Sorry. Not much has been happening on here of late. I promised a follow up QR code blog (which is in the pipeline) but as it's been over a month in coming I felt I should put a stop-gap in place until its appearance.
Things have been a bit slow of late because I've been concentrating on a different kind of writing; the utterly engulfing world of creative writing. I started a course at the end of September at the Uni of Edinburgh in an effort to get my ample arse in gear, and have been furiously scribbling down snippets of stories, poems and I-have-no-idea-what-you-are things in an attempt to learn how to write creatively.
Let me just point out right now that creative writing is NOT THE SAME as copywriting. Oh no. It's a different beast entirely. I'm still trying to figure it out after three months and I'm still nowhere near sorted. In fact, I don't think I'm even off the starting block.
Also, my stuff is absolutely crap. But that's fine. You need to start in a world of crapness to get good. Otherwise how will you ever learn? Right?
I had a chat with a well-established screen writer a few weeks ago and told him about my attempts at becoming something other than a copy monkey. However, I have not idea yet what it is that I am aiming for.
He told me that it took him four years to learn his craft, and another three to figure out where he was going with it.
So a three month flounder doesn't seem so bad after all. If you've got any writers' tips for me, please do share. I need all the help I can get!
As a fellow copywriter and crap creative writer, I have no useful advice for you. But good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteHow are you finding the course, by the way? I've always wanted to do one but I commute two-and-a-half hours every day so finding one I can actually attend has always been a problem! If they're any good I'll have to find a way. Might prove a useful punt up the posterior, if nothing else.
Oh dear, I do apologise. I've just spotted your comment, almost a month too late. I'm sorry!
DeleteI'm enjoying the course - it's totally different from copywriting. No brief gives me the heebie jeebies. What, write what you want? The possibilities are endless and I'm still trying to find my rhythm. I don't find the language a challenge so much as weaving a narrative and forming a story that keeps people interested... I will continue and see how it goes!
Next semester I might try a screen writing class instead to improve on dialogue. Might be easier as it's closer to radio/telly etc? Who knows!
I hope you take up a class - they are great for exercising the noggin :)