The Writing Desk
Mam’s the Word | Dan Brough on The Writing Desk
“AI? I’ve just used Chatters to plan a family trip and it was canny good to be fair (I had to give it loads of prompts though). But is it coming for my job? No. Because it’s never, ever gonna have a human heart that’s capable of those first-hand feelings and emotions. And it can’t say things like ‘doolally-tap’ in context can it? Just ‘driven’ and ‘woven’ and ‘thrive’ on freakin’ repeat.”
Vikki Ross on The Writing Desk
“I think we all need to rethink AI’s capabilities when it comes to copywriting. And I think we all need to respect, support and celebrate copywriters rather than shout about how we’re all going to lose our jobs. By the way, I love an em dash. Don’t we all? AI won’t stop me using it.”
David McGuire on The Writing Desk
“AI? I can’t change the fact it’s here and people will use it, but I can at least bang the drum for using it the right way. Which is helpful, because AI training is much easier to sell than copywriting training lately – even if I do feel a little like the science teacher who drew the short straw and now has to teach teenagers about safe sex (because they’re going to do it anyway).”
Lewis Houghton on The Writing Desk
“AI? Handy(ish) for research. Google has become a chasm of AI-generated slop and advertisements. I seldom use it. I wouldn’t feel good submitting work that had been created with AI.” Lewis Houghton
THE WRITING DESK | JENNY LUCAS | WRITER
First drafts are always rough. You need to walk away from it — and sleep on it, ideally.
THE WRITING DESK | JAN DEKKER | COPYWRITER
Listen to the voice inside your head, and write down what it says. No filter, no editor.
THE WRITING DESK | LIZ DOIG | FOUNDER OF WORDTREE
“The duty of the writer is to evoke emotion in the reader.” Sol Stein
THE WRITING DESK | MEL BARFIELD | BRAND COPYWRITER
Campervan luster-afterer, middle child, cheese chomper, writer of short things and all-round nosy bastard.
THE WRITING DESK | CHARLIE PEARS-WALLACE | MARKETING AND COMMS BOD
‘Scattered, various and gregarious’. This is how I would describe my first draft of anything… and let’s face it, myself.
THE WRITING DESK | Emily Clegg | copywriter
Your copy might feel like an extension of you. But it really isn’t.
Brand tone of voice
Pin down the messages that matter most. Then prepare to stand out from the crowd.
Copywriting & training
Tell us what you do and why we should care. Then help your teams to spread the word.