Arianna Pittman is an advocate, environmentalist, and a freelance copywriter who has produced a remarkable body of work, over 700 pages of compelling, persuasive copy for clients around the world.
Huge thanks to Arianna for giving her time and talent to create this Micro-Interview!
In only 386 words, you’ll learn:
The secret to productivity...
A different, better way to handle failure…
The benefit of blogs and podcasts over books…
And more...
Instantly get 6 “micro” courses and series about copywriting when you subscribe to the VeryGoodCopy newsletter for free. Plus...enjoy new content every week. Learn more →
Thank you, Arianna.
Let’s get started:
1) “What’s your work routine?”
I spend the first 30 minutes or so enjoying a cup of life fuel (coffee), reading through emails, and planning out my day. Then I work on larger or more difficult from 8:30 a.m. until about noon, which is when I break for lunch and take my dogs on a short walk.
My creativity starts to dwindle in the afternoon, so I use that time to work on smaller projects. By around 4:30 p.m. I'm pretty spent, so I wrap up the day watching training videos.
2) “What do you know about your work now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”
Oh man, where do I start? Haha! I learn something new every day, to be honest. And every time I think I "get it," I realize that I still have a lot to learn.
But I do wish I would have done a bit more networking early in my career.
3) “What did your biggest professional failure teach you?”
Don't let failure discourage you.
Yeah, I know...easier said than done, right?! Writers pour everything into their work, so when a client says they don't like what you wrote, it's hard not to take it personally.
Instead of looking at it as a failure, think of it as an opportunity to learn.
4) “What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your craft’s learning curve?”
Probably my writing mentors.
I had a pretty awesome professor that stayed connected with me long after graduation and gave me tons of great career advice. My other mentor, a former creative director, is still my go-to person when I need advice on how to tackle a freelance project.
5) “What book has helped you the most over your career?”
I'm more of a podcast and blog type of person. Books are great, of course, but I love being able to digest small nuggets of information throughout the day.
It's crazy how a single blog post or tip can completely change the way you think about writing.
6) “And your parting piece of advice?”
Keep it balanced.
I find that I'm way more productive when I give my brain time to reset throughout the day. Take a short walk, chat with someone for a few minutes about non-work stuff, whatever works for you!
