Why write by hand?

I've seen many suggestions that people new to copywriting write out famous letters of others by hand. And that's because writing forces you to be more aware of what you're writing because you have to consciously think about it. And that enhances the learning process. And since these letters are supposedly great, the techniques sort of transfer.

But I don't really see any benefit to writing your own original stuff that way.

I think it's more of an "old school wisdom" thing that went unchallenged. Then again is it?

Having tried both, I do see benefits of just typing it out as well but tend to get distracted with formatting and stuff whereas with writing by hand you end up focusing a little more (And that could be just me).

As a side effect, you'll have more handwriting practice and less risk to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Jokes aside writing by hand gives your mind a certain freedom after a while and that is exactly when the writing starts to take off. It usually happens on the 3rd page.

Just start writing anything (seriously anything ... even blah blah blah) and notice when you get to the 3rd page your momentum just changes, your mind shifts into a different dimension and your pencil (or pen) is trying hard to catch up with the thoughts your brain is outputting at a rapid pace (Maybe it's just me again).

The reasons could be neurological. Writing causes memorization and the brain starts absorbing and then recognizing the patterns. Writing is more sub-conscious than typing I think.

Ok, I'm rambling now. sorry.

It is forcing you more to know the full phrase before you write it down instead pressing the delete button 10 times.

Exercise imagination.

Writing out by hand is more actively engaging than typing. Then, when you analyze, you can scribble, jot and write all over what you just wrote in whatever way helps you best to learn.

Studies also show being able to even hold a piece of paper increases retention of the material as opposed to reading it off the screen. Simply the act of holding your copy and flipping pages can help consolidate the information so that you can analyze and understand it better. The effect is so profound that if you are reading something that someone flips the pages for you, your ability to recall that information decreases from what it would if you flipped them yourself.

Weird stuff. It's reasonable to assume it's the same for the actual writing of the piece as well.

I strongly believe it's whatever you are comfortable with. Writing or Typing. In my case I'm always distracted by the curiousity of searching something on google whenever I'm typing something. But whenever I'm out of computer and writing on paper, I can fully concentrate. And that gives me better result.

Personally, I believe in taking advantage of this great technological device known as the computer... why go back in time?

Although I love my computer I do find that when writign by hand you don't get those annoying little red and green squiggles under all the mis-spelled and grammaticly incorrect words and phrases that tens to distarct and disturb the creative flow

(do I need to edit? )

When you write you tend to focus more word per word. Typing, normally, requires less thought into the words you are typing. Also, there have been many studies showing that the brain absorbs information better when writing it than typing it.

Personally, I do both because my hand gets pretty tired after writing out a whole sale's letter, but I find that I get a lot more out of writing them by hand. Writing is also slower than typing for most people and gives you more time looking over the letter.

Lol - thanks! I have managed to train myself to ignore it until I have finished my article - then I can tweak to my hearts desire!

Handwriting allows you to release initial emotions as well.

When I am worked up about something I will always hand-write the main points that I want to say. But if I were to send it like that I would undoubtedly burn a lot of bridges, so typing allows me to 'tone it down' to an acceptable level and get my point across far more effectively.

I guess it is more of a personal preference.

If I were to take notes, I tend to type them up and print them.

If I were to write copy, I tend to type it in Word or Notepad.

So yeah, I guess it is personal preference or convenience.

Really good question. I wasn't sold when I first heard it either Connie.

But it works. I wrote this article on why (no sales pitch, promise lol)


Can Copywriting Make You a Better Person? | Cashflow Copywriter

I agree with the other warriors said. Nice reminder to all of us here.

The idea of writing good letters by hand comes from the thinking that you'll physically (and intimately) develop the flow, pacing and structure of good writing.

The thing with that now, for me, is that I've always written on the computer.

So the way I type is the way I flow, in essence! I've considered typing out some of my favorite letters, but have yet to find the time.

Copying a great piece of writing by hand is a symphony of learning.

First, it's the most attentive way of reading there is. But, it goes deeper than that.

Your brain is not a single organ, but a collection of systems that act like players in an orchestra. The conductor stands about two inches back of your left ear. It's the left occipitotemporal area and is sometimes called the brain's letterbox.

