How to write the easy way

One of my copywriting mentors always maintains that it takes 1,000 hours to become competent at something.  Anything – he doesn’t think it makes any difference if it’s writing, learning a language, or a sport.

 He also believes you can shorten the time with great teachers.  So whatever you’re learning you want to find yourself the best teachers around to lessen the pain. 

To become “great” at something he reckons you need about 10,000 hours.  And then there are the geniuses.

If we were talking dancing, in 1,000 hours or less with a great teacher you could be a competent dancer.  With 10,000 hours you’d be a professional… and then there’s Fred Astaire.

Get out of your own way when you’re writing

So why do I say there’s an easy way.  Well I agree that you have to practise.  But sometimes we get in our own way by practising too much.  By pushing ourselves too hard.

I’ve read a lot about different marketing writers.  I have a library of books and articles about them and their works.  And the one theme that comes out time and again is how often they achieve top status by trusting their unconscious to do the work for them.

A common method is to do the research then sleep on it asking the unconscious mind to deliver the goods in the morning.  And it does work.  I’ve tried it with a big project that had started to overwhelm me.  I was amazed at how it flowed when I started to write.

Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t edit though!