Are copywriters born... or are they made?

12 years ago

I suppose it could be a little bit of both. A person is born with talents, but whether they take the time to cultivate them is the crux of the matter.

As I have a bent toward writing, it would probably be easier for me to achieve the skills necessary to become an astounding copywriter, whereas, no matter how dedicated I would be to studying mathematics, I will never imagine myself a mathematician. I am just not wired that way.

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DanielMilstein

12 years ago

I agree with Chloe Emerson. It sure does require inborn talent. And then all it takes is sharpening those skills and developing them into a class apart. I have seen that some people are born with great skills but they never realize and put effort to hone them while some keep on trying but they never had that thing to be a great copywriter.

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ChrisKahler

12 years ago

The way I see it is this... EVERYONE is born with the ability to be an "elite" copywriter... can you talk to people? Carry a conversation?

The difference in trying to be an "elite" copywriter and being one is simply a matter of practicing. If you're able to communicate out loud, you can write in the style of copy.

It's only conversational writing. The persuasion part is learned. While yes some people are naturally good at persuading more so than others... they weren't "born" good persuaders. They figured out ways to convince people to do things through practice and effort.

Copywriting is a skill, and like other skills can be acquired successfully by ANYONE looking to do so.

I'd say the only thing a person can be born with that would make any difference to their success with copywriting is the innate desire to actually want to learn it. And I'm not even sure if that cuts the bill

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Ross Bowring

12 years ago

Originally Posted by ChrisKahler

The way I see it is this... EVERYONE is born with the ability to be an "elite" copywriter... can you talk to people? Carry a conversation?

Not sure about that. I've met a lot of people on two continents who find it very hard to talk to people and who struggle to carry on conversations.

I'd say some people are born with traits that would them a good copywriter. Language skills. Empathy. A knack for persuasion. To name just a few. But you still have to work like a mule to maximize those talents.

Micheal Jordan was feroious practice player. According to Hank Haney, the world's premier golf coach, Tiger Woods works harder on his game than anyone he's ever seen. So even if you have the tools... you've gotta "make yourself" into a force to be reckoned with.

--- Ross

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ChrisKahler

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Ross Bowring

Not sure about that. I've met a lot of people on two continents who find it very hard to talk to people and who struggle to carry on conversations.

I'd say some people are born with traits that would them a good copywriter. Language skills. Empathy. A knack for persuasion. To name just a few. But you still have to work like a mule to maximize those talents.

Micheal Jordan was feroious practice player. According to Hank Haney, the world's premier golf coach, Tiger Woods works harder on his game than anyone he's ever seen. So even if you have the tools... you've gotta "make yourself" into a force to be reckoned with.

--- Ross

Yeah maybe that statement was a bit broad... I guess I meant in a more general sense

I basically believe that communication, either vocally or written, is a skill like any other that's learned and mastered through practice.

Things such as persuasion and language skills can be acquired through willpower and learning

Just like what you said about MJ and Woods... they are masters at their craft, but what most don't realize is that what they've mastered is how to practice and get better.

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GuerrillaIM

12 years ago

You can do anything you put your mind to.

I find a lot of thing hard to pick up but when I stick in there I get extremely good at them because I have been on that journey to learn the skills.

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DougBarger 12 years ago

Copywriters are made.
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Darion

12 years ago

If the elite copywriters are born, it might make many of us feel very discouraged!

I'm in the school of thought that practice makes perfect. Experience can compensate for any insufficiencies in natural talent. Likewise, there is a limit to how much you can accomplish with natural talent without the actual experience. Some people may be born with a gift in copywriting, but the elite writers are always the ones who put their talents into good use through practice, practice, and more practice.

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Raydal

12 years ago

The old nature vs. nurture argument?

I think that selling is a gift. Some people even without
training seems to be natural at it, but I don't know if this
translates naturally into being a good copywriter.

Not every "talker" is a good writer, even though the advice
is often given that one should just write as he talks.

But in the final analysis, natural talent or not what you don't
use you'll lose.

-Ray Edwards

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Centurian 12 years ago

People are born with unique giftings.

While these natural giftings lay the foundation, it's the refinement of training and experience that brings forth the genius potential.

When my daughter as little, one day she went over to the piano and started playing things she heard. This revealed a natural gift, but with training and practice she has refined it into pure beauty.
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Jason Kanigan

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Raydal

The old nature vs. nature argument?

I think that selling is a gift. Some people even without
training seems to be natural at it, but I don't know if this
translates naturally into being a good copywriter.

Not every "talker" is a good writer, even though the advice
is often given that one should just write as he talks.

