Tell us a bit about you!
Art, freelance copywriter who dwells between the Peaks and the Dales!
How long have you been freelancing, and why did you start?
Been at it for a few years now, as I didn’t feel comfortable spending so much time in the city; high rents and crime rates don’t make for a relaxing way of life!
Let’s talk about the start of your day – are you an early riser, or a night owl?
Night owl for sure, but I work with a lot of North American clients, so most of them are still in bed when I get up anyway. I usually kick things off a little after 9am.
Do you work from home?
I do. I can’t get on board with the idea of working from coffee shops; knowing my luck, someone (very possibly me) will spill a mocha all over my laptop.
What’s your morning routine before you start work?
This might sound strange, but I pick an outfit to reflect what I’m working on that day; for health and fitness, I’ll wear sweats and a sports top, if I’m writing about financial services, I’ll put on an Oxford shirt or something.
Do you take a lunch break?
Yes, although not always at lunch. The freedom to break up my day when I’m running low on inspiration is one of the things I love most about freelancing.
How do you keep motivated? Do you have any particular techniques?
Regular breaks keep my mind fresh; if I’m not feeling it, I won’t try to force it. It just results in lacklustre copy that I’ll have to rewrite anyway.
What time do you tend to sign off for the day?
Usually? Around 6pm. Last night was a bit of an exception, as I worked from 8am through ’til about 9pm!
Tell us – what’s your favourite thing about freelancing?
The clue’s in the name – it makes me feel like I’m free. Unless there’s a deadline looming I can go for a quick hike, make a nice lunch or do whatever I feel like doing!
And your least favourite thing about freelancing?
The admin side of things. When I was just about to go freelance, someone told me I’d spend 2 days out of the week issuing invoices, chasing money, writing proposals or emails and so on. I didn’t believe them at the time, but they were absolutely right!
What tools/apps/gadgets/things could you not live without as a freelancer?
My old MacBook was about five years old and I finally replaced it recently. Now that I have, I don’t know how I managed with the old one for so long. I’ve also got a raised monitor that cuts down on the shoulder and neck ache!
Where can we find you online?
www.copywritingisart.com
www.twitter.com/artcopywriter
The Big Question – What’s the secret to your success?
Grafting! I’m a bit like Del Boy in that I’ve managed to pick up work all over the place, from the local gym (ok fine, the pub) to Twitter. I think having a solid portfolio of varied work to send people that I’m proud of also helps!
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