Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the 3rd Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Association of Creativity and Innovation (MACRI) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Before we began our AGM at 11.40am, Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ghazi Sheikh Ramli, Founder/President and Innovation Evangelist, gave a talk on the Democratisation of Innovation. In the short 45 minutes talk, Y.Bhg. Dato’ President shared his experience at the Ideas Festival in Brisbane, Australia on March 28th, 2009. One message, or rather 2 misconceptions, which is inherent in YBhg’s talk are:-

• The false idea that creativity is the domain of the artistes and artists, carvers and sculptors, musicians and writers, directors and actors etc.
• The second false idea is that only scientists, inventors, ‘smart’ people have excusive access to being innovative.
• The reality is creativity and innovation are traits inherent to every human being that is given life to exist on the surface of our planet Earth.

One challenge which Dato’ threw at the end of his talk involves the Bamboo Agenda: What can we make out of bamboo? What do we want bamboo to be? How do we create a Planet Bamboo? This challenge was thrown especially to members of MACRI.

After the AGM, I took the liberty of visiting the National Intellectual Property Exhibition 2009 at the ground level of the KLCC. MACRI was given the opportunity to open up a booth for the second – or was it the third year – running. :-p

At the expo, yours truly got to satisfy his cravings for the Dabai… a fruit indigenous to the State of Sarawak! Besides the pickled dabai, there was also a keropok dabai, a dabai pizza (yum!!!!). I so miss home…

Here is a message I got in my Facebook mailbox. It’s an Intensive Screenwriting Workshop Series 2: Back by Popular Demand. Organised by Martias Mohd. Ali, this workshop is guaranteed to be fun, exiting and eye-opening.

Among others, the speakers have included Zaidi Omar and Wan Maimunah. As a participant of the 1st Intensive Screenwriting Workshop, I learned a lot and chances are I am returning back for more!

Details are as the follows:-

Bengkel Intensif Penulisan Skrip 2

Atas pemintaan ramai, kursus Intensif Penulisan Skrip untuk kali ke 2 akan di adakan di FINAS

tarikh : Ahad , Mei 10, 2009
Masa : 9:00am – 6:00pm
Location: FINAS Panggung Mini P. Ramlee, Jalan Hulu Klang
Yuran : RM 100.00

Kursus in hanya terhad kepada 100 orang pertama yang mendaftar sahaja dan segala kertas kerja latihan serta DVD bersangkutan akan di berikan kepada peserta.

Bagi mereka yang berminat untuk menyertai Bengkel Intensif Penulisan Skrip 2 ini bolehlah membuat pendaftaran dengan menghantar e-mail berserta:

Nama Penuh :
No Telefon :
Alamat :
Ref Pembayaran :

kepada alamat email seperti dibawah:

mr_martias@yahoo.com

untuk keterangan lanjut sila layari page ini :
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=95982525970&ref=mf

Sekian terima kasih

When illustrating who or what a copywriter is, Robert Bly stated in his book that they are the salesperson behind a typewriter – now computer. What we do is we convince our prospects (the readers) to buy a particular product or engage a particular service. But that is just a general overview.

As a copywriter with some experience, I can deduce that we’re not exactly selling the products or services. Rather, we sell the idea of having the particular product or using the service.

Consider: we sell the idea of successfully trading foreign currencies, not trading currencies per se. Or how it’s like to live in a mansion, not the mansion itself.

In an investment kit I wrote earlier this month, the purpose of it – while to convince investors – was to sell the developer’s ideas. Supported by the visuals and layout, the fact of the matter is I’m writing to sell the idea of conducting your business in this particular development.

It’s not that I or my fellow copywriters are lying or deceiving. We’re just translating the features of the products or services into benefits. For example, I’m sure you are more interested in getting the ideal bodyweight and figure in a conducive environment rather than know a gym is air-conditioned, has 10 workers at any one time, supported by 5 cleaners in its two storey unit equipped with so much so exercise machines and weights.

Let’s do an exercise. When you read an ad in the billboards, papers or magazines, or come across one in the cinema, television and radio, what are they really trying to sell you? The idea of using the product or service, or the product or service itself?

Don’t forget to share your experience! Just comment this entry.

When you’re a freelance writer, you write alone. Sure, you meet your clients every now and then. Like earlier this month, I met – for the first time in 7 months – my client who is based in Johor Bahru. But when you’re your one man show, does it give you the right to run things as you like it?

