Starting a career as a writer can feel completely overwhelming. Everywhere you turn, someone is saying the market is saturated, or that AI has taken over, or that no one needs writers anymore. But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: there will always be demand for good writers. Emphasis on “good.”
Businesses will always need words that sell, messages that persuade, and stories that connect with their target audience if you’re ready to begin but unsure how, this guide will walk you through eight practical steps to kickstart your journey.
Step 1: Make a Decision to Be a Writer
Before anything else, you must decide if you really want to go on this journey. Not casually, not “let me try small.” You need to make a clear mental decision to learn, master, and grow as a content writer or copywriter.
Yes, the market is crowded and AI is everywhere. Yes, people are competing for the same clients.
But here’s the part many forget: most people are not good. This is not to downplay the ability of other writers. It is just the sad reality of today’s saturated writing space.
They don’t study the craft, they don’t practice, and they don’t understand marketing. They don’t know human psychology. And that’s where your opportunity lies.
Businesses still need writers who can understand customers, craft unique angles, build emotional connections, and position brands in ways AI cannot replicate.
Once you make this decision and go all in, the noise won’t distract you anymore.
Step 2: Commit to Learning from Someone, Not Everyone
Focus sharpens mastery; scattered learning kills it. Your goal at this stage is not to learn everything; it’s to learn enough to take action.
The internet is packed with courses, mentors, PDFs, Twitter threads, and “10-step to $10k copywriting” videos. If you try to learn from everyone, you’ll end up confused, overwhelmed, and even worse, you won’t implement anything.
Choose one or two mentors, one course that fits you, or one person whose teaching style resonates with you. Study their work deeply and apply their methods consistently.
Step 3: Don’t Overestimate Others While Underestimating Yourself as a Writer
Every beginner has the same fear:
“Everyone is better than me.”
“What if I’m not good enough?”
“What if clients laugh at my work?”
Believe it or not, the gap between you and the people you admire is simply practice.
Here’s the truth: the top copywriters you admire today were once beginners, too. They wrote bad drafts, doubted themselves, made mistakes, but eventually learned on the job. We’ve all been there.
Copywriting is a skill you grow into. The more you practice, the better you become. Don’t put others so high up that you shrink yourself in comparison. What you need is courage, curiosity, and consistent action.
Step 4: Grow Your Skills
This is the part everyone tries to skip, but you can’t. You can’t earn as a writer without first mastering the skill, at least not for long. You become a better copywriter by writing. Not reading about writing, not watching videos about writing. Actually writing.
Start with two simple steps:
a. Write Bad Copy
Yes, feel free to write even when you think it’s bad.
Your first drafts won’t be smooth or perfect; they won’t be your best ever. That’s fine, it’s only the beginning. Your goal is to get words on the page. Write product descriptions, rewrite ads you see on Instagram, and create email sequences for imaginary brands. Just write!
b. Fix It
Once you’ve written, step back and improve it. Make it shorter. Make it clearer, add emotion, strengthen the hook, rework the CTA. Figure out why it is a bad copy and fix it. This “write–improve–repeat” cycle is the foundation of your growth.
Over time, your bad copy becomes better copy, and better copy becomes excellent copy.
Step 5: Build Your Portfolio
Except you get recommended by an insider, clients rarely hire based on potential; they hire based on proof. That proof is your portfolio. Your portfolio is your shop window. Make it reflect your ability, your voice, and the problems you can solve.
You don’t need big brands or paid projects to build one. Start simple:
- Write sample copies for fictional businesses.
- Recreate ads from major brands in your own style.
- Intern for small businesses or NGOs.
- Offer free trials (strategically).
- Create a clean online profile.
Step 6: Find Your First Client
This step is one that makes or breaks most writers on this journey. It is the part everyone fears the most, yet it’s not as complicated as people think. However, finding your first client simply requires putting yourself out there.
- Tell people what you do.
- Share your samples.
- Reach out to business owners.
- Join communities.
- Explore platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, LinkedIn, or even WhatsApp groups.
And here’s something important: don’t be afraid of getting fired from your first job. Many copywriters get hired, make mistakes, get corrected, adjust, or even lose the job. It’s part of the journey. You learn, improve, and move forward with more experience.
Clients don’t expect perfection from beginners; they expect effort, communication, and willingness to learn.
Step 7: Gain Experience as a Writer
Once you get your first taste of paid or unpaid work, your next mission is to build experience. This is where your confidence and competence grow.
You can:
- Intern for agencies
- Freelance for small businesses
- Work for brands in your area
- Join mentorship programs
- Volunteer for NGOs
- Collaborate with other creatives
Experience exposes you to real deadlines, real clients, honest feedback, and real growth. It pushes you to improve in ways that reading cannot and joining classes cannot.
Step 8: Consciously Create Your Life
As you grow, something shifts. You no longer accept everything that comes your way; you begin to choose, and that is powerful in your journey as a writer in the long run. This step is most important for those who intend to make writing their major career.
- Creating your life as a copywriter means:
- Saying no to clients who stress you
- Knowing when to outsource part of your workload
- Understanding when to charge more
- Choosing retainers instead of one-off jobs
- Taking breaks
- Knowing when to scale
- Knowing when to reduce workload
You’re not just building a career, you’re building a lifestyle. One that gives you freedom, creativity, and control.
Conclusion: Don’t Stop Growing
The copywriting industry will continue to evolve, AI will evolve, marketing will evolve, and consumer behavior will evolve. But the one thing that will always stand out is a writer who keeps growing.
Read. Practice. Learn. Experiment. Challenge yourself. Surround yourself with people who push you forward or join an active community.
Your journey doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be consistent. If you take these eight steps seriously, you’ll look back in a few months and realize how far you’ve come.
