“We should do a talk.”

And we all nodded like mascots on the dash of a speeding bin lorry. I can’t remember if we were drunk but we agreed to the idea blindly and happily, considering it a wonderful plan to be worried about in the distant future.

Only Kady was intending to leave the country very soon. So Welcome to Copywriting, a one-day talk about the pitfalls and parties of the copywriting life, was set for one month hence. At that point, we still weren’t worried – a month is bags of time! Even when we got to the point of a day’s planning, we were still pretty buzzed about it.

When we got to one week to go, our confidence started cracking. Dibbsy had just got a new job and was trying to keep up with freelance at the same time. Chloe had Shakespeare’s birthday – a pretty big job for an agency in Stratford-upon-Avon. I had two conferences, a holiday and freelance. Kady was trying to move her entire life to Japan.

Shit.

But somehow, we got there. The day arrived – a beautiful spring day in Brick Lane. The venue, a dusty health hazard of an attic, was perfect. So many people came that we were adding chairs. With it all going so well, I was vibrating with fear at such a high frequency that it’s possible I was invisible for most of the day.

We did it, though. I actually started my first presentation with the words “I’m shit at this,” to illustrate a point: that the things I feel I’m worst at are the things I try hardest at, and therefore usually end up doing OK in. Despite publically admitting to my terror and awkwardness, it did turn out a lot better than I could have possibly imagined.

People have been so kind. They seem pumped and happy, despite us saying a lot of things that could put you off copywriting forever. Our number one thing we wanted to push was that having friends in the copywriting community is pretty much the answer to any question you have. None of us is alone. We’re a family. We laugh and squabble and weep and give advice. #Copywritersunite is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, personally and in my career.

I couldn’t do without you all, and I’m so happy to welcome so many more copywriters into the fold.

Belated tweet: #copywriterswelcome was great. Met some awesomely lovely people. Thanks @koisurukady @mutatedmusings @re_scrawl @daviddibbs!

— Ivan Marinkovic (@iamarinkovic) May 3, 2016

hey @koisurukady @mutatedmusings @daviddibbs and @re_scrawl I wrote a thing about Saturday because it was great https://t.co/I6qiPHLTe9

— Annie Mellor (@AnnieEDMellor) May 2, 2016

Thanks to @re_scrawl @mutatedmusings @daviddibbs @koisurukady for a fab day yesterday. Still buzzing. Now to get off my arse. #copywelcome

— chris brannick (@chrisbrannick) May 1, 2016

Big thanks to @daviddibbs @mutatedmusings @koisurukady @re_scrawl for yesterday’s super useful #copywelcome Great to meet you guys.

— Sarah Philpott (@sgphil) May 1, 2016

@mutatedmusings I feel this is an important first step for me. Also I got contently. Happy days. pic.twitter.com/i4Kjk03w12

— Annie Mellor (@AnnieEDMellor) May 2, 2016

@koisurukady @mutatedmusings @daviddibbs @re_scrawl Thank you all so much. It was so brilliant, informative and you were all so generous!

— Lulu (@frauleinlouise) April 30, 2016

Thanks @koisurukady, @re_scrawl, @daviddibbs & @mutatedmusings for running a fab workshop for #copywriters today! pic.twitter.com/5v67oK2hYV

— Emily Hoquee (@emilyeditorial) April 30, 2016

Super day of copywriting talks – thanks @mutatedmusings @koisurukady @re_scrawl & @daviddibbs 👍🏼 #copywritersunite pic.twitter.com/sbQ9eFAxUL

— Sam Graham (@Sami_G) April 30, 2016

Brilliant talk from @koisurukady @re_scrawl @daviddibbs and @mutatedmusings – motivating and interesting. Feel inspired! #copywritersunite

— Kat Sadler (@SadKatler) April 30, 2016

@koisurukady @mutatedmusings @re_scrawl @daviddibbs Thank you ALL for a great day. So informative, helpful and FREE! Kudos to you all!!

— DropCap Copywriting (@DropCapCopy) April 30, 2016

“Keep writing – enter short story competitions, poetry competitions. Put yourself out there,” advises @mutatedmusings #copywelcome

— Emily Hoquee (@emilyeditorial) April 30, 2016