Hello,

Thank you so much for agreeing to be a part of this quirky and esoteric feature I’ve started here. We’ll be talking to writers, designers and all sorts of creative folk.

Imagine I’m about to introduce you to an auditorium, filled with the smiling faces of folks fuelled by caffeine and an eagerness to learn. What would I say?

Hello everyone, I’d like to introduce… Nigel Woollsey, freelance copywriter

Can you name the business book that’s always on your desk? (I’m talking about the one that’s covered in pencil marks, coffee stains and has turned down corners…)

“Words that Sell” by Richard Bayan – If it doesn’t give me the answer I need it really stimulates my thought processes to move away from using the same words again and again!

What’s your all-time favourite advertising campaign?

Anything that doesn’t take itself too seriously – Humour definitely pushes my buttons. I absolutely loathe those terrible, pretentious adverts for expensive perfumes or aftershaves!

“Everyone has a book in them…” Or so the saying goes. What do you think/know/believe is the secret to good writing?

Empathy or the ability to put yourself in someone else’s head. Writing for yourself is no good – you have to write for the people who’ll be reading it. And to do that you need to be able to put yourself in their shoes. Sounds slightly schizophrenic, doesn’t it!

If you were just starting out, what advice would you give yourself? Which book or books would you read first?

Although I came into copywriting with a lot of experience in writing and communication I enrolled in a distance learning course from The Writers Bureau. It was fantastic and gave me a good solid grasp of the basics I needed to know. Since then it’s very much been about learning on the job! Experience, as they say, is a great teacher…

Silence? Radio? Or music while you work?

Silence or classical music. I love music but I find songs with lyrics too distracting to work to – I invariably start to sing along…and then the dancing starts…not good for writing! If I’m in a serious ‘get it done’ space I listen to sacred choral music – It’s like writing in a cathedral!

What are your top three novels of all time – and why?

• Rendezvous with Rama – by Arthur C. Clarke (A fantastic novel about humanity’s first discovery of an alien artefact)
• Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall – By Spike Milligan (Hilarious and insane)
• A Christmas Carol – By Charles Dickens (I read this every Christmas)

What’s the best thing you’ve ever written? Why did it rock your world?

For me, it was a magazine article I wrote called ‘The Great Silence’ all about The Fermi Paradox. Fermi was a physicist who worked out that bearing in mind the stupendous age of the universe there had been plenty of time for many, many other alien civilisations to rise and visit us (or at least send a message) – but none had. So where was everybody? Ever since scientists have puzzled over the answer – hence it is called Fermi’s Paradox.

For a self-confessed space geek it was a pure joy to write!

What’s the last thing you bought? And yes, that packet of chewing gum counts.

“X-Men: Days of Future Past – the Rogue Cut” on Blu Ray (See geek reference above!)

Who was your teenage crush?

Wow, that’s an embarrassing question… A girl in my class in high school: She was pretty, clever and completely indifferent to my existence!

Describe the best meal you have ever eaten.

Dinner at night on a Greek beach with my (then girlfriend) wife. It was our first holiday together and we found a little taverna on the beach. Our table was right by the sea, under a canopy of stars. It may not have been the best meal I ever had but it is the one I remember most!

What’s your favourite tipple?

It varies: lager, pear cider, real ale, stout, red wine, bourbon, brandy… Alcohol seems to be a recurring theme.

If I were to give you a private jet, David Attenborough as a tour guide and a month off work – all expenses paid – where would you go and what or who would you write about – and why?

Egypt! I’ve always wanted to see the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx at Giza and explore the ancient sites. Or Mars…am I allowed Mars?

What’s in your pockets?

A handkerchief (My mother always taught me never to go anywhere without a handkerchief!)

Pen and ink, pencil and paper or keyboard and screen? What’s your writing style?

I tend to scribble a few (illegible) notes first, have a coffee, come back and then try to decipher my notes. Then I dive straight into the keyboard and screen. My normal writing process always starts with a lot of writing an opening sentence, staring at it and then deleting it until something clicks.

Do you read any blogs or magazines about writing? (And I mean read, not just subscribe to and delete/leave on your desk and recycle?)

Nope – never. If I need advice I ask my wonderful copywriting friends (who are all incredibly helpful and talented).

Tea or coffee?

