As you know, we’re always reading the latest books on productivity, marketing, leadership, and more so you know how to prioritize your reading list. But here we wanted to give you some, let’s say, lighter reading.

This list of books includes works written by famous copywriters. (Well…copywriters who became famous from their books. There really aren’t “famous” copywriters in the sense that our field is extremely collaborative and the best ad concepts are often the result of multiple minds.) It’s no surprise that many copywriters love writing fiction, too. (If that’s you, you’re in good company. Just remember to keep drafts of your novel on a separate website from your online portfolio!)

But, as you know, copywriting is one of the only (if not the only) well-paid jobs for writers. So, like many of us, these writers had to write their novel in their off-hours.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

After working as a copywriter and creative director in technology, medicine, and education, Bonnie Garmus wrote her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry.

Her career, like many of the other novelists listed here, didn’t begin with writing fiction. Instead, she started her career as an editor for a scientific publisher. Fun fact: That’s where she met the scientist who fact-checked Lessons in Chemistry, which, though not a stuffy science manual, is packed with scientific facts.

She also briefly wrote computer manuals before, as you can guess, she got pretty bored with that. It may come as no surprise, then, that Garmus decided to set up her own copywriting business. As she’s been quoted saying, “if you work for an [advertising] agency you can’t ever turn down projects, and I never wanted to find myself writing about toilet paper.”

Language of Truths: Essays 2003-2020 by Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie has authored several acclaimed books, including Midnight’s Children, which won the 1981 Booker Prize. Many people know him because his work is controversial in some circles, leading to assassination attempts and death threats.

But what many people don’t know is that before Rushdie achieve fame with his literary writing, he was a copywriter at acclaimed advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather.

It was during his tenure here that he supposedly wrote Midnight’s Children. He’s also credited with coming up with the line “irresistibubble” to describe Nestlé’s Aero chocolate bars. He also spent some time at Ayer Barker working on the American Express account.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

After Fitzgerald served a brief stint in the Army during World War I (fortunately never deploying overseas), he moved to New York City. He began his copywriting career after he was unsuccessful at landing a newspaper job.

At the time, he worked for the Barron Collier advertising agency—and received over 120 rejections for his short stories.

(If you’re ever feeling down about your pitching, just think about this!) Fitzgerald eventually quit his advertising job to go all-in on his first novel, This Side of Paradise.

Sex and the Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown

Helen Gurley Brown’s story feels a little bit like Peggy’s on Mad Men. Gurley got her start at Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency as a secretary, but once the agency spotted her writing talent, she became a copywriter.

She is said to have been one of the highest-paid copywriters in the 1960s.

After her advertising career, she went on to write the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times bestselling Sex and the Single Girl, an advice book that encouraged women’s financial independence, among other topics. She was also editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine from 1965 to 1997, where she evolved it from a literary magazine to one aimed at single career-women.

The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson

It may seem like James Patterson has spent his entire life churning out fiction, but his first job post college was in New York at J. Walter Thompson. As a junior copywriter at the advertising agency, Patterson wrote his first book The Thomas Berryman Number as a side hustle.

Yup, that’s right, fiction writing used to be a side hustle—for James Patterson! He spent 25 years (more than two decades!) of his career in advertising.

That first book? The one that launched it all? It was rejected by more than 30 publishers. When it was finally accepted, it won the Edgar aware for best first mystery. But he didn’t have a bestseller until age 40 and didn’t pursue writing full-time until a few years later.

These are just a handful of writers who have made their living from copywriting. Others you may have heard of? Kurt Vonnegut, Mary Higgins Clark, and Joseph Heller (who worked alongside Higgins Clark at Remington Rand).

But all of them prove one thing that bears repeating: persistence is the key to success in any industry. (And if you need some inspiration in the persistence department, we’ve got you covered with book recommendations. You can find them right here >>)

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Business Books for Copywriters

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

Your Turn

What other books are written by copywriters? Share your favorites in the comments!

Psst: This post contains affiliate links.

