An Interview with Simon Rose – Author and Copywriter Part One
How did you get started writing books?
One of the best things about writing for kids is that I can write about the kinds of things that fascinated me when I was young. Stories can be very imaginative if they are for children, which makes writing them so much fun. And, of course, in science fiction or fantasy, more or less anything you can imagine is possible, as you craft stories involving ancient mysteries, the unexplained, the paranormal, science fiction, time travel, parallel universes, alternate realities, weird and wonderful characters, and a multitude of ‘what if’ scenarios. Once I had children of my own, I came into contact with children’s books again for the first time in many years. Picture books initially, of course, but then early chapter books and novels. When I decided to try my hand at writing novels and stories, I found myself drawn to the types of things I used to read as a child. I read lots of science fiction, as well fantasy writers and ghost stories while growing up. I also read a tremendous number of comic books, in which the stories took me across the universe, into strange dimensions, into the land of the Norse gods or had me swinging from the New York rooftops. At high school, I studied a lot of history and have retained my interest in the subject up to the present day. I also read voraciously on ancient civilizations, mysteries, the supernatural, and the unexplained.
What types of material have you written?
My six published novels are science fiction and fantasy novels for readers aged eight to twelve, which you can learn all about on my website here. For the corporate market, I have worked in newspapers, publishing, advertising, marketing and promotion, both in Canada and the UK. I have been responsible for ad copy, brochures, promotional material, direct mail pieces, newsletters, marketing plans, press releases and of course web copy. I recently worked as the copywriter for websites for Weldex Energy Services, Landscape Artisan, Calgary Children’s Book Fair and Conference and Allen Berg Racing Schools, where I also composed the voiceover script for the accompanying video, seen on their home page and also on YouTube. You can also see writing samples at Dark Roasted Blend, Ezine Articles, The National Writing for Children Center and of course on my blog, where new content is posted on a regular basis. I am of course responsible for all the copy on my own website and there are also some excerpts from previous business writing projects here.
What kinds of things do you consider when writing copy for print and websites?
Your on line copy is a reflection of you and your professionalism, or lack of it. You definitely need to take pride in what you have displayed online. If it looks as if you don’t really care what your website looks like, any potential customer will quickly receive the same impression about your products. The quality of content on your web pages will always have either a positive or negative effect on your visitors, who may first encounter you on the web. The same applies to print ads you may be running, your brochures or even your business cards and company logos, since these may be how some of your customers first discover you as well. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure that your visitors and potential clients get a positive one.
How do write about subjects that are not within your expertise?
You could ask the same question about fiction really. After all, how can you write about time travel or journeys to other planets without experiencing it? I have written a number of historical novels and although I am a history major, I still need to do research to get everything just right. The same principle applies to web copy in that you have to get the facts straight. I always obtain as much information as I can from the client at the outset of the project, determining what exactly they do and more importantly what they are looking to promote to set themselves apart from their competitors. However, no matter how much research I undertake into eye surgery, oil drilling, car engines, animal health, agriculture, insurance, the financial markets, or whatever the company’s business involves, it is still ultimately up to the client to perform the final review of the text before their website goes live. Let’s compare it to you perhaps ordering some business cards. In most cases, the printer will provide you with a proof, but if you give your approval and then later discover that your e mail address or phone number is incorrect, the error lies with you, not with the printer. The client hires a copywriter for their expertise, but the client is the expert in their own profession and has to sign off on the website’s copy at the end of the process, ensuring that all the technical, legal and intricate details are correct.
Connect with Simon on his website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or visit his channel on YouTube.