Recently, my boss told me he was looking for someone I could talk to for help with writing. He went on to explain that “even changing one word in a headline could take it from okay to great.” Cont’d..

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I would look at it this way - your boss believes in you enough to be honest with you and encourage you to get better. You’re taking it as a shot at your abilities, I’m seeing it as your boss really wanting to see you succeed.

85% of managers would just get rid of their writer and hire a new one without ever making the effort to coach them up.

Take the help in stride, get even better and a year from now you’ll probably get promoted

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Either your boss really likes you and wants you to grow, or this is his way of leaving a trail of reasons for getting rid of you. If he can't (or doesn't want to) outright fire you, he may resort to simply mistreating you so you leave of your own volition, or lose your temper finally and give him the excuse he's looking for to let you go. This "help" he is bringing in is probably your replacement if you aren't careful. I'd say it may already be too late, but if it isn't, treat this "tutor" as if they are really there to help you, while doing everything you can to update your book and find a new job. Or you can fight by digging into your replacement's past and raising flags with HR to get rid of him. If you want your boss to change their mind about YOU, you need to tell them this: "I'm so grateful that you are ready to invest in me and my growth here, but I don't want to learn from just any writer, I want to learn from YOU. Help me get better and I will not let you down." If he fires you after that he's too dumb to work for.

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Agree with everything said here except for finding flags with your replacement's history and telling HR. That's petty and ill-willed towards someone who has nothing to do with you being replaced. I've been here and it sucks, but take this as an opportunity to grind harder and get better. This is going to be a VERY uncomfortable period of slow growth. I would ask your boss to share writing they believe in superior, study it, and read copywriting book after copywriting book. Becoming a better writer is HARD and requires a ton of writing, failing, and analysis.
Good luck.

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Succinctness is really important in headline writing. That comes with practice. Maybe that’s the thing he thinks you’re missing. I’m saying this as a writer that also came to advertising later in my career. Maybe you’re getting ahead of yourself? It’s real easy to get your feelings hurt when it comes to the work. If he thinks you’re 99% of the way there, maybe you’re fine. Big ideas are really the most important thing. Figuring out delivery and finesse can be learned.

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I have been a writer for a decade but not in advertising. I know what it’s like to be obsessive about changing one word for improvement of impact. I know I’m a much better writer than this person will ever give me credit for, but internally, it’s killing me. When I finally get “assigned” this other writer, how do I play along and not go off the rails? I have always delivered good work and never asked for help. The work is also not overly intensive. I’m so over this boss.

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Thanks. Yep, I did ask, but he floundered around and did not really have a reason.

“I know I’m a much better writer than this person will ever give me credit for.” – This sentence right here is key, IMO, and if it were me I’d start sending my resume out. While, on the one hand, I don’t think it’s always a red flag for a boss to take steps to try to help an employee improve, the fact is there’s a LOT of subjectivity in this business re: good writing (every CD I’ve had has had slightly different taste), and your boss’s opinion isn’t the final word. If you feel you’re better than they’ll ever give you credit for, I’d try to move on to a boss who WILL give you credit.

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I should say, I’ve never asked for help in this way, as in needing a tutor. Sorry—wine.

Thanks, everyone! I also get a new partner this week, so maybe that will help the situation. Appreciate the responses.

Even the best writer can learn from other writers. I trust my team to give me honest feedback on my own stuff, and they often point out things I never would have caught because I’m too invested in my own words. In the end, it’s all about creating the best final product. Sometimes you nail it the first time, sometimes you need help. Be open to guidance and you might end up with a partnership that boosts both of your work.

Right. I agree and will always want fresh eyes on my work and feedback, no matter my level. My issue is that I am having someone assigned to me to basically teach me things as if I don’t know the “rules,” not just provide normal feedback. This is not common.

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