Fast-Paced or Self-Paced

• Ad Agency Copywriter
  You might sit in a brainstorming session for a new client's ad campaign. You might travel to the location where the TV commercial script you wrote is being produced. You'll constantly have deadlines you need to meet or even beat. The pace is very fast and many budding creatives crumble under the high stress that can come with working in ad agency.
  
  
• Freelance Copywriter
  A freelancer's life is still hectic but you have more control over your own pace. If you're starting to feel burned out by the amount of projects you're writing, you can pull back and stop accepting so many projects with shorter deadlines.

Teamwork Vs. Lone Ranger

• Ad Agency Copywriter
  You'll work with the Creative Director and the entire creative team to develop campaign concepts for clients and you may even be involved in the client pitches. Your copy might get approved by 10 a.m. and at noon you're sitting down with the graphic designer to look over the layout of your copy within the ad. Teamwork is key to any ad agency's success and your role is crucial to how well the team does on each and every campaign.
  
  
• Freelance Copywriter
  If you're working with local clients, you may have occasional meetings with them in person but most of the time you will be alone. Freelancers become quite familiar with the four walls they work within and that's something you have to consider if you're thinking about starting down this career path. If you can't tolerate spending large amounts of time in solitude, freelancing may not be the best option for you.

Work for the Boss or Be the Boss

• Ad Agency Copywriter
  You may not sit at a desk and write copy all day long as an agency copywriter. You're always a member of the creative team and that means you have plenty of other responsbilities to your team and the clients. Your Creative Director may have you working on a client pitch, sitting in meetings, developing new concepts with other creatives, among other duties. Agencies have their own methods on how they pull together to produce ad campaigns so you will have to adapt to what your boss wants from you. This means you could spent a lot of time away from your keyboard instead of hammering out new ad materials.
  
  
• Freelance Copywriter
  You're the marketing team to help grow your business. You're the accounting department to send out invoices so you can get paid. You're the creative team that writes copy for a variety of projects. You will wear many hats as a freelancer because you are the business. As your own boss, you have to be disciplined enough to make every aspect of your business run smoothly. You don't get a day off just because you feel like curling up in your hammock to read a book. There's always something for you to do, no matter which department you're working in at the moment.

No matter which copywriting career track you decide upon, be flexible and keep an open mind. As an agency copywriter, you may be dead set on working within an agency for life but you never know when layoffs or even burnout may hit you. As a freelancer, you may love the freedom you have as your own boss but then one day a better opportunity with an ad agency comes your way.

Each career path has its perks and you're never locked in to that particular route you initially chose. You can always change your mind and every bit of copywriting experience you've gained will help you along the way.