From School Essays To Launching A Copywriting Career You'll Love

About this episode

Are you tossing and turning over your exams, wondering if you will ever be able to launch a successful copywriting career? If you are constantly stressing about whether an English degree is actually worth it, or how you can stand out in a world obsessed with AI tools like ChatGPT, this episode of Behind the Future is exactly what you need. We are hanging out with Nicola Joyce, a freelance copywriter who has been crushing it in the fitness industry since 2004, to get the real truth about writing for a living.

Nicola’s story is the ultimate reminder that you don't need a perfectly mapped-out plan at seventeen. Even though she always loved writing stories and poetry at school, and dreamed of being a magazine journalist, she actually started out in London doing conference production, handling tasks she didn't even realise were copywriting! After facing a massive curveball when she was suddenly made redundant, she used that exact moment as the ultimate push to take the plunge into the freelance world. She also shares how her dedication to her personal passions, like training for years to swim the English Channel, gave her the grit and focus to carve out a highly successful niche combining her love for sports and writing.

We dive deep into the massive elephant in the room: artificial intelligence. If you are terrified about robots taking over your future copywriting career, Nicola drops some incredibly reassuring truths. She shares how some businesses tried using AI to write their fitness blogs, only to realise it completely lacked personality and a unique voice, resulting in heavy penalties from Google. They ended up having to hire her back to fix the entire mess! She reveals exactly why authentic, human creativity is completely irreplaceable.

Finally, Nicola spills her ultimate cheat codes for students wanting to break into the freelance world. Spoiler alert: you don't need to be the absolute greatest writer on the planet! She explains why simply being reliable, delivering what you promise, and being a genuinely nice person to work with will instantly put you ahead of the competition. Tune in to find out why making real-life connections, backing your own skills, and bringing your true human self to the table is the ultimate secret to winning in your copywriting career!

Behind the Future is a podcast for the next generation of digital talent, offering weekly interviews, real-world insights and career advice. Subscribe for more conversations like this, and follow us on TikTok and Instagram @aspirationdigital.

Hosts: Becky Simms & Bella Ashlee

Guest: Nicola Joyce

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