About twice a year, I'm approached by an old friend or a distant acquaintance or a complete stranger wanting some great advice for breaking into advertising as a writer. When I give it, I rarely see any follow up.
Because here's the secret: you either got it, or you don't. Writing is an attitude and not a skill.
Honestly, you have to believe you can tell a story better than anyone else.
I'm in advertising. Ask me anything.
I've been around a lot of great ad writers, and none of them graduated from an advertising school. A couple were bartenders. One sold leather luggage. Another was a bicycle salesman. I closed refinance loans. My brother, who's a great ad writer, was a manager at freaking JC Penney.
How do you get a copywriting job? (Shrugs)
Hound all the creative directors in town (and out of town) and bug them for an internship. Write them letters. Drop by before lunch. Like their Instagram photos. Admit you know nothing but imply that the condition won't last long. When you get the internship, don't be a douche.
Some will say you should find a fledgling art director and bang out a portfolio of sketch work. That doesn't hurt. I created my own layouts. With colored pencils. While drinking happy-hour beer at a crappy bar in Little Rock.
See, I thought I could tell the story better than anyone. Writing is an attitude.