How to Discover Your Process as a Copywriter
Yes, You Have a Process
Even if you’re starting from scratch. When you’re ready to make the transition from ‘other’ industry into full-time writing, there are a few things you absolutely have to have:
A body of work
An understanding of your process or approach
An ability to speak fluently about writing (aka: interview prep)
Numbers 1 and 3 disserve their own blog posts, coming soon. This post will focus on 2, Understanding your process or approach.
Let’s say you have zero writing experience. Remember a time when you needed to solve a problem creatively.
Your mind will probably ask something like:
What was the problem?
What was the main objective?
What were the hurdles to overcome?
What was the first step I took?
What was the second step?
What did the middle of the process look like?
When did I know the project was complete?
When you start writing copy projects, your brain will likely assume the same solution-focused outline. In other words, you would probably tackle a writing project like any other problem to solve, so the approaches will be similar. This is a perfect place to start identifying your signature writing approach.
How to Identify Your Signature Process as a Copywriter
Uncovering your approach to a writing project is important because they’re going to ask in interviews and the better you can explain your style when it comes to writing, the easier they’ll see how you’d fit in as a member of their team or what you’d be like to worth with.
Another reason this is important is because you’ll end up working on projects that are better aligned to your skill set, be able to communicate with team members or clients about expectations, and understand what resources you need to do a good job.
Echoing the section above, you can think back to a creative solution and map out your steps. That’s the basic outline of your process. Or, if you want to see your process take shape in the real world, write something and pay attention to the why and the what: why you’re making decisions and what steps are you taking.
You will need a content brief and a client. Once you have those, you can start the project slowly and recognize when you make any decisions.
What triggered the decision? What did you decide was your first step and why? What were the following steps? Are you including anything you feel is special or unusual in your process and why? How do you decide when a project is complete? What are your considerations before you begin the project?
Steps to Identifying Your Approach
Choose a project (what made you select this? This can speak to your natural priorities or interests)
What is your first move? (Market/target research? Topic Research, Outlining the project?)
Take note of each decision and step you make. Write them down.
Keep moving through the assignment, taking notes of what you’re looking for, what your goals are, how and what you’re writing.
Complete the assignment (edits, formatting, etc.)
Look at the list you’ve created during the process and start to organize and refine it.
Your completed process is an editing list - feel free to add a short paragraph explaining the steps.
The most work you do here, the easier it will be for you to communicate how you work and what value you bring to a copywriting role.
Write down every decision and step you take throughout the process. After the project is complete, go back to your list and refine it to an easy numbered list and walk yourself through it. The more familiar you are with this the better.
Your Process Will Evolve - and That’s Okay
The approach you begin with will not be the same as your approach in a year or three years. As you become more experienced, your process will evolve. Over time you might find that you’re losing some steps and adding others, your turnaround time will become more solidified, and your value as a writer will go up.
The key here is to expect your process to evolve. Don’t let the idea that it’s not where it “should be” stop you from starting. Everyone starts at zero and you can develop your signature writing style as quickly or slowly as you’d like.
What’s Next?
If you’re having trouble remembering the exact steps you take to tackle a project, then you might need to complete a new one.
Now that you are aware of the process it takes to discover and identify your unique approach to writing, you’ll be keyed into it when you begin your next writing assignment. You can develop a concept and sample client on your own to give your project real-life scope. Or if that sounds like way too much work upfront before you ever start ideating your copy, check out my plug-and-play writer’s portfolio Canva templates with 11 done-for-you content prompts with a sample client backstory.
You’ll be able to dive right into your project and zero in on your signature process without extra effort.