The post 5 Books to Read Written by Copywriters appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Often, we’re faced with several open doors…but we self-sabotage and get in our own way. When we have an an opportunity (or several opportunities!), it’s all too easy to not take action toward it, whether because we don’t know how, we’re fearful of doing so or some combination of the two.

Whatever the reason, it’s easy for us to spiral into negative thinking. We start to believe our thoughts—even if they’re not based in any fact—and it can derail us from achieving success (not to mention derail us from other non-copywriting goals like building meaningful relationships).

Our Book Pick

If you’re looking for not only ways you can shift these thoughts and behaviors but also how to make those mindset and behavior changes stick, then you’re going to love this book pick: Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior by Mark Goulston and Philip Goldberg.

The book explains why we self-sabotage ourselves in the first place before going over easy-to-implement steps that allow you to transform forty (yes, 40!) self-defeating behaviors. It turns out, we’re really good at getting in our own way!

While there are dozens of behaviors, several—procrastination, anger, self-pity, quitting too soon, and inaction—are common behaviors that rear their head when we try to learn something new as adults.

Goulston, who has 20 years of psychiatric clinical practice, shares tactics that have helped his patients overcome pain, fear, and confusion.

What You’ll Learn

The book may not reveal any new surprises, but it will likely provide you a new take and ways to approach these self-sabotaging behaviors. At the very least, it will remind you not to beat yourself up when you catch yourself doing these behaviors, but rather remind you that you have the power to adjust your mindset and your response.

Each of the 40 behaviors is discussed in only a couple of pages, making it less overwhelming to read, as you can pinpoint behaviors you know you need to fix first. But the others are worth reading as you may not even realize some of the ways you’re getting in your own way!

Each behavior includes anecdotes that help bring them to life (and make the content relatable).

So, ready to turn those negative voices in your head off? (Or at least lower their volume?) Let’s do this.

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Stay Focused Year-Round

Your Turn

What’s your #1 self sabotaging behavior you want to work on and what’s your plan to work on it? Share in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: How to Get Out of Your Own Way and Achieve Copywriting Success appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

As copywriters, we do a lot of work on our own. After all, the actual writing of copy is a fairly solitary job. But often, we need to collaborate. With designers, yes, but also with project managers, marketing managers, and other key stakeholders within an organization.

The Importance of Collaboration

This is true whether you work in an ad agency or on an in-house team. Even as a freelancer, you may not consider the people you work with your “colleagues” in the traditional sense, but while you’re working for a given client, their team becomes your colleagues.

Now, this may sound obvious, but it’s crucial to act professionally as a freelancer. You’d be shocked by how many freelancers, copywriters or otherwise, don’t. Those are the folks that churn through clients, never landing a repeat project and consistently wondering what they’re doing wrong. But it’s not hard to stand out and ensure you’re providing the professional service your clients expect.

That’s where Tell Me More: How to Ask the Right Questions and Get the Most Out of Your Employees by Michael Sherlock comes in.

Our Book Pick

Another book for your copywriting toolbox, Tell Me More helps you change the way you approach collboration.

Sherlock is a sales communications strategist and global sales leadership expert. In this book (the first in her Shock Your Potential series), she takes you through her “Listen, Learn, and Lead” framework.

First, you’ll learn to embrace active listening. Then, using the information gained during this active listening, you’ll learn how to unpack any issue, as well as how to follow up and follow through.

Tell Me More is unique in that, unlike other leadership books, this one is told through the eyes of a fictional character. The story makes it easier to process concepts versus reading dry “how-to” instructions that make it hard to understand how they work in action. With this book, you’re taken through a real scenario to see how it all works.

While it’s aimed at those who have direct reports, the information in the book is still applicable to copywriters in any situation:

• Developing positive relationships? Check.
• Turning negative situations into positive with honest and direct communication? Check.
• Developing leadership qualities like humility, fairness, and empathy? Check, check, check!

Developing strong partnerships with designers from the first conversation is crucial. You want to have a partnership that ensures you can work together towards a common goal versus letting small annoyances start to fester.

These skills can also improve your relationships with clients. Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students know, clients want to work with a partner. Rather than sit back and wait for clients to just hand you work, how can you help them reach their goals? What solutions do you see that would make their lives (and by extension yours) easier?

