I like words

One of the things I love about studying the work of copywriters from 75-100 years ago is that they tended to love words and writing.

In 1934 copywriter Robert Pirosh decided he wanted to become a screenwriter instead.

Here’s the letter he sent to all the directors, producers, etc., he could think of:

Dear Sir:

I like words. I like fat buttery words, such as ooze, turpitude, glutinous, toady. I like solemn, angular, creaky words, such as straitlaced, cantankerous, pecunious, valedictory. I like spurious, black-is-white words, such as mortician, liquidate, tonsorial, demi-monde. I like suave “V” words, such as Svengali, svelte, bravura, verve. I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as splinter, grapple, jostle, crusty. I like sullen, crabbed, scowling words, such as skulk, glower, scabby, churl. I like Oh-Heavens, my-gracious, land’s-sake words, such as tricksy, tucker, genteel, horrid. I like elegant, flowery words, such as estivate, peregrinate, elysium, halcyon. I like wormy, squirmy, mealy words, such as crawl, blubber, squeal, drip. I like sniggly, chuckling words, such as cowlick, gurgle, bubble and burp.

I like the word screenwriter better than copywriter, so I decided to quit my job in a New York advertising agency and try my luck in Hollywood, but before taking the plunge I went to Europe for a year of study, contemplation and horsing around.

I have just returned and I still like words.

May I have a few with you?

Robert Pirosh
385 Madison Avenue
Room 610
New York
Eldorado 5-6024

Thanks to that letter he landed a job as a writer with MGM and went on to become a writer for the Marx Brothers and wrote a script that won an Academy Award.

I love words too.

Click here if you’d like me to write some for you.

(H/T Letters of Note)

I like words, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

Filed under: Email Copywriting

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!