Copywriting.org Interviews Ernest Robin Dover
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Q1. Where are you from?
I currently reside in Clearwater, Florida. I was born in Arrington, Cambridgeshire, England.
Q2. How did you discover copywriting?
I discovered the concept and application of copywriting through the advertising efforts of Robert ‘Bob’ Bly. I had always been attracted to writing in its purest forms, just for the sake of expression. As I immersed myself in the sheer process of writing, I found I had an affinity with expression through the written word. I have been a fiction writer since 1994… that’s around thirty years. I studied Novel Writing with Writer’s Digest. Dell Publishing’s top selling horror writer, Ron Dee, became my mentor. Ron was their best selling and most prolific author within the framework of Dell Publishing’s ‘Abyss Series’ of horror novels. I learned a lot of scary things from Ron. I currently have 11 novels published in Amazon and I am currently editing a trilogy I hope to see published in 2024.
Returning to a focus on copywriting, it was through Bob Bly’s emails as well as through some of his courses and free content, providing templates for building a successful copywriting business, that I learned more about the skills to be developed in persuasive writing. Through these courses, learning to see the persuasive content found in these templates, I grew more interested. At this point, I began studying with the American Writers and Artists Institute. I am a member of AWAI today.
And once again, it was through Bob Bly’s emails that I discovered Troy Ericson. As I followed the link to Troy’s content, I learned about the vast world of email marketing and more specifically, applying the skills I had already developed over the years as a novel writer and copywriter, into Email List Management. I found another way to use my imagination and persuasive abilities through email marketing. It is a beautiful daily journey of adventure, discovery and change.
Returning to a focus on copywriting, it was through Bob Bly’s emails as well as through some of his courses and free content, providing templates for building a successful copywriting business, that I learned more about the skills to be developed in persuasive writing. Through these courses, learning to see the persuasive content found in these templates, I grew more interested. At this point, I began studying with the American Writers and Artists Institute. I am a member of AWAI today.
And once again, it was through Bob Bly’s emails that I discovered Troy Ericson. As I followed the link to Troy’s content, I learned about the vast world of email marketing and more specifically, applying the skills I had already developed over the years as a novel writer and copywriter, into Email List Management. I found another way to use my imagination and persuasive abilities through email marketing. It is a beautiful daily journey of adventure, discovery and change.
Q3. What forms of copy do you write?
I write emails, sales letters, a blog on my fiction writing website: robindover.com. I have also written copy for the travel industry with ECBC Travel and Luggage (Modern Travelers Defined). In addition, I have interviewed numerous highly successful horror writers such as Joe. R Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep; Hap and Leonard drama TV Series), Trent Zelazny (famous horror and crime writer – His short story “The House of Happy Mayhem” received an honorable mention in Best Horror of the Year 2009, edited by Ellen Datlow) – son of world famous 6 time Hugo Award winner and 3 time Nebula Award Winning science fiction and fantasy author, Roger Zelazny – author of The Chronicles of Amber), James Moore (nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for “Best Novel” for his book Serenity Falls) and Anne Serling (daughter of the Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling) to name a few.
Q4. What are your favorite niches to write in?
I love to write with a positive influence toward health and fitness; mindset and attitude reset and reorientation; dedicated self-discipline leading to genuine positive change; and anything that allows me creative flexibility with the capacity to exercise influence and gain the confidence of my audience. To me, mindset is everything.
Q5. What is the #1 lesson you've learned as a copywriter?
I believe the #1 lesson I have learned as a copywriter is the need to cater to the heart of the reader or prospective client. Bold promises – viable and believable promises that cater to the heart of the seeker – that invoke strong visual imagery – is essential in influencing a powerful emotional connection.
Q6. Who is your favorite copywriter & why?
I couldn’t really choose only one because there are quite a few. That would be like asking me what is my favorite song. So far… Robert ‘Bob’ Bly is certainly at the top of my list of favorites. Why? Because I have found Bob to be no nonsense, honest and straight forward. I like that.
I recently discovered Troy Ericson. I read copy from Troy last night that moved me so much, that I was compelled to send him an email thanking him for what he had written and offered my deepest gratitude. Now THAT’S great copy.
I recently discovered Troy Ericson. I read copy from Troy last night that moved me so much, that I was compelled to send him an email thanking him for what he had written and offered my deepest gratitude. Now THAT’S great copy.
Q7. Do you have any recent wins to share?
