A day in the life of…Richard – Senior Copywriter at Torpedo.

As this series proves, everyone’s experience of working at Torpedo is different. If you share a passion for well-crafted sentences and (spoiler alert) walking, then be sure to read on for our Senior Copywriter, Richard’s account of life in ‘Copy Corner’. Apparently they have Bacon Sarni Fridays and everything.

What’s your role at Torpedo, and how long have you been here?

I am the Senior Copywriter. I joined Torpedo in 2016, following three decades of working in London advertising agencies.

What exactly does your role entail?

Words. Sometimes I use around 3,000 of them in a whitepaper, sometimes just three of them in a headline. My role also includes managing the rest of the Copy Team here at Torpedo. (Or do they manage me?) The Copy Team works across all Torpedo clients, creating concepts or writing headlines and copy for print ads, banners ads, social media posts, brochures, direct mail pieces, radio scripts, online film scripts, web pages, infographics – the list goes on. And on.

What tools/resources/people do you depend on to get your job done?

Tools of the trade are a keyboard and a brief. And every now and then, a search engine.

I rely on everyone at Torpedo to get my job done. Including the cleaners. (Especially the cleaners.)

What do you love most about your job at Torpedo? What’s the highlight of your day?

I get to work with some very clever, talented, funny, enthusiastic and wonderful people. Plus, our client list is very varied and often mind-blowingly interesting. Monday, I may be writing about some incredible creative software. Tuesday, a CCTV camera that recognises individual faces (even when wearing sunglasses). Wednesday, the properties of gas turbine lubricant. Thursday, how to help disabled drivers find a car. Friday, how a laser trap kills a fly.

I generally get the weekend off. Much to the relief of the nation’s flies.

And what do you find most challenging?

As a writer, whenever I see written words I want to fiddle with them. Edit them. Re-write them. The most challenging thing for me is letting my team get on with their job and not trying to change what they’ve written – you have to trust in their talent.

Is there a particular piece of work/project that you’re really proud of?

I take pride in all my work (that sounds a bit cringeworthy, I know).

Oh, I did once bring a robot to life.

What did you see yourself doing when you were a kid?

I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. Yeah, I know, “So, what happened?” See below.

What made you choose this career path? How did you get to where you are today?

I loved art, so I did a foundation course – and gradually veered from illustration to graphic design. I got an interview at Manchester Poly, which was then running one of the best Graphic Design courses in the country. They asked if I’d like to try their new BA (Hons) Advertising Course. I agreed and three years later, teamed up with another student to get work placements in ad agencies. It was at this time that we were asked to decide who was art director, who was copywriter. We flipped a coin. I never looked back.

If you weren’t a copywriter, what do you think you’d be?

An antique dealer, I think. Okay, ‘antique’ is a bit high-brow for the kind of old tat I love. Maybe that should be a junk-shop owner. Alright, let’s just say ‘classy junk’.

When your OOO is on, what are you likely to be doing?

Walking.

What’s your favourite memory of working at Torpedo to date?

Forming a Torpedo band and playing at the summer party. I was the singer and I was very (very) nervous.

But my ego had a rare old time.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever been given?

Raising your voice is counter-productive.