It deciphers the letters, then raises its batton and sets the other orchestra members playing. Graphemes become phonemes, memory is probed and meaning is revealed. But all that stuff happens any time you read, not just hand copying.

The magic behind hand copying is in how slow it is. All the members of your neuro-orchestra process what is before your eye in milliseconds. While your hand is slowly copying, they begin bouncing that word/sentence back and forth...looking for and making new connections, searching for and recognizing paterns, analyzing word choice and placement, devining the structure of the piece as it is slowly revealed.

Also, you subvocalize when you read. You supply a voice in your head to speak the words on the page. You give an imagined voice to the writer that fits your interpretation of the style and tone of the writing. Subvocalization is important for memory. It means what you read is stored not in your relatively poor visual memory, but in your high fidelity auditory memory. You remember the sounds of the words, not how they looked individually on the page.

Here's how I think this applies to hand copying, and this is just my own theory, so take it with a grain of salt: I think when you hand copy a piece of writing, you subvocalize in your own voice. The words, methods and structure become your own. If true, it's the closest you can get to being in the writer's head.

I don't quite understand why newbies are asked to copy by hand famous sales letters without being taught the reasons as to why they're famous sales letters etc. However, while writing short copy in particular (catchy headlines and stuff) ;I can definitely understand how writing it down makes a difference. For some reason (not sure why) it's just more stimulating than seeing it on a comp screen.

I went into why I think this works here: How To Become A Copywriter In The Shortest Possible Time | Direct Marketing Advantage

It may not be everybody's cup-o-tea, but it doesn't mean it doesn't work.

If everyone was the same, we wouldn't need so many different ways of learning.

Copying out great sales copy worked for me.

In fact, when I find myself stuck getting started, I can make a start by copying something and then my own writing flows.

To assume something is useless just because you can't make it work is a little conceited IMO.

For the few of you that were just beginning to think I knew what I was talking about...this should quickly change your minds...he..he.

MsConnie,

I will tell you the reason for writing copy by hand and what to do with it once you have written it out in your own handwriting...as told to me by Sir Gary Halbert.

But first, I have to go back a couple of decades, and, YIKES, give a brief EDUCATION on the subject of...

ideomotor effect...

WTF??? I've never heard of that...sez you.

YES you have...Ouija boards, dowsing, automatic writing, pendulum pheonomen...

Are all areas that make use of ideomotor effect.

NOW, I studied the subject for two years while writing copy for people who were involved in the business of selling ideomotor "techniques and devices"...so a few paragraphs won't suffice...but it'll have to do.

It has long been discredited as a way to get subconsious thoughts to come out...and many good papers are out there...Quackwatch has some good work on the subject...

that being said...

ideomotor physiology is a real thing...the unconscious twitching of muscles in your fingers is what causes the Ouija to fly, the pendulum to swing, the pen to write automatically...

AND the thinking before the debunking was...it was a way to access subconscious thought...and the other side of the coin was that by using a pen and writing and keeping the conscious mind occupied, it was, in effect, a direct shortcut to your brain allowing you to bypass the RAS and implant, install or just inject knowledge directly into the gray matter.

OK. That's the theory behind it. Now for Gary and his REASON WHY and HOW to do it.

You want to speak out loud while writing. This occupies your conscious mind and keeps it focused so you are not thinking about which hamburger stand to go to at lunch time.

When you are done writing you want to read aloud what you have just written...I record it, and still use a cassette, even though I have several digital recorders...a cassette is harder to erase, it takes a conscious effort...

Then, you want to find at least TWO other people to read the promotion and record them reading it.

This is where the AMAZING part comes and the part that could actually make you a better copywriter...so pay attention to this:

when you listen to the way you read it and the way other people read it...you will INSTANTLY discover the stumbling blocks. The rough parts. The parts which slow the reader down...

Remember this: Cadence, pace, beat.

Friends, Romans and Countrymen...lend me your ear.

Aristotle knew it. Shakespeare. OBAMA knows it. Toastmasters teach it...and Sir Gary Halbert made a fortune with it...it being

the LAW of Threes.

