The Mentorship that Made Me;
From Writer to Copywriter.

Underestimating Leopard Print

My first glimpse into professional copywriting was when I got a mentorship role at The Writing Club. I went for my interview, worrying about what to wear, what to talk about and how much knowledge I should pretend to have. Then I learned someone else going for the role was wearing a leopard print shirt and I thought it was best not to worry.

I met Dan about five minutes before my interview was meant to start because, in reality, I had been waiting outside a café with some random ginger drink having arrived twenty-minutes early. The interview was initially daunting, but it soon became much more conversational and about a shared love for writing and bringing creativity to everyday life.  I had spoken about my past experience in a newspaper and about how the ginger drink I had brought in had tricked me into buying it through the power of good copywriting. It felt like lacklustre smooth talk.

Dan’s open and reassuring demeanour made me immediately comfortable, especially after he too seemed to share a passion for dramatizing the simple through writing. Luckily, I was able to get a mentorship with The Writing Club and while it wasn’t a paid internship (the guy in the leopard print shirt got that), I was over the moon and excited to expand on my skills with real professionals.

Earning My Stripes

Our first meeting was with members of The Writing Club and other successful candidates. We discussed client briefs, successful brands and tones, as well as how to produce briefs of our own. We were given a schedule for our briefs over that summer and the kind of real-world applications that came with them. The programme really boosted my confidence and productivity from the outset.

After submitting my analysis of LEGO’s brand success, I got written feedback from the team before we went over common mistakes in one of our lecture meetings on how best to approach certain briefs. The main brief that prepared us for the world of a working copywriter was the Pret Perks presentation. The team talked us through messaging guides and how to promote new company schemes, using a client they have already written for, they gave us a live brief from Pret A Manger.

Presenting my messaging guide to the team that had already successfully created this work for the client was a little terrifying, but it was worth it. The team combined their individual talents and strengths to provide me with insightful, meaningful feedback that I carry with me into copy I produce today.

A Member of the Pride

I can now say I’ve worked with copywriters who have a portfolio of works ranging from clients like ITV, British Gas, Pret A Manger and even charities like Breast Cancer Now. Having a certificate from such accomplished writers vouching for my own ability to write an array of briefs competently and stylistically is so rewarding. It elevates my belief in myself as a writer and the variety of ways I can apply my skills to meet a client’s needs. This mentorship showed me the power of copywriting and my place in it.