The best freelance copywriters never grow up

When I was a kid, I used to see how far I dare walk down the street with my eyes closed (18 steps in case you were wondering).

On car journeys, I’d fantasise that everything outside the car was animation.

In the bath, I’d put my head under the water to find out how long I could hold my breath.

Like all (?) kids I was always exploring – up trees, in the garden, down the back of the sofa; wherever I hadn’t been, I wanted to go and find out for myself.

The best freelance copywriters never lose that, ‘so, what if…’ spirit of adventure.

The best freelance copywriters fiddle and faff, tinker and tweak. They keep looking for new ideas and new ways to re-skin old ones.

So, what if the headline was upside down?

So, what if I used – Four. Single. Word. Sentences. All in a row?

That’s one of the many wonderful things about this job. There are always new things to learn and new ways to express yourself.

Every new client, every new project; it’s all an opportunity to say “So, what if…”

Keep going, keep learning

Even between client briefs (and let’s face it, we all get gaps), I’m always rooting around in the back drawers of my brain.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve cooked up a 100+ Backpocket Philosopher cartoon strips, done Sophie Cross‘ Thoughtfully Marketing Masterclass, stretched myself with Sarah Robb’s Brand Strategy Academy, mentored (aka learned a lot from) a gaggle of newbie Copywriters and there’s even a children’s book or two in the incubator.

In my opinion, the best freelance copywriters never get stuck in a rut, because, the best freelancers never grow up. And if you never grow up, you never fall out of love with discovering whatever the world wants to show you.

And guess what.

I still dare myself to walk down the street with my eyes closed (I will beat that 18 steps record one day).

On car journeys, I still fantasise that everything outside the car is animation, but because I’m the one driving now, I imagine I’m the animator.

And I can now hold my breath for 1 minute and 28 seconds.

Stay curious. x x x

Jonathan Wilcock (that’s me) is a Senior Freelance Copywriter.
You can drop me a line here, or email jonathan@sowhatif.co.uk