There is sometimes a small fee payable. Always acknowledge sources of your quotations - then you've kept your word, your side of "bargain".

Also keep copies of your correspondence in event of an unlikely dispute.

Now a bit for Kiwis (and Brits)...

No one can reproduce your work without your permission. New Zealand law closely follows British law. In NZ copyright is usually protected for 50 years after author's death. If a book is published posthumously (nice long word that), copyright extends for 75 years after time of author's death. After that work can be freely used by anyone. No hope for me then... but perhaps my great great grand- children!

As from 1989, New Zealand copyright law requires 3 copies of every NZ publication to go to National Library in Wellington. One of which goes to Alexander Turnbull Library, one to National Library for bibliographical pur- poses, while third is kept at Parliamentary Library in capital in Wellington. Sometimes a publisher might want copyright in exchange for a fee. My advice: It's your work of art. So always retain your copyright... unless you are in dire financial straits, like this aspiring (and perspiring) writer. *

In next lesson (and article) we will look at subject of plagiarism . Wow, that's a big word and I hope I spelt it cor- rectly (especially for you "slick Americans")!

No , I don't mind you using my material and I feel, it may be very hard for another "writer" to closely copy my rather "wacky style of hopefully informing and entertaining at same time".

Anyway, isn't "imitation sincerest form of flattery"?

The message that tells your customer about you and your product in a voice and tone that reaches deep.

The message that lays bricks of foundation on which wall of trust is built.

At core of your business success is copy content of your message.

So what sort of copy is that?

The one that touches right nerve of your customer or client. The one that tells your customer that you and your product can be trusted. The one that makes customer eager to do business with you. The one that talks to your customers as if you are talking to them directly. The one that tells your customers exactly what they should know to arrive at an educated decision. The one that elevates your customers to level of clouds so that they see your world with colors of a rainbow.

Ok, last one sounds a bit unrealistic but you get what I mean.

Are there hard and fast rules for professional copywriting? Not at all. I often say that I can read between lines - words, commas, full-stops and phrases - and make out what sort of person writer is. We all have this quality, and we all go through such an awareness, but all happens in subconscious. Your business needs a copywriter who can tap into that subconscious.