Copywriting is an amazing career.

You get the chance to work with awesome products and people. You get the chance to write the most memorable advertisements. Most importantly, you help brands improve sales.

This guide is perfect for you if you‘re thinking of getting into copywriting.

Here’s everything you should know.

1. Create Your Swipe File

Your swipe file is your inspiration.

Copywriting is never about the words you want on the page. It’s about the words your customers would say on a page.

Study classic ads. Study brands like Apple and Nike. Visit websites like Copywriting Examples, SaaS Landing Pages, or Really Good Emails.

Find and collect your inspiration. Learn the “why” behind iconic advertisements.

2. Learn Conversational Copywriting

Conversational copywriting feels like you’re talking to the reader — not at the reader.

It uses broken grammar rules and idioms.

It makes copywriting friendly.

3. Learn How to Write Features and Benefits

Whenever you write the feature, you should ask, “Why would someone care about it?”

You’re asking that question over and over to find a specific benefit. Customers want specific benefits that appeal specifically to them.

The example below shows a feature. It then describes it with a benefit. And then it gets more specific.

4. Tell Stories That Solve a Problem

People don’t want to read a random story.

They want to know how you’re solving a problem for them. Be a storyteller that solves problems.

RXBar does an awesome of it on its About Page. They saw a problem with protein bars and set out to fix it.

That’s the story they are telling readers.

5. Be Empathetic

The best copywriters are empathetic.

They’ve walked in the shoes of customers. They know how a customer feels. They know the pain a customer goes through.

The example below shows that it’s not always about the outcome of a product.

It’s about recognizing a customer’s pain.

6. Know What Your Competitors Are Doing

Another way to look at it is to think about how you’re different from your competitors.

Are you more affordable, faster, or higher quality than your competitors?

It’s your job to find the differentiation of the product.

If you don’t know, ask the founders. Talk to everyone you’re working with. Study the product. A copywriter should always know the unique differences of the product.

7. Remove Friction

Friction is the obstacle standing between your customers and the product.

Copywriters need to make it as easy as possible for prospects to take action.

Show how easy it is to receive the promised outcome. Gumroad does a good of removing friction.

8. Study Copywriting Books

While I believe copywriting books are a great way to learn, you also need to do the work.

Study examples. Practice rewriting advertisements. The more you practice, the more you’ll experience what it feels like to be a copywriter.

Having said that here are my favorite books on copywriting:

• The Adweek Copywriting Handbook
• Ogilvy on Advertising
• Hey Whipple, Squeeze This
• Scientific Advertising
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
• Boron Letters
• Breakthrough Advertising (recommend getting from the library because it’s so expensive)

9. The Best Copywriters Keep Learning

When I first started copywriting, clients, copywriters, and marketers told me that copywriting wasn’t that great.

It always felt like a gut punch. But I kept getting back up because I loved the work. I kept learning. I wouldn’t give up.

Learning to be a copywriter is a process.

When you commit to that process, you’ll become a masterful copywriter.

I read something about how walks unlock your creativity.

If wizards and warlocks rule the Earth, then we can believe that walks are magical things that unlock your creativity.

No.

Creativity is so much more than a walk. It’s a process that involves knowing how to approach problems.

In my work as a writer and copywriter, I’ve discovered a 7-part process that helps me be more creative — thanks to the brilliant John Cleese.

1. Flip Problems Upside Down

There is always more than one way to solve a problem.

You can flip problems upside down or sideways. You can write a sentence in a thousand different ways. Creativity is about thinking outside the box.

Creativity is not about the most logical answer.

It’s about finding different answers.

2. Spend More Time on a Problem

It’s easy to rush the process of getting content published as quickly as possible.

I have that problem. I want to build that habit. I want to get it over with.

But I also have to realize that spending another 10 minutes to an hour on that problem could help my creativity and my writing.

Give your creative ideas and your writing as much time as possible without letting it consume you.

3. Make Creative Thinking a Habit

Creative thinking is a muscle that needs exercising.

I don’t believe in always following a formula. I like to go off the rails and let ideas simmer in my brain without any order. It’s absolute chaos. And yet, it’s also the point of creative thinking.

There’s no structure. I make creative thinking a habit. It’s chaos until I find something that works.

4. Make Doing Things More of a Habit

Every idea needs space to grow.

I also think that growth comes from just doing more things. It’s not about letting it sit in your brain. It’s about putting it out into the world. Let your writing live on the internet.

