What About Pictures and John Carlton?

It totally depends on your attitude, and your client.

If you insist that you have full creative control over the project, then be prepared to screen out anyone who won't allow you that.

Otherwise, some clients will provide graphics already done. Others will have you write the copy, give suggestions, and then go separately source the design help.

Still others will have no idea what to do, and expect you to give them all the direction.

Design is an important element of selling; however, it's not 100% necessary to have images. Plenty of things have been sold using only words, and the "theater of the mind."

You probably can't go wrong with training courses but really ask yourself if you're interested in committing to this. Copywriting is a lifelong commitment. You may be better served to read Ogilvy, Kennedy, Caples and such to find out if it's for you.

1. Visual elements can have a huge impact (for good or bad), or little impact at all. When you use them effectively, they're supplementing the message of the copy.

2. Depends on the client. As a copywriter, you should probably be including those ideas in your copy, but it's not solely your responsibility. I trust an experience graphic designer on those things more than I trust myself (usually). I usually add suggestions into the comments of the doc I send. It's up to the client whether and how to implement them. I'll take a look again once the visual elements are applied, and give my advice. Sometimes I have to go to bat for something I really like, or against something I don't think will work.

3. Those are awesome copywriters. If you're brand new, I might hold off on laying down serious cash for a course when there are plenty of free resources to learn from, and plenty of books from the masters you can get for <$40. Check the stickies in this forum for lots of info for beginners.

Thanks for your answers guys.