Podcast 10: Are you too young (or too old) to be a copywriter?

Is there a good age to become a copywriter? Is it better to start when you’re young and enthusiastic, or when you’re older, wiser and totally exhausted by life!

In this week’s podcast we’ll talk about copywriters of all ages, from those straight out of school to those heading into retirement. We’ll discuss the challenges and positives of each age group and try to discover the perfect age to start your copywriting business.

Want to know more?

Tune in to learn:

Whether starting your copywriting career straight out of school is a good idea
How copywriters in their 20s have some real advantages
The problems copywriters face in their 30s and 40s
How mature copywriters might have it made

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Show notes

Shauna Maguire – Take my word for it
Emily Read – Brisbane SEO copywriter
Charlotte Calder – Charlotte Calder Copywriter
Mary Cameron – 4 words copywriter

4 Comments

Angela Denly on 25/09/2015 at 4:40 pm

Interesting discussion. I’d agree that one of my biggest issues in my 30’s with young kids is getting out to networking events and carving out time to build my business – all my available “childcare time” is spent working and getting to breakfast events etc is a near-impossible challenge. I think the idea of people starting their own businesses is fascinating and demonstrates some trends I’ve been reading about the rise of freelancers. As younger people have seen that job security doesn’t exist anymore, it’s giving them the guts to just have a go out on their own, as it’s not really any less stable in the current job market.

Hot Copy podcast on 30/09/2015 at 1:49 pm

Carving out the time around the kids is SO hard @angeladenly:disqus. I hear you on that and I know Kate will agree. It’s definitely one of the biggest challenges anyone with a family faces. It can often mean taking on less work or paying more for child care… tough decisions to make when your business is in its infancy!

Thanks for listening, and commenting! — Belinda

Matthew Morgan Fenwick on 28/09/2015 at 10:35 am

Really affirming stuff – for every age. I related to everything up to and including my age bracket (38, started my business at 34) and life stage (young kid + wife in a corporate job).

For me, having had a bunch of careers beforehand means that I bring a maturity to my work. Particularly having worked in Government, I can empathise with my more corporate clients who’re wrangling difficult internal stakeholders. (shameless plug: I wrote a book about going from working in government to running your own business – Life without lanyards: from public servant to entrepreneur – http://www.lifewithoutlanyards.com).

I made the career switch just before we had our first baby. I knew that starting a business after that was possible in theory, but felt I had a fairly narrow window. I am in awe of people like Kate who started a business at the same time as looking after a bub.

Even at my not-incredibly ancient age, I still had a sense that I’d left my run too late, so it was great to hear about copywriters of all ages who’ve made a go of it.

The big thing I wish I’d had before I started was specific marketing experience. I’d had heaps of writing experience, but more straight up journalism and corporate communications. I’ve had to learn marketing principles on the job, and seek mentoring from a few generous folk. That’s understanding’s really helpful for knowing how to target & structure copy.

For me, the big pro of leaving when I’m a bit older is that because I’ve written a lot more functional/corporate content, I’m not as precious about my work, or prone to writer’s block. I’ve learnt to just knock out a first draft, knowing that it’s going to be ordinary, but that it’s a place to start. That pragmatism, and getting the ego in check is massively helpfu for mel,

Hot Copy podcast on 30/09/2015 at 1:53 pm

Great perspective @matthewmorganfenwick:disqus- thanks for sharing it! We’ll even leave your plug in – you gotta get them in where you can, right! 🙂

Good on you for seeing your window and seizing your opportunity! Many people you retreat into safe territory but at the price of being unhappy in your job, I don’t think that safety is worth it. Or very safe either in a modern economy!

Thanks again for sharing your experience. We’re glad you like the pod! — Belinda

Angela Denly on 25/09/2015 at 4:40 pm

Interesting discussion. I’d agree that one of my biggest issues in my 30’s with young kids is getting out to networking events and carving out time to build my business – all my available “childcare time” is spent working and getting to breakfast events etc is a near-impossible challenge. I think the idea of people starting their own businesses is fascinating and demonstrates some trends I’ve been reading about the rise of freelancers. As younger people have seen that job security doesn’t exist anymore, it’s giving them the guts to just have a go out on their own, as it’s not really any less stable in the current job market.
- Hot Copy podcast on 30/09/2015 at 1:49 pm
  
  Carving out the time around the kids is SO hard @angeladenly:disqus. I hear you on that and I know Kate will agree. It’s definitely one of the biggest challenges anyone with a family faces. It can often mean taking on less work or paying more for child care… tough decisions to make when your business is in its infancy!
  
  Thanks for listening, and commenting! — Belinda
Matthew Morgan Fenwick on 28/09/2015 at 10:35 am

Really affirming stuff – for every age. I related to everything up to and including my age bracket (38, started my business at 34) and life stage (young kid + wife in a corporate job).

For me, having had a bunch of careers beforehand means that I bring a maturity to my work. Particularly having worked in Government, I can empathise with my more corporate clients who’re wrangling difficult internal stakeholders. (shameless plug: I wrote a book about going from working in government to running your own business – Life without lanyards: from public servant to entrepreneur – http://www.lifewithoutlanyards.com).

I made the career switch just before we had our first baby. I knew that starting a business after that was possible in theory, but felt I had a fairly narrow window. I am in awe of people like Kate who started a business at the same time as looking after a bub.

Even at my not-incredibly ancient age, I still had a sense that I’d left my run too late, so it was great to hear about copywriters of all ages who’ve made a go of it.

The big thing I wish I’d had before I started was specific marketing experience. I’d had heaps of writing experience, but more straight up journalism and corporate communications. I’ve had to learn marketing principles on the job, and seek mentoring from a few generous folk. That’s understanding’s really helpful for knowing how to target & structure copy.

For me, the big pro of leaving when I’m a bit older is that because I’ve written a lot more functional/corporate content, I’m not as precious about my work, or prone to writer’s block. I’ve learnt to just knock out a first draft, knowing that it’s going to be ordinary, but that it’s a place to start. That pragmatism, and getting the ego in check is massively helpfu for mel,
- Hot Copy podcast on 30/09/2015 at 1:53 pm
  
  Great perspective @matthewmorganfenwick:disqus- thanks for sharing it! We’ll even leave your plug in – you gotta get them in where you can, right! 🙂
  
  Good on you for seeing your window and seizing your opportunity! Many people you retreat into safe territory but at the price of being unhappy in your job, I don’t think that safety is worth it. Or very safe either in a modern economy!
  
  Thanks again for sharing your experience. We’re glad you like the pod! — Belinda