This is a must read if you have your sights set on a copy manager or lead copywriter role within an organization, or if you plan to take your business to the next level by starting an agency or outsourcing work (such as hiring a virtual assistant).

Bonus: Listen to Michael’s Podcast

If you’re a podcast fan (and we hope you are; take a listen to the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast), then you may love Michael Sherlock’s Shock Your Potential podcast. Each month has a theme and includes episodes that will help you grow both personally and professionally. Take a listen wherever you listen to your podcasts!

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

Your Turn

What are your tips for collaborating more effectively and building strong relationships with your colleagues and clients? Tell us in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: How Copywriters Can Collaborate More Effectively appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Money: whether we’re thinking about how much more we want to make in our copywriting business or, alternatively, how scared we are to not make money as a copywriter (or both!), our hang-ups about money are often what cause us to hold ourselves back or even prevent us from fully committing to and pursuing our copywriting careers.

Negative Thoughts About Money

If you’re the type of person who has been saying things to yourself like:

“I could never quit my job.”

Or: “Not now. Maybe in a few months.”

Or how about: “I just don’t have the money for that!”

Then this month’s book recommendation is definitely one you want to put to the top of your reading list. (Really, Reese’s next book club pick can wait )

Our Book Pick

The Illusion of Money: Why Chasing Money Is Stopping You from Receiving It by Kyle Cease offers tools so you can break past these self-imposed roadblocks you’re creating and realize your full potential in using the skills and knowledge you have at your disposal.

We all have work to do on our money mindset, but where Cease begins is…well…at the beginning, addressing our ingrained beliefs about money and how we can break past these excuses we create in the name of safety.

Rather than letting ourselves argue for our limitations, Cease shares ways to argue for your goals.

With several exercises throughout, the book will prompt you to really pause and work on your money mindset, rather than just read about it (you know we’re all about taking action!).

To be clear, we are 100% not advocating everyone quit their jobs and pursue their dreams tomorrow. (Some of you may love your jobs and want to pursue copywriting as a side hustle!)

But we are advocating you push past any limiting beliefs you may be carrying (and perhaps not even realize). Money is one of the major ways we limit ourselves, and working through these limiting beliefs may help you realize others you need to work on, too.

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters

Your Turn

What do you need to work on when it comes to your money mindset? Share in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: Why Your Obsession With Money is Getting in the Way of Your Copywriting Success appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

We talk all the time, but how often do we evaluate how effective we are at communicating? (And how often do we say we write copy, we don’t speak it?)

Our Book Pick

In It’s the Way You Say It: Second Edition: Becoming Articulate, Well-Spoken, and Clear, Carol A. Fleming shares how you can not only become aware of how you communicate but how you can more effectively communicate with those around you (copywriting clients, your design partner, a project manager, and, yup, even your friends and family!).

Communication Skills You’ll Learn

And while many of these tips are aimed at verbal communication, they’ll certainly help you with your copywriting. (Communicating clearly by choosing the right words? That’s what we do!)

Communication in the Workplace

There is even an entire section devoted to communication in the workplace. So, if you’re nervous about saying “no” to a client, asking for the raise, or ensuring your teammates understood you in the meeting right, you can find ways to most effectively get your message across in any setting.

So, while we know we’ll never speak copy, we can become more effective communicators as copywriters and ensure our verbal presentation is just as professional as the copy docs we deliver!

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters
• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy

Watch More

In this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate share their top tips for effectively communicating with clients, right from the initial outreach, all the way to project completion. Listen in now to make sure you *never* end up at a client’s beck and call!

Your Turn

What are your tips for effective communication? Share them in the comments below and, if you read the book, let us know what you think!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Many of you have already read Start With Why by Simon Sinek, but in case you need a refresher, it explains what the most impactful leaders have in common: a deep reason, or “why,” for doing what they do. Without a why, the what you do won’t matter. You’ll eventually burn out, give up, or simply slog through each day.

But that’s not the book we’re recommending here (though we do recommend you read it!). This book will take your personal introspection one step further.

Our Book Pick

Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team is essentially the companion workbook to Start With Why.

