I’m not afraid of the big bad wolf!
I’m a copywriter, and I’m fairly new to doing this full-time. I have fought against my brain for many years to overcome my imposter syndrome. Why? Because I’m Australian, and my default mode is to hide my talents and achievements in case someone pulls out their tall poppy scissors to start cutting me down.
SO it’s taken me a little while to get really confident in telling complete strangers that, yeah! I’m a copywriter! (Yay). But the funny thing is, when I say what I do for work with a confident smile - it’s not the scissors people reach for. Instead, it’s the media’s favourite weapon against us: fear.
Because in 2025, the very first thing people say to me is something along the lines of — ‘Aren’t you scared of AI? / Are you getting enough work since ChatGPT? / How is everything now with ChatGPT?’. One person even asked this with raised eyebrows and a scoff, as if I’m delulu for even trying. (In hindsight, that conversation is probably what prompted me to write this so passionately. I’m an Aries!).
Thankfully, I’m actually not afraid of being replaced by ChatGPT. Nope! In fact, I’m kinda confused about why this is the prevailing attitude or belief held by so many right now. And if you are now the one who’s feeling confused…let me explain.
For client work, I ask questions and apply my curiosity to understanding the task, audience, and industry at hand. I find it helpful to draw on my own lived experiences and stories to help paint a picture.
And on top of all that, I am a creative. Ideas are a really big part of the job!
My best ideas don’t necessarily come to me when I’m sitting in front of a computer. Some of my best work is actually written in my head while I’m doing any number of non-work things, including:
Riding my bike
Having a shower
Driving long distances
Going for a walk
Sitting in a public place
Observing my surroundings
People-watching at events
Listening to music
Before I go to bed (sigh)
To state the obvious, AI doesn’t ride a bike…nor does it thrive at producing original, thought-provoking, emotively connecting content (in a unique tone of voice, at that). The more I see AI content when I scroll Instagram, the more I yearn for creativity and humanness. I want it more than ever. For me, that’s the present AND the future that I’m really excited to be part of.
At the heart of it all: I’m a human being, writing to connect with other humans. And what comes before the copy? Thoughts, feelings, insights. Let’s not forget the possibilities that come from authenticity and a creative approach.
All this is not to say AI doesn’t have its place, or that it isn’t super useful as a productivity-enhancing tool, a miracle worker for quick fixes, or a superb grammar checker when we’re under the pump. But it’s not coming for my seat. Maybe one day I’ll eat my words…but until then, I’ll keep plucking them out of my beautiful brain and writing from the heart.
Curious to hear how others out there are feeling at the moment - if you work in a small business, creative role or marketing, how are you approaching the influx of AI? Has it become a tool in your belt? A springboard for concepting? One last grammar-check before you hit post? Tell me! My DMs and inbox are open.
Happy human-ing!