You’ll get feedback. It’s part of the creative process. You’ll learn something about yourself and your readers.

5. Stop Trying to Be Like Others

“Good artists copy, Great artists steal”

There’s a lot of truth in stealing like an artist. You learn from those before you but you never copy their exact work.

A lot of copywriters try to emulate the success of the best advertisements. Writers on social media will use the same hook and template as hundreds of other writers.

I fell into this trap for years.

Then I realized that I needed to stop and think. Do nothing. Go fishing. Stop trying to rush the process. Stop trying to be something I’m not.

You’ll be surprised how creative you can be when stop trying so hard to be like someone else.

6. Be Confident In Your Abilities

Every creative idea needs confidence.

It needs your confidence. You don’t need to share it with every single family and friend. Your ideas only need your stamp of approval.

If you love your ideas and have confidence in them, then don’t be afraid to share them with the world.

7. Make It Playful & Funny

After 34 years, I finally learned something about myself.

I learned that I love making my writing playful and funny. Okay, fine, it’s also a bit serious and educational 29% of the time.

I spent years trying to pinpoint my writing to a single word. I tried to figure it out like a math problem.

I unlocked it when I stopped trying to do all of that. I gave it humor. I love what John Cleese says about humor and creativity:

Nevertheless I can at least tell you how to get yourselves into the open mode. You need five things:

1. Space
2. Time
3. Time
4. Confidence
5. a 22 inch waist

Sorry, my mind was wondering. I’m getting into the open mode too quickly. Instead of a 22 inch waist, you need humor. I do beg your pardon.

Creativity Is What You Make It

My final thought on creativity is that it can’t be bottled up.

We like to define things and tell people how things are done. We like to emulate the success of others. We want their creativity so bad that we forget that we are creative.

Everyone needs a reminder of how creative they are. A reminder that you can solve so many problems by persisting with them. By thinking differently about it.

Creativity is yours for the taking.

Join my Substack newsletter — La Vie Ben Rose. I share writing wisdom and copywriting examples. You can also see examples at www.ThisIsCopy.com or read my writing at www.BenjaminWatkins.com.

Vague headlines. Confusing offer. Long sentences.

They spell disaster. I don’t care how brilliant your product is, if your copywriting sucks, your conversion won’t be optimal.

You need great copywriting for a great conversion rate.

So, here are seven copywriting tips to improve your brand’s conversion rate on your website, landing page, social ads, and emails.

Start with congruence

Congruence means there should be harmony in your copywriting.

The social ad language should match the landing page language. If readers click on your social ads and the landing page or website doesn’t match the feeling, they will bounce.

You need the copywriting to match up on every part of the funnel.

Split-test headlines

Finding the perfect headline requires testing a bunch of headlines.

So, what headlines should you be testing? Here are headline ideas you should be testing on your audience:

• The [product] for [the audience]
• The [fastest, easiest, smartest] way to achieve [goal]
• Get [benefit] for your [problem]
• Where [idea audience] gets [solution]

You’re missing on revenue because you’re not seeing what performs the best.

Make your call to action a different color

Your call to action needs to stand out on the page.

The best way to make sure it contrasts with the page is to make it a different color. Your audience is more likely to notice it when they scan your page.

Make your call to action value-based

Stop writing a cookie-cutter call to action. Write something that inspires values.

• Get Started vs. Get In Shape
• Learn More vs. Optimize Your Page
• Sign Up vs. Get Copywriting Examples

This simple trick makes such a big difference. You’re appealing to someone’s value rather than writing something vague.

Stop sounding like a robot

Write like you’re having a conversation with a friend. Write like you’re giving your friend advice on a topic.

• Our plant-based food is delicious, vs. Our planted food is oh, so delicious
• Olipop is delicious vs. Go ahead, try them all
• Healthy cereal that tastes really good vs. healthy cereal that tastes too good to be true

Write short sentences

You’re not getting judged on the complexity of your sentences.

Your audience needs to understand your offer, not wonder what it’s about. Make your sentences short and snappy.

Make it easy to read.

Offer visual social proof

I found this example of social proof that is beyond brilliant.

Bored Cow goes above and beyond — text and video. They make their social proof feel real. It feels natural.

Good copywriting makes everything clearer

If you want great conversions, you need great copywriting.

That requires understanding your offer, your audience, and the language to communicate between them.

These copywriting tips help improve every kind of offer for every kind of conversion rate.

