Pat Quinn (copywriter)
Patrick "Pat" Quinn (1937, London – 13 June 2008, Melrose, Scotland) was a professional advertising copywriter and author who was also an aeroplane pilot and active in the Edinburgh music scene.[1]
Quinn had 40 years' experience of the advertising business, and was also an advertising industry trainer and seminar leader. After moving to Scotland, he was a jazz critic for the Edinburgh Evening News.[1]
He died of prostate cancer on 13 June 2008 at Borders General Hospital in Melrose, Scotland.[1]
Professional life
As a teenager he was turned down for his first copywriting job because he didn't know how to define a unique selling proposition.
He first joined a London ad agency as a copywriter in the 1960s.
Positions held during his career an ad agency ranged from copy chief to creative director. Quinn also worked as a freelance copywriter, operating in London, Dublin, Edinburgh and Miami. As a professional copywriter Patrick Quinn wrote direct mail, newspaper advertisements, and newsletters.
Books authored
Patrick Quinn has published 21 books on topics of advertising, marketing, and detective fiction, including:
- The Secrets of Successful Copywriting (First published by William Heinemann Limited, revised 2005 with Markethill Publishing Ltd)
- The Secrets of Successful Low Budget Advertising (Markethill Publishing Ltd, 2004)
- The Secrets of Successful Exhibitions (Butterworth-Heinemann)
- Word Power - Versions 1 and 2 (Markethill Publishing Ltd)
- Thinking On Your Feet (Kogan Page)
- When Do I Start? (Elliot)
Quinn also published thirteen detective fiction novels with New English Library, Robert Hale, and Ed McBain.[2] He also wrote a flying training manual titled Ready For Take-Off.
Writing style
"The office carpets were deeper than the Marianna Trench, executive desks were wider than the Brooklyn Bridge and the company cars were never less than top-of-the-range.",[3] Quinn's writing style frequently mixed in crime drama story telling in teaching and advertising.
Awards
- Winner of the Cork Film Festival Grand Prix for a Kerrygold Butter television advertisement.
References
- 1 2 3 "Well-respected and much loved, Pat was the king of the jazz scene". Edinburgh Evening News. Edinburgh: Johnston Press. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
He met his future wife in 1955, when he was 18
- ↑ Cool Stuff 4 Writers. Interview with Patrick Quinn (2008) Question #7.
- ↑ Quinn, Patrick (2004). The Secrets of Successful Low Budget Advertising. London: Markethill Publishing Ltd. p. 3.