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Hi everyone! This is my first visit -- and I'm impressed. From what I've seen, this is definitely the place to get my question answered. Looking at some of the things you discuss, this will be a piece of cake. . . I need some help with explaining a very simple word -- Copywriter. Let me explain. I've joined BNI and have to do a 10 minute presentation about my business. I'm a freelance copywriter, specialising in writing for the web. Straightforward, huh? Not a bit of it! 'Copywriter' causes problems because people immediately think of 'copyright' (sigh) and go charging off in the wrong direction. So I thought I'd start with defining copywriting, explaining where the word came from, and so forth. Sadly, my dictionaries are boringly circumspect. So I wondered if anyone has any nice little explanations and illustrations. This is a really urgent plea for help, as my brain has gone completely blank. 
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you may not like some of this, from the OED :)
copy-writer, a writer of copy for the press; spec. a writer of advertising copy; so copy-writing vbl. n.
1911 T. RUSSELL Advertising & Publicity ix. 96 An advertiser can..employ what are known as *copy~writers.. professional writers of advertisements. 1935 Archit. Rev. LXXVII. 129/2 They have paid copy-writers and poster-designers to ‘put them across’ in nation-wide publicity drives. 1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 15 Aug. p. xxiii/1 They are to the gentleman publisher what ideas men, public relations experts, copy-writers, and designers are to the common industrialist.
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1923 H. CRANE Let. 18 Feb. (1965) 126 Truly, you must look for some editorial post, *copywriting job, or something that will relieve you of such strains. 1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 26 Dec. 748/5 Perhaps not surprisingly, copywriting (or ‘wordsmithing’, as one executive dubbed it) is the least important department of the business.
obviously this predates web use.
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copywriter (n): a professional righter of wrongs; a wordsmith who rectifies the mistakes of nerds, and renders the monosyllabic grunts of the bean counters into elegant prose. :)
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veteran
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veteran
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people immediately think of 'copyright'
Well, if people are confused about what you're pitching, Millymax, that's the best place for you, as a copywriter, to start pitching.
So, why not take it from the top?
A copywriter writes copy and he has the rights to the copy he writes which gives him copyright.
But most copywriters don't have any copyright in any copy they write because they sign it away to their employer or their client -- which explains why copywriters seldom get rich on their copyrights.
Do you copy?
There ain't no jingle-jangle in a jingle for the guy who wrote it. And that doesn't seem right, does it? You need a good attorney. Why not talk to Sparteye? [I'm trying to take his mind off of themilum -- who may have to pay for his own copyright. :) ]
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copywriter (n): a professional righter of wrongs; a wordsmith who rectifies the mistakes of nerds, and renders the monosyllabic grunts of the bean counters into elegant prose.
:) aside, sounds more like a copy editor.
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I thought Edietrix court copywrityrs spilling misteaks, punk2ashun, an udder errors of omission and commission ;)
In response to what I know Jackie is bound to say next:
> don't pay any attention to some of those wags above
yeahbut
which ones?!
pbbbt :)
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Dear Milly, Nice to have you--drop by again when you can stay a while, won't you? And, psst--don't pay any attention to some of those wags above. If you click on this site (I'll put it below), my dear, it will give you a whole array of definitions from which you can pick the one--or create an amalgam--that suits you best. http://www.onelook.com/?w=Copywriter&ls=a
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Righto, Maverick. Jacko, you go back right this minute and add this addendum... Don't pay any attention to some of those wags below. 
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stranger
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Wow! That was quite fantastic! Thank you! Spat a few feathers at the Times Lit Supp: Perhaps not surprisingly, copywriting (or ‘wordsmithing’, as one executive dubbed it) is the least important department of the business. 'Least Important'? HA! You've all given me such fab fuel for handouts. That brilliant, almost toungue-twister of yours, plutarch, is excellent. If that don't get them, nothing will! Maverick's definition is definitely the business. Yes, it is a bit more copy editor than copywriter, but half the time the job is trying to inject clarity into the darlings' sacred prose. And thank you for that link, Jackie, and for the invite. Most certainly -- I'll be back. Well, off to put all this to good use and get that presentation written. Big hugs to you all!! xx
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