Why did you choose a career in copywriting and how did you get into it?

I wanted to be a journalist before I left school, but I ended up working in an office instead of going to college, so it didn’t happen. Then when I moved to mainland Spain from Ibiza and I wanted to work from home. I decided to do a copywriting course so that I could write for a living at last.

What work are you most proud of?

The first piece of work I did as a copywriter. I remember feeling sick with nerves as I pressed the send button. Luckily, he liked it and it was a real boost to my confidence.

What piece of copy do you really wish you’d written?

I love anything that makes me laugh. I think we need more humour. I know it’s not appropriate for everything, but there’s nothing better than after a bad day coming across something that makes you smile.

What do you do if you hit a bit of writer’s block?

Make a cup of tea.

What are your favourite and least favourite writing-related tasks?

My least favourite is having a deadline to meet and finding it difficult to concentrate for whatever reason. My favourite tasks are researching and writing about topics that teach you something interesting that you didn’t know. For example, I am getting really good at answering geography questions on Pointless because of the travel writing I do!

Any copywriting pet hates?

Clients who ask if a word should have been spelt with a z and not an s – grr… I like to stick to British English if I am writing for a British business. My kids are Spanish so they have (British) English as a subject at school. It drives me mad when they say things like “mum, the teacher said that the word colour hasn’t got a u.” They get very confused.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve been given?

My friends and family were very supportive when I first started out and the main things that were said were “believe in yourself and don’t give up”.

What advice would you give to people starting out on a copywriting career?

If you haven’t got a portfolio, you can set up your own blog and use that to showcase your work. Using freelance sites can help you to gain confidence and get useful feedback. Oh, and learn how to market yourself (I am very bad at this.)

What’s your favourite thing about being a copywriter?

The variety. I love the fact that within the space of a week or so I can be saying I must do more exercise as I am writing about mountain climbing and thinking if I didn’t have three teenagers I could afford to have a facial peel. Then, hoping that when I am very old I can afford a mobility scooter and whizz about town at 4mph frightening people who insist on walking along looking at their mobile phones and not at what’s ahead of them!

Why do you find PCN membership useful?

I like it because it’s a place where I can read about the challenges and successes of other copywriters and it’s useful if you need advice. You know there are other people who do what you do and will help you if they can.

Where can people find out more about you?

Through my website at www.bluebeancopywriting.co.uk or my LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-cameron-69440b86/