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Freelance commercial writing 101
By an Amazon.com customer
The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or LessThe Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency As a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less by Peter Bowerman
Buy used from: $3.23
This is one of the first books I read and one I highly recommend.
Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or MoreSecrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More by Robert W. Bly
Buy new: $12.24 / Used from: $9.30
Bly is a master in the field. I will not list all of his books here (there are just too many), but the few I have read so far are all highly recommended.
Start & Run a Copywriting BusinessStart & Run a Copywriting Business by Steve Slaunwhite
Buy new: $17.95 / Used from: $8.39
Another great starter book.
The Wealthy WriterThe Wealthy Writer by Michael Meanwell
Buy new: $12.91 / Used from: $0.74
Another great starter, particularly if you have an interest in speech writing.
The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top CopywritersThe Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters by Joseph Sugarman
Buy new: $14.93 / Used from: $12.44
Joe Sugarman shares the same information he taught for 30 years in seminars. Focused on print ads, but applicable to other media. One of the best books available on the subject.
Buying Trances: A New Psychology of Sales and MarketingBuying Trances: A New Psychology of Sales and Marketing by Joe Vitale
Buy new: $10.15 / Used from: $8.97
Joe Vitale teaches you how to get inside the prospective buysers head. You'll learn a ton here.
Power Sales WritingPower Sales Writing by Sue A. Hershkowitz-Coore
Buy new: $9.31 / Used from: $3.00
This was the first book I studied when I decided to make copywriting my career. It covers a lot of business writing basics and would have been listed with the first four books above, but is not specific to commercial writing. A great book.
Killer Techniques to Succeed with Newspaper, Magazine and Yellow Pages AdvertisingKiller Techniques to Succeed with Newspaper, Magazine and Yellow Pages Advertising by Michael Winicki
Buy new: $14.95 / Used from: $12.70
Horribly edited and very brief, but worth its weight in gold.
Ogilvy on AdvertisingOgilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $6.75
Learn from the master. A list on copywriting wouldn't be complete without Ogilvy.
Words that Sell, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Thesaurus to Help You Promote Your Products, Services, and IdeasWords that Sell, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Thesaurus to Help You Promote Your Products, Services, and Ideas by Richard Bayan
Buy new: $11.53 / Used from: $9.00
In my short career, I've already turned to this book dozens of times. A great resource.
Steal These Ideas!: Marketing Secrets That Will Make You a StarSteal These Ideas!: Marketing Secrets That Will Make You a Star by Steve Cone
Buy new: $10.48 / Used from: $2.63
I've probably made more notes and done more highlighting in this book than any other book I have read on copywriting.
Getting the Most from Your Yellow Pages Advertising: Maximum Profit at Minimum CostGetting the Most from Your Yellow Pages Advertising: Maximum Profit at Minimum Cost by Barry Maher
Buy new: $58.06 / Used from: $45.04
A "must have" if you planning to write yellow page ads.
Too Lazy to Work Too Nervous to Steal: How to Have a Great Life As a Freelance WriterToo Lazy to Work Too Nervous to Steal: How to Have a Great Life As a Freelance Writer by John Clausen
Buy used from: $0.11
Written with the article writer in mind, but useful for other media.
The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost Your SalesThe Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers. Boost Your Sales by Dan S. Kennedy
Buy new: $10.17 / Used from: $8.96
Do not attempt to write a sales letter without first reading this book. Nuff said.
Solid Gold Newsletter DesignSolid Gold Newsletter Design by Sheryl L. Roush
Buy new: $22.76 / Used from: $0.90
I've only done one newsletter so far, but of the five books I've bought on newsletter publishing, this is the one I've referred to the most.
The Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds A Second Helping Of "How-To" For Any Writer Dreaming of Great Bucks and Exceptional Quality of LifeThe Well-Fed Writer: Back For Seconds A Second Helping Of "How-To" For Any Writer Dreaming of Great Bucks and Exceptional Quality of Life by Peter Bowerman
Buy used from: $14.00
Picks up where Bowerman's first book left off. Excellent.
The Copywriter's Handbook, Third Edition: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That SellsThe Copywriter's Handbook, Third Edition: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly
Buy new: $12.24 / Used from: $10.09
A lot of the same material as the Bly book listed above, but still very useful with a good deal of other material.
Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them EngagedWriting White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged by Michael A. Stelzner
Buy new: $23.07 / Used from: $21.50
The same thing applies here as with Kennedy's book on slaes letters. Don't even attempt to write a white paper without first reading this book.
Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your WordsHypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words by Joe Vitale
Buy new: $12.97 / Used from: $9.98
It's probably best to read this book by Vitale before reading reading "Buying Trances" listed above.
On the Art of Writing Copy, Third EditionOn the Art of Writing Copy, Third Edition by Herschell Gordon Lewis
Buy new: $25.51 / Used from: $17.91
An essential volume for any copywriter. One of the best, and most useful books on copywriting.