I’m currently incorporating copywriting into my daily regimen, starting from ground zero, building off my base as a fiction writer. This December I made the commitment to immerse myself into the continued development as an Email List Manager and Copywriter. However, I’d like to share a small section of actual copy that I included in an upcoming trilogy that I am currently editing. The novel trilogy is entitled, ‘The Mind of God’. Here is the copy, included in one of the books of the trilogy that is genuine copy for the trilogy itself…
Promotional Direct Mail Letter for “The Mind of God”
Dear Curious Reader:
You are walking through a strange bookstore. You are on a mission. It is raining heavily outside. It is growing darker. It is thundering. You notice flashes of light in your peripheral vision. You are searching for something different. Something extraordinary to stimulate your mind… to completely capture your attention. To transform your life. You see the book. You ask yourself…
“How disturbed will I allow myself to be?
“How many nights can I go without sleep?
“Do I dare enter into the sacred hidden privacy of the Mind of God?
“How many times will I be able to jump up and run from what I am reading… because I know that if I don’t, I will be haunted and stalked forever by my discoveries? By forbidden knowledge? Hunted by another twisted part of myself?
“How long can I tolerate awakening in the middle of the night… hesitantly watching. Looking over on my bedside table… watching the forbidden scripture dancing… hearing it summon my name? Demanding that I read… study… right now… again? How many times can I do this before it consumes me? Until nothing is left?
“Is it that I believe love may be found here? Do I believe that I may find something good here? Or that I might smile… breathe a sigh of relief… or even laugh out loud uncontrollably? Or become unquestionably formidable… full of power?
“Do I expect there may be a good moral to rest upon? Or maybe even a handbook full of sound, ethical and spiritual principles I might use to guide and salvage my life?
“Do I really believe there might be hope?
“Or could it be that I am in fact weak and impressionable? Powerless and afraid? Exposed and unprotected? In peril and open to threat? Truly undeniably vulnerable?
“Should I take the chance? Standing on the edge of the world… staring into the blackest of mysteries… should I risk it all? When I truly don’t even believe the odds are in my favor? Is this the exercise of my faith or is it purely dangerous?
“Should I go ahead and throw the dice? Should I take the shot? Maybe…”
You slowly reach out to touch the book… “Hmmm… better safe than sorry.”
The Mind of God. Don’t even TRY to read it.
Promotional Direct Mail Letter for “The Mind of God”
Dear Curious Reader:
You are walking through a strange bookstore. You are on a mission. It is raining heavily outside. It is growing darker. It is thundering. You notice flashes of light in your peripheral vision. You are searching for something different. Something extraordinary to stimulate your mind… to completely capture your attention. To transform your life. You see the book. You ask yourself…
“How disturbed will I allow myself to be?
“How many nights can I go without sleep?
“Do I dare enter into the sacred hidden privacy of the Mind of God?
“How many times will I be able to jump up and run from what I am reading… because I know that if I don’t, I will be haunted and stalked forever by my discoveries? By forbidden knowledge? Hunted by another twisted part of myself?
“How long can I tolerate awakening in the middle of the night… hesitantly watching. Looking over on my bedside table… watching the forbidden scripture dancing… hearing it summon my name? Demanding that I read… study… right now… again? How many times can I do this before it consumes me? Until nothing is left?
“Is it that I believe love may be found here? Do I believe that I may find something good here? Or that I might smile… breathe a sigh of relief… or even laugh out loud uncontrollably? Or become unquestionably formidable… full of power?
“Do I expect there may be a good moral to rest upon? Or maybe even a handbook full of sound, ethical and spiritual principles I might use to guide and salvage my life?
“Do I really believe there might be hope?
“Or could it be that I am in fact weak and impressionable? Powerless and afraid? Exposed and unprotected? In peril and open to threat? Truly undeniably vulnerable?
“Should I take the chance? Standing on the edge of the world… staring into the blackest of mysteries… should I risk it all? When I truly don’t even believe the odds are in my favor? Is this the exercise of my faith or is it purely dangerous?
“Should I go ahead and throw the dice? Should I take the shot? Maybe…”
You slowly reach out to touch the book… “Hmmm… better safe than sorry.”
The Mind of God. Don’t even TRY to read it.
Q8. What would you say to a prospective client who wants to hire you?
Send me an email: e.robindover@gmail.com. Let me know specifically what you want to achieve and when you want to see it happen. Together, we’ll negotiate and develop a strategy to achieve and accomplish your goals.
Q9. What is a good email address for prospective clients to contact you?
e.robindover@gmail.com