I’m not sure of how you’d approach this, but here’s how I would do it:

Yes, I decide where to do my work: whether it’s in my SOHO or at a café like Starbucks or Coffee Bean. As long as it’s within the deadline, I decide as and when to work on it. But imagine doing this routine over and over again for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or even 15 years. People who crave a social life would be driven up even the Great Wall!

Some professionals call it client relations. In other industries, it’s known as customer relations. For me, it’s called being a team player. It’s not enough just to live in your own world. You have to go beyond your boundaries.

I write brochures on real estate. Some are high end. I’ve never lived in a mansion – but I’ve been into some. I’ve seen the big houses by the hills in Luak Bay, Miri. But how can I capture this and put it in a vocabulary spoken and used by the market group?

Besides doing the work, it’s the post-project relationship. You’re gonna have to send your invoice. Payments need to be made. You don’t want to have a bad working relationship.

The only way is to synchronise our approach. Your approach and mine.

So when you consider hiring a writer, don’t forget to think of the whole picture, not just the work. Ask yourself: are you really comfortable with this person?

This afternoon, I have an interview with a panel from a leading media group in the country. It’s going to be my first interview for a job – never had one before. Huge leap from being an entrepreneur; but it is an experience I look forward. In preparing for the question “What can you share about yourself?”, I am forced to reflect on my past, my abilities and how far I can execute my role. On my wall, I have a postcard; I’ve had it for a while now. A good source of inspiration:

“Take pride in how far you have come. Have faith in how far you can go.”

A Jack of All Trades

My first days of Varsity

What have I done? While in Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah, I was invited to present a paper at the National Students’ Conference 2005 held at Langkawi. Mind you, I just stepped foot into university. The conference was held in February 2005. Besides presenting the paper Students’ Perception on the Concept of World Class University, I was also part of the organising committee. I spearheaded the Sub Committee on Working Papers. My job? Assisted by fellow committee members and guided by the lecturer, is to compile and format the working papers submitted by the participants – including my own.

Where public speaking in concerned, I won second place in the inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Public Speaking Challenge 2005. Participants are from the various campuses under the UiTM system. I was still a Foundation student.

Before bagging the Siswa Harapan 2004/2005 of UiTM Kedah award, I spearheaded the Organising Committee on the College Festival 2006 in my campus. As the most junior member of the committee, I not only oversaw the programme as a whole, but had to handle and coordinate 20 sub-committees for the respective events, competitions as well as logistical committees. Besides balancing and re-appropriating the budget, I had to juggle studies at the same time. I am glad to share with you that despite some minor hiccups, the overall performance was beyond expectation.

In Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia

After moving to Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia in Shah Alam, I got involved in campus activities. The highlight of which would be the campus elections of 2007. I stood, along with 3 other candidates, for my faculty’s seat. Sadly, I did not succeed. That, dear reader, gave me a wake up call. Perhaps politics isn’t the road that I am meant to pursue – even though I have been prepping myself to fill in the shoes of my forefathers. Despite the loss, I quickly move to create a blog especially for Law Students. As my term expires, I am looking for interested individuals to take over From a Law Student’s Desk…. Somehow I find myself enjoying the private sector. Where you drive the initiative, you get to decide its future.

Since January 2008…

In January 2008, I moved to register my copywriting business with the Companies’ Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia). While I’d love to say that everything took off like a rocket on a mission to Mars, things were slow. Though slow, nonetheless I scored a job with the Bandar Puteri Online Community. In February 2008, I met with the founder, Mr. Darren Lee, at The Curve. The meeting went well, but soon after, commitments pushed me beyond capability to continue.

At the same time, I was contacted by the former Personal Secretary to a Member of the Senate, Parliament of Malaysia. Initially the task was to come up with a set of questions for the Dewan Negara’s sitting. From there, it became speechwriting. Suffice to say I wrote two speeches which were both delivered in Parliament and entered into the Hansard.

About this time, my Acer Aspire broke down. My work stored in the hard disk went along with it. Repairing it costs RM1,200. So my client, the Personal Secretary, took the liberty to replace it with a Sony Vaio VGN-NR310E. Have been using it ever since – generating more income for me.

In June 2008, I answered an advertisement in the New Straits Times. Submitted my resume and dropped a call to Ms. Wong. Since I was on holiday back then, having my semester break, time passed by fast with the Gawai celebrations, an engagement party and all.

