The developer's work is always hidden. The copywriter's is mostly ignored.
Developers write thousands of lines every month
Copywriters don't come anywhere close
When a developer screws up, users curse.
When a copywriter screws up, the cat yawns.
When developers hammer away on the keyboard, they're working
When copywriters look lost, they're working.
Developers work on JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, Python and Perl
Copywriters work on bootleg Word
Developers dream of changing the world
Copywriters want the world to change brands
Developers write instructions for things to work
Copywriters will never know what worked and what didn't
Developers go to hackathons
Copywriters prefer mind altering experiences.
So why does the world need copywriters?
Try selling a product in 30 seconds
Developers can create products
But they need copywriters to explain it to the world
Developers think someone in marketing does the job
True. But getting customers interested is the copywriter's problem.
Asking developers to sell is like asking copywriters to code.
Non-swappable with physical partitions.
Developers write instructions.
And copywriters come up with the ideas to make them rich.
What are your life's anchors?
I found my anchor early in college.
Words. And how to play with them.
I could spend hours arranging them into tight sentences.
Rattle them like coins in stuffed pockets.
Paint pictures with them.
Stretch them taut and get attention. Or let them drift like wisps of smoke.
Shift meaning with a deft change in tone.
Words are my friends. They hang around and tell me things I didn't know.
It was years before I realized I could make a living from them.
Discovering what I loved doing every single day had value
Brands would pay to be interpreted
It's all I've done. I've listened. I've learned.
And surrounded myself with words.
Advertising is the background noise of your life.
And I am one of the faceless composers.
You're meant to notice the promises, not the people who created them
I love the anonymity.
The thrill of being the spectator.
What anchors your world? What drives you?
What do you live with, day in and day out?
That shapes and defines you.
I'm glad words chose me.
Am I a writer? Possibly. But I don't fit the standard descriptions.
I couldn't ever ask for more.
Stranger Conversations
You're at a networking event.
The place where you're supposed to say Hi to new people
You look around to pick the ones you want to speak to.
They are surrounded by others deep in conversation
Going up to the group and hanging around is awkward.
Then the bigger question is - when is the best time to start talking?
Do you comment on the conversation they are having?
Or do you start off by saying Hi and watch as everyone turns around and looks at you?
You marvel at people who have mastered the art
Knowing exactly when to start or break away and melt into another group.
Like blobs of jelly floating on a plate. Effortless.
If you're one of those people, you wouldn't be reading this at all.
You wouldn't know it is a problem.
Listening is actually a good way to ease in to small groups. You just nod and smile.
At some point, one of the people in the group will make eye contact and smile back.
That's your cue.
You don't need to say anything earth shattering or impressive.
Just "How was your Work From Home experience?" Everyone will have a story.
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