What I Learned in the “Windy City”
by Donna Cooper, Jr. Copywriter
So, the week before last my boss sent me on my very first Copywriter’s Workshop. To make matters even more exciting, it was in the fabulous city of Chicago. While about 90% of my family is from Illinois and still resides there, I had never been to the Windy City before. Needless to say, I was very excited! To make things even better, a very good friend of mine now lives in Chicago and agreed to let me stay with her.
So, I left for Orlando—it was pouring down rain, I thought Florida might wash away by the time I got back—and then headed to Chicago (via Miami—don’t ask). My friend picked me up that evening and we discussed the best way to get to the workshop in the morning, since I decided to forgo the rental car. I was advised that Chicago had a great mass transit system that would be better than driving. And right, they were.
I was a few minutes late on the first day, as we underestimated how long it would take on the “L.” But, no worries. I took my seat in the back, at a table with three other women, just as the speaker was finishing up her introduction.
I was excited to learn that we would be covering some topics that I was very interested in, such as how to overcome writers block, avoiding mistakes, and writing for different media. Interspersed through out each section, she threw in what she called “Magic Golden Rules” that weren’t in the workbook, but I found to be very helpful tips.
Some of the most useful things I learned at this workshop were several different brainstorming techniques to help overcome a creative block. I’ve been using a few of them since I returned and have been pleased with the natural flow of creativity that has followed.
Overall, the workshop was a refresher course in copywriting, which I recommend everyone do at least once a year, but it was also sprinkled with little nuggets of new information that was worth every penny.
Now, one of the most interesting things I learned while in Chicago had nothing to do with the workshop. Since I was a child I had always believed this to be true, and no one had ever corrected me. Although, I’m not sure that I had ever asked, either. Only after visiting Chicago, did I begin to question it. It started to occur to me that it might be a misnomer…but why?
Now, I pose this question to you…do you know why they call Chicago the “Windy City?”