Your Brain Is a Bad Editor
(And Why You Need to Stop Overthinking Your Copy)
We all do it. Stare at a sentence. Rearrange it. Stare some more. Swap a word. Stare again. Suddenly, that piece of copy you were so excited about feels… off. Doubt creeps in. You start questioning everything.
This, my friend, is the overthinking monster rearing its ugly head. And in the world of copywriting, it's a creativity killer.
The Problem with Overthinking
Overthinking your copy is like trying to edit a book with a magnifying glass. You get so lost in the tiny details that you lose sight of the bigger picture. You analyze each word, each sentence, each comma, until you've sucked the life out of it.
This hyper-focus on perfection stifles your creativity. Instead of letting ideas flow, you get trapped in a cycle of endless tweaking. You second-guess every decision, which leads to self-doubt and a whole lot of wasted time.
The worst part? Overthinking often leads to revisions that stray from the client's original vision. You end up with a Frankensteinian piece of copy that pleases no one, least of all yourself. And all that mental gymnastics? It drains your energy, leading to burnout and stress.
How to Beat the Overthinking Monster
The good news is, you can conquer this beast. Here’s how:
Set Clear Objectives: Know what you want to achieve with your copy before you start writing. Is it to drive sales? Generate leads? Build brand awareness? Having a clear goal gives you direction and helps you stay focused.
Limit Revisions: Give yourself a set number of revisions, then stick to it. Don't fall into the trap of endless tweaking. Remember, done is better than perfect.
Time Your Writing Sessions: Allocate a specific amount of time for writing, and then stop when the timer goes off. This creates a sense of urgency and prevents you from getting bogged down in details.
Embrace Imperfection: No piece of copy will ever be perfect. Accept that there will always be room for improvement and focus on progress, not perfection.
Take Breaks: Step away from your work regularly to clear your head. Go for a walk, listen to music, or do something completely unrelated to writing. Fresh eyes can work wonders.
Overthinking Kills Momentum
Overthinking is a momentum killer. It cripples your creativity and leads to wasted effort on revisions that don't make a difference. By setting clear objectives, limiting revisions, timing your writing sessions, embracing imperfection, and taking breaks, you can overcome this challenge and create copy that converts.
Remember, your first instinct is often your best. Trust yourself, write with confidence, and let your creativity flow.
Random Thoughts…
Ever get that feeling where you sit down to write and… nothing comes out? That's writer's block. It happens to all of us. Often, it's because we're afraid of writing something bad. We want everything to be perfect from the start.
But here's the thing: you get better by writing. Even if it's not perfect, just keep going. Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You're going to fall a few times before you get the hang of it.
Practice makes perfect. Get feedback on your writing. Learn from your mistakes. Bad writing won't kill you. The more you write, the better you'll become.
The cure for writer's block is simple: write. Improve. Repeat. Show up every day and put words on the page. That's how you get good.