Fortnightly update 70: 01.08.2022 to 14.08.2022
In this series, I share my fortnight-to-fortnight triumphs (and failures) as a writer. Despite all the ups and downs, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Copywriting
I took some massive steps with my copywriting this fortnight.
I finally got my templates (my briefing questionnaire, proposal, invoice, copy deck, and final approval templates) to a usable state and started stress-testing my copywriting process with a friend. I want to make sure my clients know they’re in good hands from the get-go, and a tried-and-tested process is an integral part of this.
I also improved the way I track my weekdays, using a weighted system so I know which things I spend my time on are more valuable. I’m thinking about polishing the spreadsheet and making it available to download from my website or somewhere else. More on that soon.
Another small but important improvement is my new URL, nickpetroucopywriter.com. My previous one, nspetrou.com, didn’t include my first name nor the word copywriter, so this was a logical change.
Copywriting: Frontier Media
Frontier Media is a media production company specialising in YouTube content, with its two largest channels being The Front and Geetsly’s. Between October 2019 and this month, I wrote around 250 scripts for them, mostly for The Front, but I’m now going to step away from it. The work is more content writing than copywriting, and I’m eager to try new things.
Some of the videos I wrote the scripts for have yet to come out, however, so I’ll still share those here. The two videos on the Japanese perspective are pretty interesting. I always enjoyed researching war propaganda, and I got to do heaps of that while writing those scripts.
Short fiction
I’m currently submitting short fiction, mostly flash fiction and short stories, to online magazines and such for publication.
My short fiction has been on the back burner for a while now, if I’m being honest. I’m still chipping away at it, but my copywriting business is my main focus. I pulled my story The Cunningham House from my submission pool this fortnight because I’m finding it impossible to match with a publication and I reckon it’d go well on my podcast, Spinning Yarns with Nick & Paddy. Patrick and I are setting up a meeting this week to discuss season two, so look forward to that.
Here are this fortnight’s stats (I’ve stopped recording total rejections because I no longer think it’s a great measure):
Submissions: 2
Pending: 6 (6 stories; 0 sim subs)
Rejections: 2
Acceptances: 0
Thoughts
I made some big decisions this fortnight and got a lot done. My mindset is changing for the better. My goals are clearer, not just in my work but in the rest of my life as well. Change is scary, but it’s also exciting.
Thanks for reading <3