How Do You Write?

[CopyAcolyte]

Hey all,

Just a quick question regarding the actual process of writing your copy:

Do you folks first write out your motivating sequences (i.e. interest/problem, agitate, solve, prove, call to action) in isolation of eachother in order to just get them down, or do you write one unbroken rough-draft of copy with these motivating sequences in mind, like you would write a college essay or article.

Thanks!

[Danielle Lynn]

I'd like to tell you I do something snazzy...

But really I just start by writing it out as though I'm explaining what I'm selling to a friend. Interesting parts naturally start to pop up as I'm doing that, then I go back over what I wrote and start constructing from it.

I find that if I try too hard to follow a format, "interest/problem, etc" It can end up sounding 'salesy'. Instead, I write a bit more organically, keeping those tension building principals in mind, but not necessarily strictly following them.

Then I test, adjust, and rinse and repeat

[Daave]

Well when I am into writing I completely get myself into it, and write my mind out. Then after I have completed I do make necessary changes.

[rbates]

I think that it depends on what you are writing. Short pieces can usually be
worked on as a whole and then trimmed up. With longer pieces I tend to do things in blocks.
Then I check for coherency from 1st to last, and finally go back and scrap the whole thing and re-write it again. If I did manage to like something the first time around,
I will go back a tweak everything (usually several times).

[jushuaburnham]

Before I start writing I will first figure who is my audience are. That's the very basic.

[markpocock]

You can break writing a sales letter down to this:
80% research. 20% actual writing.

[sylviad]

I just start writing. Most of what I want to cover is in my head. If I ever do write down a plan of action, I don't follow it anyway.

However...

Sometimes on longer copy I will make a simple list of points to cover, mostly around such things as:

- benefits of the offer
- what it includes
- why people need it (problems they face that it answers)
- gaps it might fill that other similar products lack

And that's pretty much it. Nothing fancy. Just point form. Like that.

Then all I have to do is come up with an interesting opening that grabs the reader's attention and leads into the copy.

When it's written, I leave it for a few days and edit which usually ends up making it longer.

Sylvia

[Stephen Dean]

I outline the sales argument with subheads, then fill in the rest of the copy skipping around as I go.

I get the most done when I just write without stopping, top to bottom, however.

Cheers,
Stephen

[CopyAcolyte]

Originally Posted by DanielleLynnCopy

I'd like to tell you I do something snazzy...

But really I just start by writing it out as though I'm explaining what I'm selling to a friend. Interesting parts naturally start to pop up as I'm doing that, then I go back over what I wrote and start constructing from it.

I find that if I try too hard to follow a format, "interest/problem, etc" It can end up sounding 'salesy'. Instead, I write a bit more organically, keeping those tension building principals in mind, but not necessarily strictly following them.

Then I test, adjust, and rinse and repeat

Hello,

Thanks for responding.

Would you mind taking a look at a few of my write-ups? I'd appreciate your input.

[Dean Jackson]

I find that like Stephen, I like to get the structure down... eliminating major objections with a rough headline, subheads, P.S., etc. Then I work to "fill in the gaps" until polishing/ editing time.

"There's no such thing as great writing - only great rewriting".

The best copywriting advice I've ever learned and used!

Guess who said it?

- Dean

[lometogo]

Originally Posted by Dean Jackson

"There's no such thing as great writing - only great rewriting".

Guess who said it?

- Dean

Hemingway, right?

[Monta]

I think the most important thing is you need to relate/identify with your audience when writing copy and try and keep the motivating sequences in your mind but keep an eye on sounding to sales-man like.