Coffee – absolutely gallons of it… By the time I finish work I’ve normally developed a twitch and the look of a paranoid squirrel on speed…

Do you have a favourite cup or mug? Can you describe it?

Yes, a lovely big one which says “World’s Best Dad” – It was a present from my children on Father’s Day… I think they were being ironic.

What was your most adored children’s book? And character?

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper – fantastic fantasy book!

My favourite character was (and still is) The Doctor from Doctor Who. I often sit in my wardrobe and make TARDIS noises when I’m alone.

Your favourite word?

Extraterrestrial. Although it’s always rather hard to work this into website copy about concrete products…

Your most loathed word? (You know, the one that makes you shudder and say “Ew!”?

Passionate. Way overused by everyone in business because they think it sounds good. It doesn’t.

Where can we find you? – Browsing online or lost in the aisles of a bookstore?

Both – I love books and endlessly scour the shelves/web pages for new titles! I keep a spreadsheet detailing the one’s I haven’t read yet – Currently it stands at 58…

Favourite song lyric of all time? And why?

“I am immortal; I have inside me blood of kings. I have no rival; no man can be my equal.” – Princes of the Universe by Queen. I like to lurk around underground car parks with a broadsword waiting for other immortals (If you’ve seen the movie Highlander, you’ll understand)

Name the artist who is guaranteed to get you up on the dance floor.

Tom Jones – Although it is incredibly rare that I actually dance. If I do it’s normally a good indicator that I’ve had too much to drink – consequently, my dancing could be best described as…interpretive…

Do you have any strange writing rituals you’d like to share with us?

I absolutely have to get the headline or title right before I start on the main copy – otherwise, it feels like trying to drive a car before you’ve started the engine. Oh, and a lot of looking out of my office window – it helps me focus.

What are you working on today? What’s in the pipeline?

A cold introduction sales letter, website content for a London charity, a profile for a musician’s electronic press kit and a shopping list. No, wait – I’ve just finished the shopping list.

Describe the last photograph you took.

A picture of my 7-year-old daughter holding the clay model of Buddha’s head we’d just made together at her school’s parent/child art lesson. Working from home is great because it means I don’t miss out on events. I was quite pleased with our efforts but my daughter thought it looked like Gollum… Maybe I should just stick to the writing…

What piece of advice really changed you as a writer?

That’s a tough one. Writing can be an incredibly scary business – it can feel like you are constantly putting yourself out there to be judged. The important thing is to have faith in your own abilities.

What was the last thing you wrote that had nothing to do with your job?

Jotting down a few ideas for the novel I intend to write (someday).

What’s your favourite quote about the process of writing?

“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” ― Douglas Adams.

Who is your favourite Mad Man – or Woman?

Are we talking about the TV show? If so, I’ve never seen it…or Game of Thrones. I’m too busy trying to get through my backlog of unread books. If we’re talking about real madmen then it’s either Mozart or Spike Milligan.

Name your favourite film.

Wow – that’s hard. I love movies. My Blu Ray & DVD collection is legendary. I could try to be really highbrow and name some French language film noir but actually, it’s Dracula AD 1972: Vampires and hot pants – nothing’s going to beat that. Maybe Carry On Camping…

Which book or books is/are by your bed today?

Deep Time by Ian Douglas. An easy read sci-fi yarn. Sometimes you just want to be entertained.

Who was or is your greatest teacher?

I’ve had such terrific advice and guidance from so many people – not least my copywriting friends – but ultimately experience is the greatest teacher. There’s no substitute for actually doing.

Who is your favourite artist?

Can I say Mozart? Not strictly an artist but I find his music inspirational and completely, utterly beautiful.

Where do you like to work best – is it at a desk, in an office or in a coffee shop? And would you send us a picture of where the magic happens?

At my home office desk. Note window (for staring out of) and the Dalek on the printer. Normally, my cat, Missy, is perched on the back of the chair as I work.

And finally, where can this caffeine-fuelled audience find you?

They can currently locate me at http://www.nigelwoollsey.co.uk where I lurk, waiting for unsuspecting clients to release me from my tomb. However, I’m just in the process of relaunching my business as Cardinal Copywriting (complete with fabby new website) – It might even be live by the time this interview goes out! My new business website will be http://www.cardinalcopywriting.co.uk .

New name, new website, same creative insanity.

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