You’ll be surprised at how little copywriting tweaks can make a huge conversion difference.

Writing online has helped me build a copywriting career, share my experiences, and give me the chance to meet incredible people.

That’s the power of showing up online over and over again.

While writing online has done so much for me, there are still a few things I wish I had known before writing online.

1. You Don’t Need a Master Plan

When I started writing online, I thought I needed a master plan.

Nope.

You don’t need a master plan. You need to get started. You figure it along the way.

Creating a master plan can help you in some ways, but don’t let it derail you when something knocks you off course.

2. Be Passionate About Your Ideas, Not What Other Creators Are Doing

It’s easy to fall in love with what the top online writers and creators are doing.

We want their audience, their income, and their success. But we shouldn’t fall into the trap of copying their approach. It’s worked for them, but it shouldn’t work for us.

Find passion in your ideas. Lean into what excites you. Write about the stuff that wakes you up in the morning.

3. Systems Are Everything

Systems are everything.

Waking up and deciding what to write an article about or post on LinkedIn isn’t a system.

Create a system that makes you more productive. Create a content system. A library of ideas. Create a schedule around when you write.

Systems give you leverage. They empower you to write online.

4. You Don’t Need to Be the Most Likeable Person on the Internet

The worst trap you can fall into is trying to be the most liked person on the internet.

Your writing doesn’t need to appeal to everyone, and you don’t need to be liked by everyone. In fact, it’s good if people disagree with you because your ideas are what make you unique.

When you start writing online, being yourself is the hardest thing to do. Don’t worry about likes or if people like you as a writer.

Just be yourself. Follow your passion.

5. Embrace Experimenting

When I started writing online, I decided to take this semi-serious approach and be a methodical thinker.

Today, I love experimenting with satire writing. I love trying different writing formats. I experiment with what works. When you start writing online, you should embrace experimenting. Try things you’re afraid of trying.

You might surprise yourself and discover a form of writing you truly love.

6. You Don’t Need a Techstack

Tools don’t make the writer.

The writer makes the writer. Your brain and unique voice make you worth following as a writer.

I used to think a specific tool would give me explosive growth. I thought it would be a game-changer for my writing. Sure, it helped a bit. But my ideas and my unique writing voice are what stood out.

Your ideas are what resonates with readers. Readers don’t care about the tools. They care about what you have to say.

7. Focus on Showing Up More Than Anything

Consistent writing requires preparation.

I used to struggle with consistency before I had systems. Then, I started using Buffer.com to schedule my LinkedIn posts. I started planning out my Medium content.

While consistency is important, you also need to protect your mental health. Take breaks when you need them.

8. Your Readers Will Like You for Who You Are

Getting feedback from your readers is the best feeling ever.

When I started writing online, I worried about who I sounded like. I didn’t know what direction I was going. I didn’t know who I was as a writer.

Yet, the more I wrote online, the more my readers gave me feedback. They liked my copywriting examples. They liked my stories. They liked what I had to say.

Your readers will always give you direction, even if you feel a bit directionless. That’s the power of having people who love your writing for what it is.

9. It Takes Time to Build Something Great

Writing online takes work.

It’s not about virality. It’s not about growing as fast as you can. It’s about writing about your interests. It’s about showing up over and over again.

Writing online creates new opportunities. You can build an audience of fans, find job opportunities, and unlock a world of possibilities.

Writing online isn’t easy. But it’s worth it.

It’s given me endless opportunities

Everyone’s writing system is different.

Some people love writing in the morning. Others, like me, try to write in the morning before the kids wake up, and chaos ensues.

Your writing system depends on who you are and where you are in your life. The goal is to implement a system that forces you to write.

As far as I can tell, here’s how to best develop a writing system.

Create a Writing Routine for At Least 30 Minutes

You don’t have to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to write.

While I love mornings, I know that not everyone is a morning person. Besides, it doesn’t matter as much when you write. What’s more important is that it happens.

That’s why I have a rule of writing for at least 30 minutes a day.

Creating that writing habit is most important. You’re creating consistency that builds on each other. James Clear did that when he wrote two articles a week.

Your goal is to build a writing routine that helps you put in the repetitions of what it means to write consistently.

Learn Where to Capture Ideas

Conversations with friends. Reading books and articles. Listening to podcasts and speeches (my favorite).

They all help you capture ideas. You’re listening intensively. Be an active notetaker of ideas. Write them down on your phone. Or go old-school and carry a notebook with you everywhere you go.

