Hey guys, what’s up! It’s Alex...
And in this video, I’m going to let you in on a little behind-the-scenes action on my
secret copywriting process.
Roll it, Ted!
Okay so a question I get from a lot of creatives, especially copywriters is...
"How do you get into flow?”
Because, let’s get real... finding flow is absolutely critical if you’re a copywriter.
No flow, no dough if you catch my drift…
And don't even get me started on writers block!
There have been countless times where I’ve sat down at my laptop to crank out some
creative masterpiece and………
nada.
If this has happened to you, give me a thumbs up below because you are NOT alone…
And I’m going to do my best to help you get your flow back!!
Truth is, one of the hardest skills to master as a writer is being able to tap into
flow state (or what many refer to as “being in the zone”) on demand...
In positive psychology, flow state is the mental state of operation in which a person
performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement...
and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
(Thanks Wikipedia)
And there’s a really great book called FLOW by Author and Psychology Prof...
That I recommend you get your hands on that dives deeper into this whole subject
of flow state.
I LOVE being in flow.
There’s no doubt that when I’m in copywriting flow, every word I write is fun.
It allows me to stay creative without overthinking or over-analyzing what I’m doing.
This is why I always write copy in more than one sitting.
Great copywriting requires BOTH the left, and the right side of the brain.
So first, I get into creative flow using the right side of my brain, and let myself think
in ink, without any rules or critique.
Just pure braindumps of mad genius.
Then, I’ll revisit what I wrote another day with my copy editor left side of the brain
activated and layer on all those marketing tactics and components of a compelling offer...
all of which I cover right here on my YouTube channel…
So be sure to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss a single video from me...
And click that little bell icon so you can be notified when my next copywriting tutorial
goes live.
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff shall we?
Here are my 7 steps for getting in the zone!
Step 1: Identify Your Most Creative Time of Day
We all work in different rhythms and cycles.
You may get a creative surge once everybody else has gone to bed and you have no distractions.
Or, maybe you’re like me and you wake up every morning feeling fresh and full of creativity
that can be quickly squashed at the mere glance at your inbox.
So whether you’re a night owl, early bird or mid-day blue jay, spend some time thinking
about WHEN you’re feeling the most creative and what dampens your creative mojo.
Maybe it’s distractions at home, inbox overload, pending evening plans, or looming deadlines.
Identify the hours you’re most likely to be in creative flow and then proceed to step 2.
Once you figure out when you’re most creative, protect that time fiercely.
Most people, myself included, can’t just snap their fingers and be in a flow state.
Sometimes it’ll take me an hour of creative thought and brainstorming before I even write
my first sentence.
So, often, I’ll block off an entire day for writing, or the first half of everyday
of an entire week if I’m writing a major sales piece
And this time needs to be 1000% dedicated to nourishing your creative flow, which means
CUTTING OUT ALL DISTRACTIONS.
Turn off Skype and Slack, sign out of your inbox, sign out of your social media accounts
and put your phone on do not disturb.
This might mean setting some expectations with your team, family and clients.
I know for myself, if I wake up with the intention to write, and then check my inbox, I am totally
derailed and have essentially forfeited my creative time for the day because my brain
has officially gone into task mode.
So, the day before, I’ll often let my team know that I’ll be offline and unavailable
the next day until at least 1pm.
Ok, now that you’ve set some creative boundaries, you can move onto step #3…
Set Incremental Goals
As I mentioned in step 1, I rarely write a sales page in one sitting.
In fact, that’s a daunting goal that would freak anyone out and majorly hinder flow.
So, when I sit down to write, my goals are always incremental based on the nature of
the task and the creative energy required.
So usually my goals will flow something like this.
Goal #1, outline the sales page...
2, research and brainstorm the hook...
3, write the hook (which is usually the lead-in to your sales message and takes the
longest to write).
4, finalize the details of your offer.
5, write the first draft of your sales page.
6, copy editing.
7, finalize the headlines.
8, proofread.
And 9, complete the final draft.
If you’d like to learn more about this process and my entire copywriting workflow, click
the bell icon below to be notified when that video is released!
Ok, now on to Step #4: Look For Creative Inspiration Elsewhere
I don’t know about you, but for me, inspiration will seem to strike in the strangest of places...
especially the shower!
Something about the kinetic energy of flowing water really gets my creative juices flowing.
So, if you’re experiencing any sort of writers block, don’t force it or get frustrated.
I encourage you to do something different. Read a book, listen to a podcast...
get out in nature, have a shower, or switch up locations.
I know for me, sometimes when I’m working from my home office.
I’ll find a million other things to do than sit down and write.
So heading to a nearby coffee shop or a co-working space can really help stir things up in that
brain of mine, while removing the potential of getting distracted by busywork at home...
and actually help me activate flow state.
And I’m curious to hear from you...
Where do you find creative inspiration?
And where is the strangest place that inspiration has struck for you?
Comment below and let me know!
And now, step #5, my favorite...
Set Up Your Creative Container.
For me, writing has become a ritual that I really enjoy.
If I’m at my home office, I’ll turn on my diffuser with some beautiful and calming
essential oils, I’ll make coffee or tea and definitely have a water right next to me.
I turn off all my notifications and apps and even Wi-Fi if I don’t need it for research.
I’ll clear off my computer desktop and open a word document.
Then, I’ll pop on my noise-cancelling headphones and play my very, very favorite Spotify playlist
that helps me get into the zone super quickly.
If I’m writing on the road or from a cafe, I’ll do all of that except I’ll just bring
some essential oil roll-ons that I’ll put on my temples and below my ears.
Mmmmm.
Ok, step #6!
And this is the most important…
Give Yourself Some Leeway
Whatever you do, don’t start writing at the 11th hour right before a deadline unless
you MUST.
Even though I do believe that procrastination breeds productivity, that doesn’t apply
very well to creative work in my opinion.
So start early and schedule more writing blocks than you think you’ll need.
Because, let’s be honest, there WILL be times that you sit down to write and, no matter
what you try, focus and flow is a no-go.
So go easy on yourself and if you’re experiencing some creative blocks, step away if you need to.
Now part of this flexibility also means taking full advantage of creativity when it does
decide to strike, even if it’s inconvenient.
I’ve been known to cancel plans if I suddenly find myself in creative flow #sorrynotsorry...
girl’s gotta write!
And lastly, step #7: Practice, Practice, Practice.
The more you do it, the easier it’ll be.
Setting up your own creative container will really become that anchoring ritual that'll
eventually train your brain to know it’s writing time.
You’ll learn to listen to the cues your mind gives you and know when to lean in and
when to give yourself a little bit of breathing room.
Remember, writing should be fun so don’t ever let it get to the point of frustration.
I’ll be the first to admit that this does feel A LOT harder sometimes than others but
repetition and compassion is the key to your success.
So, there you have it!
My 7 steps for getting into creative flow.
Please like and share this video if you found it helpful!
And next up, be sure to watch my video on the difference between copywriting and content
writing, and this video on how to start your copywriting business, or this video on my
4 methods of finding more clients!
Be sure to subscribe!
Enjoy and I’ll see you next week!
Till then, I’m Alex. Ciao for now!