The book includes both finding your personal “why” and a “why” for a group. For many of us, if we’re approaching finding our why for our copywriting careers, we’ll dig into the individual section.

This section takes you through the process of discovering the purpose, cause, or belief that drives you.

But that’s just the beginning.

Identify Your Why and How

Once you’ve identified your “why,” it’s time to figure out your “how,” as in how you bring your why to life! As Sinek explains, the hows aren’t aspirational. They’re how you act when you’re at the top of your game. By knowing the actions you take that allow you to be your best, you can ensure that you’re creating the environment in which you’ll thrive.

Take a Stand

Finally, the “take a stand” section helps you “do the things you say you believe.” Basically, it helps you walk the walk. This is the hard part, but as anyone in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy knows, anything worth doing is outside your comfort zone and taking action, even small actions, will help you get where you want to go. You’ll never grow if you don’t push yourself!

So, what’s your why? Your true why? Dig into this workbook and discover it!

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters
• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy

Your Turn

If you’re comfortable, share your why in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: Find Your Why (Companion Notebook to “Start With Why”) appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Copywriting Strategies: A No-Nonsense Guide to Writing Persuasive Copy for Your Business, written by the founder of Filthy Rich Writer, Nicki Krawczyk, is a clear and easy-to-understand introduction to fundamental copywriting principles. It also includes working examples of how the principles come to live in a variety of scenarios and in several different types of projects.

This book is not only a way for prospective copywriters to dip their toes into the field, but also for working copywriters to get a refresher on key concepts. And, while teaching business owners these rules makes them better clients, the “how to hire a copywriter” section prepares them for the goal of hiring a copywriter—and gives copywriters an inside look at what potential clients are thinking in the hiring process.

• Learn the essentials for crafting persuasive copy, including the Ten Rules of Copywriting, common misconceptions, and writing in the digital age.
• Put principles into practice with strategy sessions, real-life examples of great copywriting, and “call to action” sections that challenge you to use what you’ve learned.
• Build on your new copywriting skills with specific tips to create marketing communications for your clients (and your own!) branding, websites, emails, digital ads, social posts, and more.

Click here to get your copy now! >>

Get Your Exclusive Pre-Order Bonus Trainings

From now until January 18, you can get TWO free exclusive bonus trainings from Nicki when you pre-order your copy of Copywriting Strategies.

These bonuses are only available if you pre-order, so if you want these bonus trainings, reserve your copy now!

Get all the details about how you can pre-order your copy and immediately get your bonus trainings right here.

The post Get Your Copy of “Copywriting Strategies” by Our Own Nicki Krawczyk appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

‘Tis the season of giving…and giving ourselves a little something for moving our business forward this year. For this year’s Copywriter Gift Guide, the entire Filthy Rich Writer team has given their suggestions for office must-haves, can’t-miss books, and more.

If you’re looking for a gift for the copywriter in your life, we know you’ll find something they’ll love. And if you’re looking to treat yourself, we hope you find something that helps you move your business forward (yes, self care helps move business forward!).

Self-Care Gifts

Self care is important to our team. We work hard, but we also know we need to take care of ourselves in order to do our best work. Here are just a few of the items that help our team avoid burnout.

Neck Massager

Footrest

A Tumbler for Hot and Cold Beverages

Copywriter-Approved Planners

Like most writers, we love a good planner. You can make your own for (virtually) free, but if you’re one of those people who is motivated by nice stationery (welcome to the club), check out our team’s favorites.

Copywriter Office Essentials

You know what we say: There’s really one cost to starting a copywriting business (your online portfolio). But there are a few things that you may want to consider investing in as you start to get more clients.

Coffee Shop-Worthy Coffee Maker

Good Lighting for Video Calls

A Sticky Note Alternative

Must-Read Books for Copywriters

You know we love a good book recommendation. (If you’re not on our email list, make sure you get on it to read along with our monthly book recommendation!) Here are just a few recent books our team has enjoyed.

The Bravest You: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business

The High Five Habit: Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit

Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business

If you’re treating yourself to one of these gifts, remember to ask your CPA or accounting expert whether you can deduct any of your office-specific purchases on your taxes! It’s like a gift that keeps on giving.