When you capture ideas, you capture creativity.

The more you do this, the more you realize that ideas come from everywhere. It’s your job to find them and capture them.

Master the Art of Editing

Editing your writing is art.

My golden rule for editing is to take a break. Your brain needs breaks. You see things differently when you don’t look at the exact words over and over again.

I like to think of writing and editing as opposites — Write fast. Edit slow. Get the words out on the paper. And then edit for word choice, clarity, voice, structure, and style.

Don’t Worry About Your Tech Stack

A few years ago, I wanted to know what tools other writers were using to write every day.

I soon realized that tools don’t make a writer.

AI, Grammarly, Hemingway App, and other tools don’t make the writer. You make the writer. Your ideas define your writing. These tools can make it easier to achieve clarity, but you ultimately form those words.

You’re the writer. You’re the storyteller. You’re the one that breathes life into your writing.

Find Your Writing System

The best writing system isn’t complicated. It comes down to mastering three things:

1. Write
2. Edit
3. Publish

The more you do this, the more you learn about yourself. It’s a journey. It’s an exploration of your ideas. Something to remember is that there is no perfect writing system.

Everyone’s figuring it out. The best writers are learning what to do next in their journey. Don’t be afraid to start your journey.

Start writing.

Every few months, I fall into a writing pattern. I like to call it, “My writing soul is dead.”

I don’t know how to describe it besides saying that my writing feels like a lost soul. I’ve lost my voice. I’ve lost my sense of purpose. Kinda like Spiderman in the second movie of the first trilogy (We know there are way too many Spiderman movies). I need to rediscover my writing weirdness.

I overthink it. I spend too much time thinking about what to write instead of writing with my soul. Math is math. Writing is writing. You can’t solve writing. You have to escape logic and let the words flow freely.

You need to find your writing weirdness to escape the evils of writing. This is how I rediscovered mine.

Create a List of Your Favorite Things to Write About

For me, writing is about reminders. I write to remind myself of the ideas I love sharing. I write because it feels good to express myself, especially around the things I’m learning.

You have to find and ignite your passion for writing. Create a list of your favorite books and articles. Find the best stories you’ve ever written. Compile a collection of the things that remind you of why you love writing.

This is my list:

• Articles by Bill Simmons, Paul Graham, and James Clear
• Books: The Third Door, The Road, and When Breath Becomes Air
• Speeches: Neil Gaiman’s Commencement Speech and Bill Gurley’s Runnin’ Down a Dream Speech

Write From Conviction, Not Restriction

In school, we were taught to write around restrictions. We learned what we couldn’t say. We learned to write a five-point essay that could only include certain sources, and it had to be on a particular topic.

When you write from conviction, you write from the heart. You write because you need to get it off your chest. There’s meaning behind every sentence.

The internet has given you the opportunity to leverage your ideas. You have the opportunity to write about your ideas. Get feedback. Share some more. And do it over and over again until you have no more ideas.

Share those ideas with conviction. Write about them. Explain them. Show the world why they should care about your ideas. If you care, your readers will care.

Keep Writing Beyond All Hope

Writing is about perseverance more than anything.

You’ll feel defeated when you first start writing. You’ll either feel like nobody is reading it, or you’ll feel everybody is reading it and nobody likes it. Every writer feels this way in the beginning.

You have to persevere through the doubt. Because perseverance makes the writer like it makes the entrepreneur, the athlete, and the artist. They are what they are because they stuck with it.

I keep writing through the soul-sucking timeline of writing. The part of your life where you don’t feel like writing but you know you must! You must fight back.

Write about your weirdness. Write about what energizes you. Write to defeat the soul-sucking time vortex that wants to keep you stagnant.

It’s time to break out more copywriting examples. My favorite is the underrated copywriting lessons that boost conversions.

Copywriting examples are how I like to practice copywriting and what my readers enjoy the most (not counting my mom). Comparisons show how copywriting could be better.

These examples are some I wrote myself and some I found fascinating. They offer a mini-lesson on how to improve your copywriting and conversions.

Be a Storyteller In Your Product Descriptions

You can sniff a fake brand story a mile away. It’s bogus. It’s cookie-cutter. It’s inauthentic.

I like Top Of The Morning Coffee’s brand storytelling. It feels real. It feels like a friend talking to me. And that’s why it’s more than just copywriting — it’s conversational copywriting at its finest.

The product description talks like someone who understands coffee drinkers. Never undervalue the value of being relatable.

