Work that matters
Greetings Rebecca! So could you please shed some light on your role at Creative Concern?
I'm a Senior Copywriter here at Creative Concern. Senior in experience, not age. Actually, maybe both. I work for lots of clients on their brand and campaign messaging, writing reports, web copy, tone of voice guidance... anything that needs words, I'm usually involved.
What do you enjoy most?
I love being able to work with words all day, every day – using them to solve problems, articulate ideas and communicate all kinds of messages to all kinds of people. Lots of our clients have important things to say, people to help, money to raise, even a planet to save. It's great to really get to know what they need to say and come up with the words to get that message across. It's incredibly satisfying when you see it all come together with design and film and so on to create a really impactful campaign or brand or report, whatever it is we've been working on.
And I love seeing my words in the wild. I quite like being able to point at posters and say "I wrote that". Does that make me shallow? Probably.
And - honestly - what are some of the challenges?
When you think you've had a great idea or a witty copyline and it doesn't get chosen. You can advocate for it, but sometimes it's just not going to work. That can be disappointing. But you can't get wedded to the words. It's like the advice to 'kill your darlings'. You can't get attached to something you've written as you may need to lose it for the good of the copy (or, let’s face it, clients may just not like it). I prefer to think of it as 'early retirement' though. Those ideas could always come back in another guise...
Interesting...
Do you have any handy tips or tricks that you'd be willing to share?
Of course, the classic 'three top tips' for you.
One. Listen! Honestly, a lot of the copy I write comes from listening to clients and colleagues in meeting and workshops and so on. There's so much you can pick up from listening, and listening well. It's not just in a work scenario either. Listening to how people speak, what they're talking about, how they tell their stories – and I mean everything from podcasts to people on the train – can help inform your writing.
Two. A blank page can be a daunting thing. Just write anything to start. Write down your thoughts about what you need to write. Write how it makes you feel, how you want others to feel. Words on a page – even nonsense ones – are a start! The more you write, the easier it gets.
Three. If you can, park what you've written for a while and come back to it later. What sounded brilliant one day might sound awkward the next. There's always something that can be edited down that little bit more.
And while we have you in a sharing mood... would you be happy to spill the beans on a single most favourite or magical moment?
Some of the messaging I'd written for Red Nose Day was read out on the night by David Tennant. That's pretty good, right?
Rebecca Nicholl, Senior Copywriter at Creative Concern
