Back to School Special

Even if you left education years ago, there’s something about September that always feels like a new term.

Maybe it’s the change in the weather, or the increased traffic, or the new series of Celebrity Masterchef.

Whatever the signs, we wanted to make sure you were well-prepared to tackle the new copywriting term with aplomb. So here are a few of our favourite bits of kit…

A3 pads. Amazon ￡10.33

Slip one of these under your keyboard to speed up your writing. We love planning our writing on a big bit of paper. It takes us away from the screen, we can get creative with different pens (see below), and we can go back to our plan in between other bits of writing. Check out our post on Giraffes’ Bras for more on our approach to planning.

Tomato Timer. Harts of Stur ￡3.95

If you’re overwhelmed by deadlines or you're a serial procrastinator, invest in a clockwork tomato and try the Pomodoro technique. Developed in the 80s by Francesco Cirillo, the technique breaks tasks down into 25-minute periods – the amount of time most people can maintain a good level of concentration. By breaking tasks down into manageable chunks, they become much less intimidating. And because you’re focused, the quality of your writing will improve.

Wooden mechanical pencil. Tools to Live By ￡9.99

Almost any opportunity to use analogue tools can help make you feel more creative. We love these mechanical pencils?– they feel like a normal pencil, but you'll never need a sharpener again.

Otter AI. Free!

Save yourself hours of laborious transcription or note taking with Otter.AI. The basic version is free and will make transcribing meetings a breeze. It also means you can really focus on the quality of your interview or meeting contributions instead of worrying that you’ve got everything down (or not being able to read back what you’ve written).

Yes! 50 secrets from the science of persuasion. Amazon ￡7.69

In our Sharper Copywriting workshops we preach the benefit of building a toolkit of headline writing techniques. WIth a selection of approaches, you'll never be stuck. This book is a brilliant toolkit builder with 50 practical persuasive tips. Each chapter has a persuasive idea that you can turn into a headline, whether that's using the two-sided approach or reciprocation.

MD Notebooks. Tom's Studio ￡9.95

These MD Notebooks are a minimalists dream – no bells and whistles,?just the pleasure of writing, sketching, or creating. You'll find that your pen glides effortlessly across the page with no bleed-through or feathering. They lay flat because there's no stiff front cover. You can get them from our favourite local pen maker, Tom's Studio –?and pick up a pen while you're ther

Mixed nuts. Sainsburys ￡4.10

Snacking on the job is highly recommended. Especially nuts. Apparently almonds improve memory, pistachios prevent inflammation, and macadamias boost brain function. Yet, the top nut award goes to the walnut. They're full of omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and other nutrients that protect the brain from oxidative stress and inflammation, help improve the health of brain cells and prevent cognitive decline.

Wacao Mini Espresso machine. Rave Coffee ￡45

If you need that extra jolt of energy to hit the deadline, a strong coffee might just be the answer. Again, it’s another mechanical solution that keeps your hands and mind busy while you brew. Just add ground coffee and boiling water. And then pump for perfect espresso! Saves you a fortune in takeaway espressos.

Adata Golden Keyboard.? CES $10,000

Go on, you know you deserve it. You've typed all those snappy soundbites and inspiring bits of copy, imagine how much better they'd sound if you'd typed them on a gold keyboard. Just $10,000 for the pleasure of running your fingers over the coolest (literally) keyboard money can buy. Apparently the letters aren't too clear though, so maybe make sure your touch typing is up to speed.

Thanks for reading!