Make Your About Page Relatable

So many About Pages are boring. I don’t know why. Maybe people don’t like telling stories or getting too personal about how they discovered a cool idea.

About Pages are kind of like a first date. We get nervous, make small talk about the weather, and pretend to be someone we’re not. Ironically, the person we are on a date with would actually like us more if we were ourselves. Imagine that.

I get it. Being yourself is hard. Telling a story that sounds genuine and real is hard. Try taking a page out of YNAB’s About Page. It sounds like something I would want to read. Twice.

Try The 3-Point Headline Punch

The 3-point headline punch is something I made up. But I love it, and I’m sticking with it.

Delicious food (1 point), local chefs (2 points), delivered to you (3 points). Can you give your headline 3 points? Mealtime made simple is like negative points because it’s vague. I don’t even know what it means.

When you write your headline, make it clear what benefits the reader is getting. What stands out that the reader should know? Make those the highlight. Give them points.

The Rule of Three Shall Conquer Thy Readers

The rule of three means that people remember things in sets of three. It’s more memorable.

That’s what the bottom headline accomplishes. It tells you three things to remember. Three specific things that could be beneficial to the reader.

The bottom is also a lot more specific. The rule of three works even better the more specific you are in a headline.

Never Underestimate the Power of Rhyme

There’s a good time to use rhymes, and then there’s not. Just because you can rhyme doesn’t mean you’re an award-winning copywriter.

Premium wine any damn time speaks to the customer. I know wine drinkers want to drink wine any damn time. They don’t care what hour it is. Kids are in bed. Time to drink wine.

Find What Works for Your Brand

Copywriting examples are helpful to see what other brands do and how it works for them and their audience.

You have to find what works for your brand. These examples are designed to give you more ideas to test to improve your conversion rate. But you should also know your audience and what they want from your brand.

The more you know your audience, the more you know the kind of copywriting works for them.

Writing online is the best way to leverage your ideas.

The more you write online, the more followers you’ll attract. The more like-minded folks will love your work.

The question I’ve asked in the last few months is: Am I writing for fun, or am I writing to build a business?

Am I writing for fun?

There’s nothing wrong with writing for fun.

It’s casual. There’s experimentation. There’s no pressure to improve or build anything. Everyone should write for fun when they first start. It makes it easier to build a writing habit because it feels enjoyable.

Writing for fun allows you to experiment with style, your voice, and who you are as a writer.

In a way, you have a casual relationship with writing. You don’t feel compelled to do it every day. You don’t feel pressured to write on more platforms or grow an audience.

Am I writing to build a business?

Building a writing business means treating it like a business.

• You have a writing schedule
• You measure the performance of your writing
• You start monetizing your writing through different services

Building a business requires consistent effort. Sure, you can still have fun, but you’re doing it with more precision. There’s an end goal in mind when it comes to monetization.

You’re not simply teaching and educating. You’re getting paid to do it. Monetization plays a role in it.

This is how I think of monetization when I think of writing online:

• Services like copywriting, ghostwriting, and SEO
• Courses on copywriting, ghostwriting, or SEO
• Cohorts on building an online presence with online writing
• Paid communities that teach people how to become an online writer

You can try all of them, or you can try one of them. I’ve offered services, created a course, and am working on a cohort.

But I’m always thinking about my flywheel approach. I’m always thinking about creating content that can be used for different purposes.

99% and 1% Writing Rule

I recently heard from YouTuber Ali Abdaal that he gives 99% of his content away for free. He sells only 1% of it.

It made me more aware of how educational content needs to be, especially for educational creators. Yes, it’s nice to make money from writing online. I love that. Everyone loves that.

But the first step is understanding what our writing purpose is. We need to identify what we’re trying to accomplish when writing on social media and online essays.

My approach to online writing

I’ve thought about this approach for months.

• Write LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium, and Substack content.
• Write twice a week in-depth articles on www.BenjaminWatkins.com.
• Write about copywriting, the psychology of writing, interesting concepts, and life.
• Teach a few cohorts every year about copywriting and writing online.

This is the mountain I’m climbing. I think of writing as a business because I want to be more consistent, educate people on writing online, and build a business around it.

Nobody said it would be easy.

The climb is the fun part.

When you capture attention on social media, you capture more email subscribers, prospects, and revenue.

The opportunities are endless. The key is to snag the attention of your readers. Make noise. It gives your writing more firepower.

