May 6, 2005, Newsletter Issue #17: Develop Your Craft with Patience

Tip of the Week

DEVELOP YOUR CRAFT WITH PATIENCE

When you start out as a writer or copywriter, there is a temptation to become discouraged - or conversely, over-confident - too early on your way up the learning curve.

As a young copywriter I remember that once I had five different jobs in my portfolio, I thought I was at the top of my game.

But in truth, I was very early in the development of my skills.

Whether you are learning chess, learning to ride a horse or learning to drive a car...in the early stages you learn and apply what you learn at a very conscious, deliberate level. You learn the moves in chess, you think about your posture on a horse, you get comfortable with the controls in the car.

It`s the same with writing and copywriting. In the early months, years sometimes, what we do is the application of what we have learned at a very conscious level.

It is only after you have been playing chess for a long time, or have dozens of writing assignments under your belt, that the application of your learned skills and talent flow naturally from a deeper, subconscious grasp of your craft.

Just be aware of these stages. Don`t be disheartened or hard on yourself, or impatient with "how long it is taking". And don`t be over-confident too early.

Just keep writing. The more you write, the more jobs you do, the more hours you spend...the sooner you`ll achieve your full potential.

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