I have two tricks — or two treats — for you, depending on how you look at it:

1. Realize your creative potential.
2. Schedule the right amount of time to do excellent work.

It’s that simple, and it’s that hard — and it’s about finding a specific type of balance that’s critical when building a portfolio.

Professional writers learn the essential techniques that have helped grow their mentors’ careers, but they also find their own way forward by developing the habits and methods that work best for them.

Progress Guide: Try This

When you read Tuesday’s post, you’ll find that legendary copywriter Eugene Schwartz said, “Learning the craft and doing the research are the hard work.” Writing can be the impossible work.

If you’re looking to write more consistently:

• Stop asking questions and start writing. (More about this in Monday’s post.)
• Commit to writing five days a week, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.
• Ignore all other activities during your writing sessions.

Want to know Schwartz’s version of this practice? Keep reading …

In Monday’s post, I put a spotlight on A Common Belief that Could Be Blocking Your Creative Potential.

On Tuesday, Robert Bruce expanded on the Progress Guide above: How to Kill Writer’s Block and Become a Master Copywriter in Only 3 Hours a Day.

And on Wednesday, Sonia Simone shared how to Take 15 Minutes to Find Your Winning Difference.

Just like that assortment of goodies in the plastic pumpkin you collected candy in on Halloween as a kid, your writing days will be a mix of full-size Snickers (score!) and wax bottles (why?) … We return to our routine the following day regardless.

Talk with you next week!— Stefanie Flaxman
Editor-in-Chief, Copyblogger Media

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