Hi Everyone,

Next month, I'll begin my "copywriting mega-improvement" program where I copy out in long hand (yes, pen to paper!) the best sales letters of all time.

I'm going to do it half an hour a day on every weekday.

The goal here is to imprint the structure, language, thinking process, and flow of awesome copy into my unconscious mind.

Has anyone had any experience doing this? Do you have any recommendations to get the most out of this experience?

Thanks,
Kent

i think Dan Kennedy mentioned that, so it must work =)

good luck.

I have hand copied some letters. I don't do it on a regular basis. I know so many sales copy writers who say it is a key to their success that I don't doubt the effectiveness of the exercise.

Recommendations? Ritualize the whole deal. Wear copywriting clothes - that could be a favorite baseball cap. Clean the pallette of your brain by listening to some comedy CD's which will have a tendency of pulling you out of any mood you may be in - anything that's bugging me gets put on hold when I do this.

When you're ready to go, put on some classical music. Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Mozart. You can google 'speed learning' or 'Mozart effect' or 'suggestopedic learning' or 'Lazanov' or... for more information regarding the effect music that's written to 60 beats per minute has on the brain.

I'm sure from your background in hypnosis, you recognize this setting of the scene as anchors and state change. A way to align your body and mind's purpose.

I don't know if you've ever worked as a hypnotist with someone on a repeated basis, but I think it's a similar experience, except you are your own client.

That is the best I can address your question. The rest of this post is just me 'going on'.

The first session starts with an induction lasting about 3 minutes. After just 2 or 3 sessions, you notice the client's state change happens soon after you start talking. Then, after a few more sessions, as soon as you say: "I would like to invite you to take a deep breath", they're 'there'. In part, it's the familiarity that helps them get 'there'. In part it's the signals your body learns - 'it's time to be hypnotized'. The start actually happens for some, when they sit in the chair.

More guess work, here. I think there are two or more distinct, not necessarily complimentary areas of the brain used to write good sales copy. I'm not saying that I think those areas of the brain are competitive, but they don't normally operate as one unit and have to be trained, in some manner, to do so. That training could happen just from the act of writing. If that's indeed true - that you're training two or more distinct areas of the brain to function together or to function together differently, what usually happens is that you're opening up new neural pathways. Yes, actually growing nerves and using existing nerves in a new way. [Edit] If that's true, copying letters directs or is involved with the growth of those pathways on a formative level - you're literally installing information and reference points into your brain. Yes, physically installing information. I could go on and on and on, but we can also just cut to the chase and say that it works for some unknown reason.

If you really want to research this phenomena, I would suggest starting with the use of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic conditions as a metaphor or model. http://www.tinnitus.org/home/frame/THC1.htm and www.kevinhogan.com are two good places to start.

I'll look forward to your new ebook.


Peter Stone

Hi Peter,

You gave me many great suggestions. Thank you. I'll do them.

warmly,
Kent