But in the final analysis, natural talent or not what you don't
use you'll lose.

-Ray Edwards

I have to point out that salespeople, just like copywriters, are made. Yes, there may be a little innate talent, but what's most important is commitment.

Good talkers don't necessarily make good salespeople. Listening & questioning skills are far more important. And most salespeople, just like most copywriters, aren't very good at what they do. Just "putting the time in" for the 10 years isn't enough.

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dbellm

12 years ago

I agree with what most people are saying here -- like any other pursuit, some people are born with innate talent for particular things. And a gifted "natural" could probably turn out decent copy with relatively little study or training.

But someone with mediocre talent who studies hard and works tirelessly at learning the craft could easily beat that person -- hard work can almost always trump lazy natural talent.

Now, having loads of talent and a strong work ethic? That's unstoppable.

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Lucy Writes

12 years ago

Probably most of them are people who are born with some kind of inherent writing talent, and then they train and practice in the art of copywriting in particular, gradually honing and perfecting their craft. After all, copywriting is different from regular writing, so even with a naturally gifted writer, it will still take training to get it down to perfection.

There are also people who may not have a natural gift for writing, but who can follow directions, see patterns, and emulate, and can thus learn to be good copywriters through those abilities if they are motivated to do so. It's kind of a "fake it till you make it" situation, and some people are better at it than others.

So I guess it really all depends on your particular talents, abilities, and desires.

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Jennie Heckel

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Lucy Writes

Probably most of them are people who are born with some kind of inherent writing talent, and then they train and practice in the art of copywriting in particular, gradually honing and perfecting their craft. After all, copywriting is different from regular writing, so even with a naturally gifted writer, it will still take training to get it down to perfection.

There are also people who may not have a natural gift for writing, but who can follow directions, see patterns, and emulate, and can thus learn to be good copywriters through those abilities if they are motivated to do so. It's kind of a "fake it till you make it" situation, and some people are better at it than others.

So I guess it really all depends on your particular talents, abilities, and desires.

I totally agree...

And here's an interesting note...

Most of the top copywriters CAN use BOTH sides of their brain...

They use both the logical and the emotional sides if their brain -- the left and the right sides in unison.

Most people just use one at a time, especially with men. Men generally just use one side of their brain at a time, while women normally use both. That is why (generally) -- men are more task oriented and women more multi-task oriented. (Women can think about and talk about 2 totally different things at the same time while that drives most men nuts!)

It is a proven scientific fact that most great copywriters have this unilateral ability.

The reason they can is because both the left and right hemisphers of their brain have more neuro-links between them. So they can use the total power of their logical thinking side and creative thinking side at the same time -- they effortlessly use both sides of their brain simultaneously.

Many great public speakers and world leaders do too. And motivational speakers... Like Tony Robbins etc.

Highly creative people are that way BECAUSE they naturally can use both sides of their brain (the ones that can't generally end up being unable to focus their talents in a constructive way... so although they may be creative geniuses they never complete a project...)

But this unilateral skill can be developed with training and lots of "creative sweat."

The fact remains....

Most writers are driven to write.

They LOVE to read what they write.

To write copy that SELLS, requires a writer tap into their emotional side to uncover and reveal the non-logical reason to buy as well as to understand and write about the logical reasons.

When they have honed their logical + emotional skills to persuasively write a story/sales letter -- you can tell a great piece of copy when you read it... You just KNOW it's great.

As a buyer...

YOU FEEL the emotional impact behind the copy.

You FEEL EMPATHIZED with. You CONNECT. You BUY.

That is why a great copywriter writes emotion driven copy. And...
You are compelled TO BUY!

A copywriter that can connect with the both the logical and the emotional side of the reader in their copy -- can effortlessly SELL.

That is awesome power!

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Desiree0813

12 years ago

Thanks for all of the great replies and insight

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DanielMilstein

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Desiree0813

I'm curious... when it comes to elite copywriters - are they born or are they made?

You just hve to take a look at the written material and you can judge that whether it has been written by some one who has a natural knack of writing or by some one who has started writing.. At least I can do that easily. A natural flow has a correct mix of strong words and a cent vocabulary. Where as a new ariter will put a major emphasis on the vocab. and if he has excellent English, he will try to use the words that have more general meaning but are new and strong.. Entirely my opinion!

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maximus242

12 years ago

they're made by bleeding from their wrists until it runs down their desk

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microsoftofd

12 years ago

I suppose it could be a little bit of both. A person is born with talents, but whether they take the time to cultivate them is the crux of the matter.

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appreviewsubmit

8 years ago

Chloe Emerson your avatar is very funny )

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Are copywriters born... or are they made?

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