The pen’s double life: How copywriting and novel writing differ

What’s the purpose?

Sure, copywriting and novel writing aren’t complete worlds apart – after all, they both harness the powers of creativity, storytelling and emotion to engage and influence readers. They also both involve writing for a specific purpose, but these vary hugely! At Denfield, our copywriters can be found turning their hands to anything from billboards to web pages to blogs, creating compelling content for marketing and promotional materials designed to inform and persuade. While the purpose of each piece is usually set by the client, we always aim to understand the meaning behind what we’re writing. Backed up by insights from our data team, we tailor our writing to match the psychology of the audience, anticipating their needs and crafting messages that resonate.

On the other hand, novel writing is driven by the author’s creativity, with the primary goal to entertain. Authors have the freedom to build worlds, develop characters and explore themes, focusing on emotional connections with readers. While copywriting is strategic and action-driven, novel writing tends to be more expansive, allowing for deeper exploration of plots and characters.

 

Format and length

One of the biggest differences between copywriting and novel writing is the formats they’re created for. A novel is all about crafting one complete book, while copywriting can cover loads of different formats – articles, blogs, flyers, radio/video/podcast scripts, emails, landing pages, product pages, website pages, social media posts and much more. You name it, we cover it all!

When you compare the two, copywriting tends to be a lot shorter form. The goal is to make an immediate impact with concise, engaging content that grabs the reader’s attention fast. It’s also optimised for search engines to gain access to a wider audience. Novels, on the other hand, are a big ole chunk of long-form writing! Length often varies depending on genre. For example, a novelette can be between 7,500 and 17,500 words, a novella is around 17,500 to 40,000 words, while a young adult, crime, or thriller novel usually falls between 55,000 to 70,000 words. Literary novels tend to range from 80,000 to 100,000 words, and sci-fi, fantasy, or historical fiction can be anywhere from 100,000 to 120,000 words.

Every word, every scene, every detail, every character and every plot twist are all in the author’s control; it’s up to them how much or how little they want to include to entertain and inform their readers…

 

Tone of voice (TOV)

In novel writing, you have complete freedom to play with tone, depending on the characters and the scene. You can adjust it however you like to evoke the right emotions. Want to make a character’s voice deliberately unlikeable? Go for it! The tone can be as fluid or as rigid as the author wants.

Copywriting is similar in that there’s a lot of flexibility with tone. Whether you’re aiming for something humorous, professional or inspirational, there’s a wide range of options. But here’s the catch – it must always align with the brand you’re writing for. At Denfield, we’re diligent in ensuring that the tone matches our clients’ or company’s needs. Whether we’re writing for a specific interest, age group, gender or anything else – the pitch has got to be spot on.

 

Simple language

In copywriting, there’s a common saying that “simple is better”. Using complicated or technical language comes across as pretentious or off-putting. The goal: connecting with readers in a way that makes your voice and message feel relatable, creating something meaningful and impactful.

In novel writing, though, language choices can vary a lot depending on the genre and the author’s style. Some stories really shine with rich, descriptive language that pulls readers into vivid settings, while others – like thrillers or crime novels – might go for a simpler style to keep the pace up and hold the reader’s attention.

 

Puns

Depending on the client and company, a cheeky pun in copywriting can work wonders! A well-timed pun can be a great way to grab attention, engage an audience and make a campaign really stand out.

In novel writing, puns are usually avoided – unless they fit the story or a character’s personality. For example, a quirky, comedic character might throw in a pun now and then, but in more serious narratives it’s less common. The focus is usually on keeping the dialogue realistic, relatable and engaging without distracting the reader.

 

Calls to action

Copywriters always want to inspire action! And they do this through their written pieces, persuading people to make a purchase, sign up or learn more about a business, event or product. That’s where a call to action (CTA) comes in – it’s a key part of the writing, helping our readers take the next step in the process.

For novels, the focus is on entertaining the reader and letting them enjoy the story in their own way. There’s no need for a CTA – unless you count the subtle nudge for readers to keep turning the pages!

 

So, what function does writing play in your life or work? Is copywriting or novel writing your creative outlet? Let us know!

 

P.S. Curious about our budding novelist? Check out Rachel’s debut novel, The Plight of Others, here!