Comments on: Copywriting is an art, not a science http://www.abccopywriting.com/blog/2009/08/24/copywriting-is-an-art-not-a-science/ Advice and reflections from a freelance copywriter Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:18:49 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul, copySnips.com http://www.abccopywriting.com/blog/2009/08/24/copywriting-is-an-art-not-a-science/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Paul, copySnips.com Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:10:04 +0000 http://www.abccopywriting.com/blog/?p=156#comment-56 Interesting. I beg to differ just a little bit. Not too much, because I agree there is an art to copywriting, and copywriting IS an art in a sense... but I'd say it needs to be a science first and foremost, because if we're not getting the end result (i.e. sales or subscriptions), then we might just as well be writing poetry or fiction :D Ultimately, we write copy to get a result or responses... and especially when clients are involved, results is what they want most of the time. On the other hand, methinks you are just being provocative to gain a response, which, at least for me, worked like... well, science :D Still, I appreciate what you're saying about the artistic side of copywriting. When you think about it, even those elements you point out (such as stories) are broken down by copywriters and analyzed scientifically, i.e. what are we trying to achieve by conveying this story? Good storytelling is an art, but I still think it helps to look at it in scientific terms as well. Copywriters want to know, What makes a good story in the first place? And that requires a bit of analysis... which is science. Bottom line? For me, copywriting is both art and science, but more science than art - because it's results based, whereas art doesn't have to be. Paul Hancox / copySnips Interesting. I beg to differ just a little bit. Not too much, because I agree there is an art to copywriting, and copywriting IS an art in a sense… but I’d say it needs to be a science first and foremost, because if we’re not getting the end result (i.e. sales or subscriptions), then we might just as well be writing poetry or fiction :D

Ultimately, we write copy to get a result or responses… and especially when clients are involved, results is what they want most of the time.

On the other hand, methinks you are just being provocative to gain a response, which, at least for me, worked like… well, science :D

Still, I appreciate what you’re saying about the artistic side of copywriting. When you think about it, even those elements you point out (such as stories) are broken down by copywriters and analyzed scientifically, i.e. what are we trying to achieve by conveying this story?

Good storytelling is an art, but I still think it helps to look at it in scientific terms as well. Copywriters want to know, What makes a good story in the first place? And that requires a bit of analysis… which is science.

Bottom line? For me, copywriting is both art and science, but more science than art – because it’s results based, whereas art doesn’t have to be.

Paul Hancox / copySnips

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