Your turn! What are some of the must-have items on your list this year? Tell us in the comments below!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

The post Best Gifts for Copywriters appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

In many areas of our lives, we’re improvising without even knowing it. Even the most careful planners know that it’s extremely rare for any event to go exactly as intended. Despite thinking we know what someone is going to say or how someone is going to react, the outcomes of conversations or events may surprise us. As Patricia Ryan Madson, author of Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up, says, “We can count on chaos.” So, how do we better think on our feet, particularly in the middle of that chaos?

The Takeaway

Improv Wisdom breaks down 13 strategies used in improv that can help us show up more fully in our personal and professional lives. And it has nothing to do with comedic ability or wit.

Madson, who retired from full-time teaching at Stanford in 2005, draws on her decades of experience into simple strategies that you can start practicing, without ever stepping foot on a stage.

The book’s 13 strategies are each broken down with exercises so you can practice each one and find the tactics that are most helpful to you. Some like “start anywhere” and “act now” are especially helpful for copywriters combating blank-page syndrome or not knowing how to begin working on a project.

The Strategies

With the “start anywhere” strategy, the idea is to start chipping away at any little piece because once you get into a project, you’ll have a much better idea of what’s needed and can start organizing your to-do list around what you find. In the “act now” section, Madson says, “You don’t need to feel like doing something to do it,” with tips on how to take action in those tough moments.

She also advises to pursue ideas that come to your mind first, which may sound antithetical to our copywriting brains. How often do you find yourself thinking, “this is my first idea, it can’t be the one I use” or some version of that thought process? Madson points out this is our brains throwing up unnecessary road blocks. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue multiple ideas, but we shouldn’t immediately discount our first idea just because it’s the “first.”

One of our favorite lines is where Madson says to stop trying to flee the “wobble.” The more we become familiar with the “wobble” or uncertainty, the less frightening it becomes.

So, with that, we’d encourage you to try some of the improv techniques in this book and see how they help improve your copywriting process. We have a feeling they’ll help not only improve your copywriting itself but your mindset when it comes to pitching and talking with clients!

Read More: 5 Surprising Places to Find Copy Inspiration

When you need to come up with a concept for a project, sometimes it’s easy and sometimes your creativity could use a refill. But where do you refill it? Here we delve into some sources for topping off your font of creativity that might not be what you’d expect.

Your Turn

What are your tactics for dealing with uncertainty? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Using Improv to Improve Your Copywriting appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

As copywriters, or any other type of professional quite frankly, we’re always looking for ways to work smarter and happier. If that sounds like you, you’ll want to check out The Leading Brain: Neuroscience Hacks to Work Smarter, Better, Happier.

Neuropsychologist Friederike Fabritius and leadership expert Dr. Hans W. Hagemann have put together strategies that will help you find your “sweet spot” (those moments when you’re performing at your peak), regulate your emotions (a.k.a. keep your cool on client calls), sharpen your focus for longer stretches, eliminate bad habits, build healthy habits, learn more effectively, and more.

The authors talk about looking at setbacks as temporary and to look at these setbacks as a challenge versus treating them as threats. This is part of regulating our negative emotions in order to perform at our best.

You’ll also be happy to know that this idea of “peak performance” is not about operating in a state of stress. In fact, when you’re operating at your best, you aren’t stressed. Instead, you feel like your tasks are easy to accomplish, you feel creative, and ideas come to you. It sounds like a copywriter’s wildest dream, right?

The book also digs into creating psychologically safe workplaces. As an on-staff copywriter, you have the opportunity to create a positive environment for your team. But you also have that opportunity when you’re a freelancer, too! We need to make sure we’re appreciating and respecting our own work, whether on staff or as a freelancer. If you wouldn’t tolerate a boss yelling at you or talking down to you, why would you tolerate doing it to yourself?

So, if you’re ready to overcome unnecessary blocks you’re creating for yourself and find your copywriting flow state, give this book a read and let us know what you think!

Your Turn! What tactics do you use to work smarter and happier? Share it with the community in the comments below!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

The post Finding Your Copywriting Flow State appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.