How do you do that?

You create hooks in your writing.

LinkedIn Hooks

Justin Welsh is a good example of hooks on LinkedIn.

He’s hooking you with his experiences. He’s telling you something that happened to him as an employee. Then he immediately dives into the bullet points.

You’re drawn in because it’s easy to consume content. He’s sharing his experience. And it focuses on one idea (his raises).

Sahil Bloom is another top voice on LinkedIn. He writes hooks that compel people to read.

In this example, he’s teaching you something. He’s not sharing his experience. Instead, he’s teaching you something based on something he’s learned.

Twitter Hooks

David Perell is excellent at creating hooks in his writing.

In this tweet, he’s a reporter (showing you something he found and reporting on it). It’s succinct and draws you in with an “all-time exchange,” making you wonder what this exchange was.

Katelyn Bourgoin has over 100k followers. She’s an expert at creating noise on Twitter.

In the tweet below, she talks about her achievements. She breaks down how she reached that point in her business.

Study Different Hooks and Copywriting

Copywriting compels people to take action.

The better your hooks, the more likely your readers will keep reading. They are more likely to take action.

There are different ways to create hooks:

• Polarizing opinion
• Relatable backstory
• Personal achievement
• Personal discovery
• Unique experience
• Something learned

These are just some ways to create attention on Twitter and LinkedIn. You also need to make sure the rest of your posts or tweets are skimmable.

The more you practice your hooks (and copywriting), the more you’ll learn what resonates with your audience.

You’ll learn what compels your audience to keep reading.

“I make things up and write them down.” — Neil Gaiman

Stories are everywhere.

Went on a walk?

It’s a story.

You barbequed hamburgers for your family, accidentally dropped one on the ground, and put it back on the barbeque, hoping nobody would notice.

It’s a story.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a story that connects people. Stories create a shared language. The best stories make you root for characters you never thought possible.

But how do you write a great story?

You write about life. You observe the world. You keep notes. And you let your imagination run wild. Let’s dive a bit deeper.

Make Time for Your Imagination

Our imagination was born with our curiosity.

When we’re young, we’re curious. We live to learn. We’re explorers of everything unknown to us. The older we get, the less imaginative we are. We become creatures of habit. We love what’s familiar to us.

To be a storyteller, you need to find time for your imagination. Let your mind wander. I like to go on walks without my phone. I listen to the wind against the trees. My mind wanders.

Your imagination is your treasure chest. Don’t lock it up forever. Show the world your rich imagination.

Document Your History

Every experience you’ve ever had is unique to you.

When you record your history, you’re more likely to remember something that’s happened to you. You’re recording your emotions. The good and bad parts of a day.

Your experience is your story. Write about it. Share it. Document it. It’s your unique story.

Study Stories

Great storytellers study great storytelling.

Learn how J.K. Rowling outlined Harry Potter. Learn how Tolkien created new worlds. Learn about Stephen King’s writing habits.

Every author has something to teach us. You may not adopt their methods in your writing, but you can learn about their dedication to telling a story.

You learn how hard they are willing to work at it.

Do Something Out of the Ordinary

Christopher Nolan tries to do something out of the ordinary when he makes movies. It’s out of his comfort zone.

He wants to create an unforgettable story.

“I try to be all about story. Then, as I’m writing, I try to create visuals or situations that I don’t know how to do… Through that challenge, you find something fresh and different.” — Christopher Nolan

What can you do out of the ordinary? If you’re writing a story, create visuals, even if you’re terrible at drawing (like me).

Put your characters in situations that may seem unusual. Stretch your imagination.

Do something that challenges you and your story.

Ask “What If…” Questions

What if this happened…

What if trees and birds were in a secret club?

What if Charles decided he didn’t want to be a hero?

What if there was a secret passageway underneath your house to a cave of dragons, castles, and purple mountains?

“What if” questions open your mind to new possibilities. They give you a sense of hope and wonder.

Write a Story and Write Another

Stories are events or experiences you decide to share with the world.

Nobody writes the perfect story. Because it doesn’t exist. Perfect writing doesn’t exist. Perfection isn’t more real than Gandalf, the wizard.

We write, and we let our readers decide. They decide if it’s perfect. We write stories because we want to share real or made-up events with the world.

To be a great storyteller, you must let your imagination be free of constraints.

You have to live life. Experience it. Document it.

Then write about it. Tell stories. Tell them over again.

That’s how you become a great storyteller.