How Joss Whedon Made Me a Better Copywriter

Lessons in big damn wordplay

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Years ago, I ran a blog called “Confluey,” where I posted musings about media, culture, and society. The blog never made it big or had more than five visitors per month, but it got me started writing on the Internet. What I remember most about the blog, though, is its name.

“Confluey” is a word used by the character Cordelia Chase, who was created by veteran TV screenwriter/producer/director Joss Whedon. She’s attempting to turn the noun “confluence” into an adjective, and it comes off as a real word. Whedon’s scripts are full of such neologisms, as well as a linguistic wit that’s become his signature style. Dubbed Whedonspeak, this blend of wordplay and snappy dialogue offers more than just entertaining television. It gives us valuable lessons in copywriting.

Copywriters are writers who compose ads, webpages, social media posts, and anything else meant to sell something. The world of marketing relies on copywriters to produce persuasive language. When you read something that convinces you to buy a product or sign up for a free trial, you can thank a copywriter.

So, what does this have to do with Joss Whedon? Well, whether you’re producing witty comebacks for the Slayer or snappy taglines for a business, you’re playing with words. Both Whedon and…