Struggling with mediocre writing? Try this 4-week copywriting cure

Hey anon.

So, as you already know, I’ve been writing online for the past 830 days or so.

But the first 5-6 months of writing?

My writing sucked balls.

It was so shitty I cringe if I look at it even today.

I kept reading more books on writing well & wondered why my engagement isn’t popping off.

Then, I was listening to some podcast by Mark Manson & he mentioned copywriting.

At first, I thought copywriting was a legal term lol..

But it’s not actually.

Copywriting is like the secret sauce that can make words sizzle and sell.

It’s making your writing so persuasive and emotionally moving the reader can’t help but read the whole thing & act on whatever you want them to do.

Now, I know it can get overwhelming if you’re just starting out.

Let me simplify it for you.

I've cooked up a 4-week plan that'll take you from copywriting newbie to a word-slinging pro (if you stick to it)

Grab a cup of americano & let’s dive in:

Week 1: Learn the Basics with 3 Fundamental Copywriting Books

Alright, let's kick things off with some good old-fashioned book learning.

You will study copywriting by reading these books so you get a basic idea of the fundamentals.

1. "Adweek Copywriting" by Joe Sugarman: 

   This book is like the Holy Grail of copywriting.

   Joe's got a way with words that'll make you see advertising in a whole new light. He'll teach you about triggers that make people buy and how to write copy that's as smooth as butter.

2. "Great Leads" by Michael Masterson & John Forde: 

   Ever heard of the saying:

   "You never get a second chance to make a first impression"?

   Well, these guys will show you how to make your opening lines pop and grab your reader's attention from the get-go.

3. "Cashvertising" by Drew Eric Whitman: 

   This book dives into the psychology behind why people buy.

   It's like taking a peek into your reader's mind and figuring out what makes them tick.

Your action step for this week

Pick up these books and read at least one chapter a day. Jot down the top three takeaways that resonate with you.

Trust me, your future self will thank you.

Week 2: Handcopy & Analyze Legendary Sales Letters

This week, we're going old school.

You know how artists learn by copying the masters? Well, we're doing the same, but with words.

Pick a legendary sales letter – think something that sold like hotcakes – and handcopy it.

Yes, with a pen and paper.

It might sound tedious, but there's magic in the process.

You'll start to notice patterns, rhythms, and techniques that make the letter a winner.

Here’s a resource to find legendary sales letters.

Your action step for this week

Handcopy one sales letter per day and highlight the parts that make you want to whip out your wallet.

Read it out aloud. Keep a swipe file of all those headlines & hooks.

Week 3: Practice Writing Short-Form Content in Public

This week, we’re getting our hands dirty (finally)

Start by writing short, punchy content on social media.

Think tweets, LinkedIn posts, or even Instagram captions.

The goal? To practice getting your message across in just a few words.

Try to pack a punch in a single sentence.

Your action step this week:

Make a list of problems you have.

Write one tweet for each solving those problems.

Study other creators & start posting those tweets online.

No point in learning so much if you’re not going to practice it, right?

Week 4: Use Everything You've Learned to Write Threads, Emails & Long-Form Posts

You've made it to the final stretch.

By now, you've got a solid foundation in copywriting.

It's time to put it all together and create something bigger.

This week, focus on writing longer pieces like email newsletters, twitter threads or long-form posts.

Use the techniques you've learned to keep your readers hooked from start to finish.

And there you have it, folks!

A 4-week plan to get you started on your copywriting journey.

You can stop at the fourth week if you don’t feel like you’ve seen any progress.

Or you can go on writing & publishing something every single day for the next 30-60 days and see how it goes.

I’d rather suggest you do the latter.

This is it for this week.

Hope this was helpful.

I’ll see you next time.

Cheers.