what are the two common hurdles a newbie copywriter undergoes ?

Yes very true . That first copy which becomes successful helps you out in the long run . But until then you have to keep on absorbing what other people are doing and experimenting on what works for you via constantly tweaking your pitch.

I could really learn a thing or two from this. I have tried limiting myself to 60 minutes but it never works out for me. Either the pitch sucks or i cannot concentrate anymore during the last few minutes. That is why I started writing at my own pace .sometimes a change of environment and place helps a lot too.

That was really helpful copyassassin . I am looking more into his blog now . Thanks for the reference

Hey Adam!

I read the blog you linked.

I really liked it.

And I really didn't.

I wholeheartedly disagree with John's assessment about inspiration.

What he communicates IS all about inspiration on SO MANY LEVELS.

When you dive into researching, interviewing your client, understanding the marketplace, assessing what works and what doesn't, becoming clear about what emotions you're targeting...

...and marinate (i.e. allow the full spectrum of what you've immersed yourself into the time to fully absorb,) until the you start writing utter frickin' genius copy is the process of ALLOWING inspiration to come through you.

I compare it to the idea/ideal of channeling.

It's NOT necessarily information you KNOW.

But as you dive into the emotions you perceive an audience is feeling and holographically put yourself in their shoes...

...the ideas simmer - then come to a boil.

And that's when you can't get to the computer fast enough to LET everything pour out of you.

That is inspiration.

Just imagine a cartoon when the light bulb dings over a characters head.

"I GOT IT!"

And when John talks about diving into the researching process, then walking away to allow the information to fully seep into your own unique organization methods...

...I call that the art of letting the magic happen.

Which is a HUGE part of being a successful, productive, HAPPY writer.

Just my take.

Mark Pescetti

P.S. I remember when I was a little boy aspiring to be a writer...

...I would wonder what the formula was to snap my fingers and develop into the person I imagined becoming.

My mom was friends with a Hollywood producer who would come over to the house quite often. He was a successful writer in his own right, penning a few sitcoms. He said the best advice he could provide was to just keep writing. "Writer's write." he said. John mirrored that advice.

It reminds me of Rocky Balboa when little Marie said to Rocky (as he was questioning why, as an old man, he still felt the urge to compete,) "fighter's fight."

And it's true.

That's the single biggest hurdle aspiring writer's, of any style, need to absorb.

You just need to write, write and write - and see reality through the lens of a writer.

Once you achieve that...

The bigger problem will be making time for simple things, like getting up to drink a glass of water.

On the other side of the coin from Rick Duris' answer though not entirely in disagreement with it... (far from it)

Over-confidence and ignorance.

Explain?

Ignorance of the copywriting market.

Ignorance of exactly what copywriting entails.

Ignorance of the psychology used.

Ignorance of the sales persuasion tactics employed and when and how to deploy them within the body of the sales copy in question.

Ignorance of the fact that most every experienced copywriter worth their salt has some kind of a personal 'system' ticking away inside their mind how to bring all of the various elements together into a cohesive working platform to shift more product depending on niche / platform.

Ignorance of the fact how long it actually takes to learn all there is to know about copywriting.

Over-confidence is clearly on display when patently obvious copywriting newbies start spouting BS like you don't need to know how to do this, how to do that, how to understand why this or that written tactic or strategy works or not as the case applies, worse...

...they don't even understand the answers given to sort out their own pain for in denial of the ignorance or pain they're actually in, they know not how to even ask themselves the right questions to begin with and thus step over to making the common mistake to make themselves appear on the surface to be more intelligent than they are whilst their written language belies the ignorance and over-confidence ticking away immediately below the surface.

When they recognize this little fact in themselves, they might actually start listening more to those guys who have trod the well worn path before them.

As the good book in essence says...

'There's a time to talk and a time to be quiet.

There's a time to listen and a time to speak.

There's a time to learn and a time to teach.'


Mark Andrews