Copywriting As a Springboard
Asked by Linda on April 16, 2020
I thought my writing was on hold as I act as caregiver to my parents and father-in-law. But my public journaling of my experiences in caregiving caught the eye of a friend who works as the senior marketing manager of an internet company. I now have a copywriting job with this company. A gift from God! The first project was very well-received. Am I correct in thinking this will help to catch an agent’s or publisher’s eye when I try to publish my book? I’ve had shorter items (devotionals, children’s story, small magazine items) published, but nothing of great magnitude. Can this new position act as a springboard for future endeavors? If so, what should be my next step? How can I maximize the impact of this new position?
Technical issues kept me from all but 10 minutes of your office hours today. But what I saw showed you looking well. Very good to see. Stay healthy!
Jerry's Answer
Hmm, why do you seem surprised to see me well, Linda? :)
Yes, your new position and the fact that you have publishing experience will go a long way in your garnering the interest of a publisher when you're ready to shop a book. Too many people dive in with no experience, trying to begin their writing career with a book--akin to starting their education in graduate school when they should be in elementary school.
Being discovered by an agent or a publisher is rare (but it happens). More likely, you seek them out when you have a project you're ready to market. That's where and when you make them aware of your experience.