Book recommendations for learning copy writing?

Just looking for recommendations on books for learning to write copy. Mainly looking for actual published works, not ebooks. What's out there that you'd recommend for someone looking to get into the biz?

 

Anything by Robert W. Bly (Bob Bly). He's a "hard sell" kind of copywriter and is really into direct mail but even if you aren't into that he's fantastic help. He got my writing pared down and more organized. Check out Secrets of a Freelance Writer for how to get set up and The Copywriter's Handbook or The Online Copywriter's Handbook for writing instruction. Teaches you all the basics of marketing too.

 

Dan Kennedy's copywriting book is one of the best. Really shows you how to set up your ad and how to write your letter.

 

Sugarman's Adweek Copywriting Handbook is a must read.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I picked up Sugarman's Adweek book, The Well-Fed Writer and its sequel, and The Copywriter's Handbook. I also picked up a copy of Writing Copy for Dummies since the local BN was having a sale on Dummies books and it got good reviews on Amazon. Guess copy works on me too.

I put several other books on reserve at the library, which I may pick up if they prove useful.

 

Ahhhh...the trusted list of copywriting books to read.

I hope you're ready to learn some really cool copywriting strategies and tactics, because the list of books I'm going to put on here can really help to improve your copywriting skills.

Ready?

Let's go.


1. Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene M Schwartz

It's loaded with strategies and tactics for writing winning copy.

Remember this page number 77.

Here's why.

Ever heard copywriters talk about how you have to tap into your prospects desires to be able to sell your products or services.

That's true.

But nobody really goes into any detail on how your are supposed to do that.

Well Mr. Schwartz does. He calls it intensification. It's over 29 pages of work showing you how to build up your prospects desire.

2. How to write a good advertisement by Victor O. Schwab

This book needs to be on every copywriters shelf.

Within the first 11 words on the very first page he gives the fundamentals of writing a good advertisement. It's five steps.

And as if that's not good enough, he gives you a really big treat on page 45.

He gives you a list of advertising appeals that you can use to strengthen any ad. These appeals go straight to the hearts of everyday people. It's 4 categories.

They are what people want to gain. What people want to be. What people want to do. What people want to save.

3. How to make your advertising make money by John Caples

This one is a real gem. You don't hear to many people talk about this book. It's a worthy mention though.

For example.

Check out some of the chapter titles that Mr. Caples wrote for the book.

-Sales appeals that last forever
-How to write sentences that sell
-How to use stories to sell products and services
-How to write headlines that make money

What copywriter today wouldn't want to know how to do those things?

4. The Robert Collier Letter Book by Robert Collier

Having this book is like having your own copywriting bible.

It's got over 460 pages of info on the life and work of a copywriting master.

There's ton's of examples of the letters he wrote over the years as a copywriter.

But the biggest surprise lies on page 68. Collier gives you what he calls the six essentials that every good letter should contain. It's one of those pages that when you come across it you want to make darn sure you read it slowly so you learn what he's teaching you.

Are there any more books on my list?

Yeah, there are quite a few more. But I figured this is a good start.

 

In addition to the above suggestions, I would suggest an old standby for learning from the pros. Look at advertisements from the best copywriters in your market. Then copy out the ads by hand. This really imprints the flow and style of your market into your brain. Before you know it, you'll be writing copy with the same kind of flow but with your own style.

 

I'd like to add that having a good supply of reference books is great for any writer - a dictionary, thesaurus, idioms, grammar etc.

Apart from that I'm currently reading 'The Elements of Copywriting' by Robert Bly and Gary Blake which has some great tips in a very easy to read format (though the tips about web writing are VERY outdated).

 

Great List...Yanik Silver has some good stuff as well

 

I have read 3 books that ai think they can help you:

- 'Elements of User Experience' by Jesse James Garrett is brilliant for user experience and usability.

- 37 Signals' 'Defensive Design' for the Web is a variant on the Steve Krug theme, but also very good.

- For copy writing I've only ever read 'Writing for the Web' but it's a pretty good one. It's designed to be like a desktop reference.

You can find out more than that.

 

I like the Economist Style guide. Its for newspaper writing but its useful for copywriting too.

 

All good recommendations, yall - thanks a ton -

We should make a list of all these in one post -

 

Here, I'll get it started..

-The Economist Style Guide

-37 Signals' 'Defensive Design' for the Web

-'Elements of User Experience' by Jesse James Garrett

-'The Elements of Copywriting' by Robert Bly and Gary Blake

-Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene M Schwartz

-How to write a good advertisement by Victor O. Schwab

-'How to make your advertising make money' by John Caples

-The Robert Collier Letter Book by Robert Collier

-Sugarman's Adweek Copywriting Handbook

-Secrets of a Freelance Writer by Robert Bly

-The Copywriter's Handbook by Robert Bly

-The Online Copywriter's Handbook by Robert Bly