How do copywriters feel when work dries up?

It turns out that taking a break at the movies is good for a copywriter’s soul

It’s daft, but despite 25 years as a can-do copywriter, the tiniest halt in copywriting (or editing and proofreading) workflow can make me nervous. Perhaps it’s just me, but I often worry unnecessarily when my workload dips. 

One day, you’re juggling multiple tasks, happily scribbling away as only a busy copywriter can. Next, a client cancels a planned project, and suddenly you’re sitting on your hands, contemplating a pile of admin. Or, worse still, tidying your desk.

🤔 Copywriters and other freelancers: Do you give in to famine-or-feast fretting? Or do you take a break instead?

I said rubbish to anxiety and went to the cinema to see ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ this morning with my daughter. It turns out that treating yourself to a sweet tale of lost love, music, and eccentric island-living can be a tonic.

Here’s what I learned:

🧠 Giving your brain a complete break helps you return to tasks with fresh eyes
💡 The charm of movie storytelling can inspire a freelance copywriter’s creativity
🔋 Moviegoing during a mid-freelance rollercoaster can break the cycle and help you recharge

Ironically, I didn’t need a movie mental reset. By the time we left the cinema, I had three emails – all providing work until next week, when yet more work is scheduled. And relax…

Now, like every other professional writer, I could start worrying about being overwhelmed with busloads of assignments landing at once. That, however, is most unlikely. I thrive on more than one project, revel in the planning and have my trusted subcontractors to fall back on, making this part of the ride much more enjoyable.

Freelancers, can you relate to this?