywriter’s Olympics Games.

One of the reasons I say that is, I experienced the most encouraging and supportive competition of my life at the Retreat. The group of writers were all in fierce competition to win one of the few specs available. However, during our peer review sessions, everyone was open and honest in their critiques of one another’s specs. Bottom line, everyone encouraged each other to do their best writing.

I was working on a spec assignment for my Accelerated Training Class. Everyone in my ATS group was worried about showing their piece in a peer review at the retreat, for fear that someone may “steal” their big idea.

I found out that although the competition is as fierce as the Olympics, fellow copywriters were playing by a code of conduct for our own Classy Copywriters Olympic Games. Olympian athletes are the crème of the crop. Good sportsmanship, politeness and class are words that come to mind when you think about the ultimate competitors. And at the Writers Retreat, I discovered that copywriting was also a profession of good sportsmanship, politeness and class.

If you haven’t discovered that comfortable wisdom yet – rest assured that your fellow copywriters will support you, encourage you, and push you to do your best, even if in competition with you for the same assignment.

Lesson here: Surround yourself with a network of copywriters who will critique your work, push you when you’re stuck, and give you high-fives when you land the job – even though they applied for it themselves!

And don’t ever worry about “back stabbing” in this profession. As I’ve found out firsthand, you’ll find plenty of back-patting from other copywriters instead!

Until Next Time…

Resource Referral: Save $200 This Week!

Laurie’s right; the Writer’s Retreat in May was almost magical. Of course the same can generally be said about AWAI’s annual bootcamp.

This year’s event is in November, and as usual, Monica and I will be there. I think you know how we feel about bootcamp. The fact that we continue to go back year after year really says it all.

AWAI is running a special that gives you $200 back if you register by September 1st, so this is great time to act. Click here to see the agenda. We hope to see you there!

Quick Copy Tip: “Does This Sound Bad?” by Krista Jones

If you ever find yourself asking that question about something you’ve recently written, odds are, the answer is yes.

It’s a lesson I learned the hard way.

Almost every time I’ve wondered if a sentence in my copy was weak, confusing, or corny, but then I didn’t change it, it came back to haunt me. Eight times out of ten, a copy buddy or, worse yet, my client has called me on the line. And every time that has happened, I’ve wanted to kick myself for not changing it before I let anyone see it.

So do yourself a favor: If something in your copy stops you, change it.

Ah…now that’s better, isn’t it?