About The Web Copywriter

Taking a break on the Great Ocean Walk ...

Taking a break on the Great Ocean Walk ...

As a freelance copywriter, it helps if you’ve been around a bit. The Web Copywriter has had a “colourful” life including stints as a structural engineer, NY hostel manager, IBM salesman, sous chef in the Aran Islands, photocopier for Steven Spielberg, housekeeper to a Countess, Hollywood film analyst, TV screenwriter in London, and Fantales wrapper writer. Here are just some of my work experiences and personal interests:

Work experiences of The Web Copywriter

Structural Engineer

Growing up in Townsville, I wrote my first play at 8, was doing sketch comedy at 12 and won my High School English Prize, so naturally I went on to study structural engineering. Somehow I got an Honours degree and even got to design a couple of bridges (I’d avoid crossing Rollingstone Creek in North Queensland if I were you). But it was writing I loved so naturally my next step was to join IBM.

IBM salesman

I sold computers for Big Blue, and, for those familiar with IBM’s recognition system, I picked up 2 Hundred Percent Clubs and a Golden Circle. I was also – don’t laugh – “Go Getter of the Month” and “Tiger of the Year”. But I was more interested in writing stand-up for a two-handed IBM satire “The John & John show” so was forced to finally admit my calling and left to become a screenwriter.

Magazine Editor

I went back to Sydney Uni to study Arts and supported myself working for a little magazine called Your Career. The magazine only survived a few issues but in that office I met my wife, Meredith Curnow, and we’re still together more than 20 years later.

Sailing Instructor

I’d raced 16 foot skiffs in Queensland and Etchells on Sydney Harbour against much better sailors than myself: Iain Murray, Peter Gilmour, John Bertrand, and the like. But I did manage to beat Denis Conner in a heat of the NSW Championship on a very blowy Botany Bay. So I did a stint as a sailing instructor for the Australian Sailing School at the Middle Harbour Skiff Club. Nice work, lowly pay.

Photocopier to Steven Spielberg

By night, I learned my screenwriting craft at UCLA. By day, I was involved in more humble activities – like cleaning dishes in a UCLA dining hall. I also did a stint as a temporary secretary at Universal Studios and was once lucky enough to do some photocopying for Steven Spielberg. But the good times couldn’t last – I had to make a living to support my screenwriting habit.

Fantales wrapper writer

With no experience whatsoever, I set up The Word Studio and began writing copy – mainly for below-the-line agencies. I wrote hundreds of direct marketing letters for IBM and HCF, and a similar number of sales promotional brochures for Kimberly Clark and Colgate Palmolive. But my finest hour was writing copy for Fantales wrappers.

Sous Chef in the Aran Islands

Landing in New York to research a film, I took a job as a Hostel Manager in Chelsea. I then went on to be a pizza chef in Kinsale – the gourmet capital of Ireland – and spent a wonderful summer as a sous chef at a vegetarian restaurant in the Aran Islands working for the legendary Joel.

Housekeeper to a Countess

Desperately short of cash, I took a job as Housekeeper to a Countess in Surrey. She’d been married to a Mercedes Benz heir and I joined a staff that included 2 nannies, a horse groom, two gardeners, a cleaner, a personal secretary and a personal trainer. The house was on the edge of Windsor Great Park and had been rented by Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller in 1956 while she was filming The Prince and the Showgirl. Great location but the countess was a right cow.

Nanny and Sports Coach

Moved down the road to a 3-storey mansion and became “nanny” to the boys of a German-English Merchant Banker: an 8 year old and a ten year old. This involved cleaning the house’s nine toilets on a daily basis but more often entailed playing cricket, rugby, football, croquet, pool, table tennis and basketball with the boys. A lot of fun and I’m still in touch with the family to this day.

Story Analyst to the UK Film Council

I’d read scripts for the Sundance Institute in LA, so started reading for Granada Film and then the UK Film Council. I read for their Development Fund and Premier Fund, and ultimately became the comedy judge for their 25 Words or Less Film Competition.

Film & TV Screenwriter in London

My Irish TV series was optioned by Company Pictures and went into development for the BBC. My film “Her and Her Bloody Opera” – which had been funded by the AFC and the FTO – was picked up by Working Title and Hugh Jackman was set to star. I was taken on by Casarotto Ramsay, one of London’s most prestigious agencies, and adapted a novel for FilmFour. Dreamworks Animation wanted to make my film “Lamb Stu”. Then, one by one, the deals fell over for a variety of “hilarious” reasons and by this stage I was jack of the whole caper.

Web Copywriter in Sydney

A friend was working at digital agency, Devotion, and asked me to come in to do a couple of weeks copywriting on a big site for Merino Innovation. That site won an AIMIA Best Website award and in the same year we won another Best Website award for our work on CanTeen’s National Bandanna Day. Two weeks turned into three years before – in July 2008 – I decided to strike out on my own.

Screenwriting Instructor

I love the digital space, but still retain and indulge a passion for film. “Her and Her Bloody Opera” has just been optioned by a new producer – TropFest winner, Phil Wade – and I’ve also started teaching screenwriting courses through my film company, Cracking Yarns.

Personal Interests of the Web Copywriter

I do have a wide range of interests from the cerebral to the philistine, including:

  • Sailing
  • Opera
  • Storytelling
  • Swimming
  • Cooking (pizza is a specialty)
  • Chelsea FC
  • Cryptic crosswords
  • True crime (espec. Gordon Wood, Tegan Lane and Kerry Whelan)
  • Cycling (don’t own a car)
  • Brisbane Broncos and the Maroons in State of Origin
  • Politics (and Paul Keating in particular)
  • Adventurous travel
  • Atheism and comparative religion
  • Running
  • Public speaking
  • Relationships (would love to be a matchmaker)
  • Soccer
  • Yoga & meditation
  • WordPress
  • Carlton and the Sydney Swans – whoever’s doing better

Want a “seasoned” web copywriter?

Put all of these life experiences to work for you. Contact The Web Copywriter today!