Cadence.
Pace.
Beat.

Go to some Halbert promotions and read them out loud. RECORD yourself reading them...you will quickly and easily hear and feel the law of threes...and get a better understanding of some of the secrets of persuasion...used by orators, copywriters and would be world Kings...

Cadence.
Pace.
Beat.

It is about RHYTHM. All great copywriters discover their own rhythm, their own voice and their own writing style before they go onto greatness.

Almost all follow the rules of Cadence. Pace. Beat.

The reason you want to write out winners by hand...THEN READ THEM ALOUD and get other people to read them aloud is...

so that you can HEAR...

understand

incorporate

the Cadence. Pace. Beat of the promotion and how persuasive the law of threes can be.

IF, you don't believe the skeptics and scientists...it could also be a way for you to use reverse ideomotor effect and get instant installation of technique into your brain cells.

But, I could be wrong.
And maybe Gary was too.

But I doubt it.

Write.
Read.
Listen.

YOU MsConnie will be amazed, elucidated and thrilled with the results.

gjabiz

PS. I've written several promotions for people who believe in what they sell, even though I may not personally believe in it...I try not to prejudice myself as a copywriter...and keep an open mind as to what the person is trying to do...

I'm of the OPINION and belief that drinking beer is NOT a good way to get healthy and get a six pack ab...if someone else thinks it is...and the market accepts their presentation...who am I to say?

Which opens up a whole nuther can of worms...copywriter morality...maybe another day.

It certainly will make everything take longer. Speed is important so many times and we have to keep our turnaround time up. For me, it was kind of hard to get used to always writing everything on a computer because I was used to always writing in my journals, etc. It takes time.

I write by hand because COMPUTER DON'T LET ME FOCUS.

And also i 'feel' more of what im writing!

Because technology makes us stupider:

Handwriting, not typing, makes kids better learners

When I started in stand-up lo so many years ago we would write out Carson's monologues (for the kids, Johnny Carson was a guy that had Leno's job, aw never mind) and other comic's routines. It really helps internalize the structure of great material.

Now I just write out Carrot Top routines, "Ever see this sign? It says KEEP OFF MEDIAN. You're doing 70 miles per hour they tell you KEEP OFF MEDIAN. You know, honey, this smooth stuff sucks, want to cut the grass? BRRRRRRRRRRR. Go Daddy! BRRRRRRRRRR. That's like putting up a sign that says KEEP ON BRIDGE!"

Oy.

I'll buy the different parts of the brain, but still wonder if in let's say 20 years when most of the copywriters will have grown up on the computer if the advice will still be the same... and if overall copywriting creativity suffers. My guess is "no".

If my opinion makes any difference...

I've made a few thousand because I started off
writing proven sales copy by hand. As a result...

Email copy = improved.

Article Writing = improved.

Copywriting = improved.

Talking On The Phone Making Sales = improved.

Why?

From personal experience, as you're writing out
copy by hand, you understand *flow*, *cadence*
and *beat* (gjabiz - awesome analogy).

...somehow...some way...you just *get it*.

It won't happen after one piece of copy. It won't
happen after two. But maybe 5 or 10 (or more).

When it *does*, it clicks.

Structure. Placement. Use of words. And, Human
Behavior becomes crystal clear. And...

it's not something you can get studying reasons
WHY behind copy. Although it is important - but
KNOWING the reason behind a strong guarantee,
a eye-catching opener, or solid closer - doesn't
come CLOSE to WRITING it out by hand.

...and I'm not talking about *typing it out*.

There's something about manually putting a pen
to paper that gives it power. No need for me to
scientifically or psychology explain why - i's been
done in previous posts.

...you know, it reminds of facebook.

No matter how badly people try to replace human
-to-human interaction...

it will NEVER replace the feelings, emotion, and
overall satisfaction of hearing a persons voice,
touching that person, or looking them dead in the
eye.

So, without regurgitating what Gary Halbert said
to defend a legend, I've actually *done* what he
recommended - and will be doing it again before I
write my next piece - because it always works &
get's my creativity juices going.

In other words, I recommend it because it works.

Those who argue AGAINST it...I doubt have ever
tried it.