Clean in Muscatine: Famous Writers Who Started As Copywriters

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F. Scott Fitzgerald came up with, "We Keep You Clean In Muscatine," for a steam laundry in Muscatine, Iowa. Here are several famous writers who started in advertising:

Six Authors Who Were Copywriters First - The Awl!
#copywriting #clean #copywriters #famous #muscatine #started #writers
  • Joe,

    That's far from a complete list. Here are some of the better known former copywriters turned authors that aren't mentioned in that article:

    Peter Carey
    Eric Ambler
    William S. Burroughs
    Phillip Kerr
    Lee Child (Worked in TV programming in the UK where he wrote thousands of commercials, trailers, and news stories.)
    James Patterson (Former Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson Ad Agency)



    Copywriters who became Well-Known Movie Screenwriters

    Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back)
    Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys, The Fisher King)

    Hope that helps,

    Mike

    P.S. Found this interesting opinion piece on why copywriters may make better authors. I have no affiliation with the website or the author of the piece.

    Do Copywriters Make Better Authors?
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  • Not forgetting Ridley Scott.

    Lots of blockbuster movies and TV shows.

    And the "1984" Apple TV Ad.


    Steve
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  • "For many writers struggling for publication, advertising has proven a useful field (it does pay, after all)"

    The implication that copywriters are failed or struggling fiction writers is silly. I have written poetry and short fiction since my teens and I can tell you I find copywriting much more stimulating to write and work on.

    I still enjoy writing fiction and poetry, but I'm not copywriting because I haven't succeeded as a fiction writer, I'm doing it because I love it.

    Period.
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  • Didn't realise Don DeLillo was an ad man too. Interesting article, thanks for sharing.
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