The call came in August 2008. The task? To come up with headlines for a product brochure. Days turned into months, and months into year. Turn September 2008, projects began to flow in from Johor Bahru. And do you know what? I have been working with this advertising agency for over 7 months without having ever met them. I must credit this agency for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. The following are the agency’s testimonial on my work:

"Working with Aldric was a wonderful experience. He was fast, professional, and easy to work with. His attention to detail and willingness to work to "get it right" was amazing. I would have no hesitation in recommending Aldric for his services."

Celia, Art Director

"Aldric was great to work with, very understanding and provided a professional service in a timely manner. We look forward to working with him again."

Chin, Art Director

In late September 2008, I took the liberty of heading to Yusmanja Entertainment and register myself as a member. Through this once a month experience, I managed to be a background actor in several drama on TV. Julia Juli, Dua Kali Aku Mencintaimu, Penghujung Rindu. With the assistance of my manager, Syed Khairul Aswad, I landed an extra role in Kasanova XXL – for which I receive comments from former university-mates and classmates alike.

Come December 2009, I attended a Screenwriting Workshop held at FINAS, Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation. The workshop, organised by award-winning screenwriter Martias Mohd. Ali, opened up a whole new door for me. A door which I never imagined that I would open. It’s the world of creative writing.

Turn March 2009, I have had the opportunity to meet the people behind the Malaysian Association of Creativity and Innovation (MACRI). On March 26th, 2009, I received my membership confirmation letter. I am a full member of this umbrella NGO promoting creativity and innovation in this country. With the hopes to help society appreciate and explore their own creativity and innovation that this country would be equal n
ot only in terms of development but also of substance, I am proud to affiliate with them. On April 15th, 2009, I was commissioned by this Association to preside over the launching ceremony of the Creativity and Innovation Week 2009 at Pusat Sains Negara (National Science Complex). My first job as an Emcee/MC (Master of Ceremony).

What I can Bring to the Table

Whether working as part of a team or leading my own one-man-show, you can expect the following from working with me:-

1. I believe I can fuse concepts and make them as pragmatic and as relatable as possible. What would begin as a far-fetched idea will be churned and turned to fit the market’s understanding, views and needs.
2. I am a team player, though I can work alone with minimal supervision. When in a team, I believe everyone has something unique which should be given attention, not just by the team leaders, but also fellow team members. We never know when an idea could generate millions of ringgit in revenue!
3. I work to achieve a goal. I will tune and hone my work to ensure that that goal is met. In the process, I am open to ideas and will weigh them according to their merits. As a copywriter, the buck also stops with me as far as copy is concerned. You entrust me to write copy, and quality copy you ought to receive.
4. Accountability is a value I take pride in. Even so, accountability alone isn’t sufficient. On top of accountability, it is equally important to be able to learn or unlearn, learn and relearn. Mistakes are part of the process – any process. To achieve optimal results, however, learn from these mistakes and never repeat them.
5. I don’t believe in dogma. I appreciate status quo, but dogma is a different set of issue. Adhering to principles and guides should they be proven effective is necessary. In the same breath, I’d try to explore other opportunities or methods to enhance or improve results.
6. Like you, I, too, like comfort zones. But while this comfort zone may feel good and safe, I become restless in it. I have to explore and expand. At the end of the day, I want to look back and say, “veni, vidi, vici”.

Working with freelance copywriters is not something new in the advertising industry. Every advertising agency has a list of their own copywriters. An agency may have more than one guy on standby. While these firms may be used to handling this type of business relationship, not many small and medium enterprises are aware of this. Sure, you meet some businesspersons who’d find copywriters. But a bulk majority of the market is unaware of it.

Wanna bet? Try asking people who meet, “what’s a copywriter?”

You will be amazed with the many replies.

In Bahasa Malaysia, the closest translation would be penulis iklan. Copywriters write the copy (advertising lingo for ‘text’) of adverts and marketing collaterals which includes brochures, sales letters, websites as well as your flyers.

Everyone who runs a business must have done this some point in their life. It’s nice to say everyone is a copywriter. Do you really want to spend money, time and energy writing something no one is going to read?

Copywriters, like yours truly, work on copy which would be read. Besides getting you to read, it’s our job to sell. Copywriters are professional sales executives who sell by writing.

Don’t blink or snap when you check out my fee schedule. It’s among the cheapest on the market. But cheapest isn’t without quality. Quality includes the facts, the persuasive and hypnotic principles, not to compel you or your readers to do something, but to sell the idea inside the copy.