Welcome, Facebook Hyperlink Clicker!
If you’re here, you’ve probably typed PAS-song.com into your browser.
And if you did that, chances are you watched (and possibly ENJOYED) my PAS Song.
Where I celebrate the copywriting formula PAS.
If you enjoyed that, you might enjoy this upcoming project of mine.
Let me ask…
Your accomplishments…
… do you ever feel like you haven’t really earned them?
That’s people’s high opinions of you are wrong?
That any day now they’ll find you out as the fraud you are?
Chances are you suffer from something people call ‘Imposter Syndrome’.
To find out more,click this link.
So I’ve set myself a 30-Day Challenge.
Starting November 2018…
… I’m going to have fun with Imposter Syndrome
I want to try and celebrate something that’s not usually celebrated.
To take something viewed as terrifying, paralysing even, and play around with it so much…
… it goes from prickly monster to cuddly plushie.
Announcing…
30 Ways to Play With Your Imposter Syndrome – Copywriting Challenge
The Challenge: I want associate Imposter Syndrome NOT with FEAR…
… but with HOPE.
I want to REWIRE my brain chemistry…
… so that I’m ENERGISED whenever I think about Imposter Syndrome.
INSPIRED, even.
Using the magic of Celebration Copywriting.
How? Through daily news.
Each day for 30 days in November…
… I’ll pick a front page news story from News.com.au…
… from that day or the day before…
… write about it…
… segue from there…
… springboard off to explore an idea…
… and use this idea to play with imposter syndrome.
Instead of being scared by my Imposter Syndrome… I want to find it FUN.
As copywriters, we’re told we can use a news story and relate it to our business offer.
I want to practise this technique, push the idea, and push myself. To see how far I can take it.
I’ll use each story to help me find an angle on imposter syndrome…
… that I find FUN in some way.
And I sincerely hope many of YOU reading this will find it fun too.
There’s the joke…
“I don’t suffer from insanity… I enjoy every minute of it.”
… and imagine if you could do the same with your own imposter syndrome too!
I don’t know whether I’ll succeed or fail.
But what I do know is that I’m all in.
I’m hoping that if I soar like Icarus, my flight will entertain you.
And if I also melt and crash like Icarus, you’ll enjoy front row seats to that too.
Either way, I hope you get something from my journey.
By swiping what I do well, and/or avoiding my fails.
Why do this challenge?
To be honest, I love the idea of taking a ridiculous or dubious idea, then actually making it successful.
It’s a stunt I find fun to do in my life.
But I’ve found it only works if I COMMIT.
It’s more entertaining for an audience.
And, full commitment means I learn so much more.
I want to learn things like:
– To deal with my own sense of imposter syndrome.
– To get used to writing transitions between stories and a product/service.
– To be able to link ideas together.
– To inject more fun into my writing.
– To find a surprising twist or angle to hook the reader into paying attention.
– How to think up creative angles that successfully link a story to an idea I want to sell.
– How to set up all the software and tech needed for this challenge.
I also want to grow my skills as a copywriter
Context: I’m a professional musician.
I studied classical piano at university.
I now perform, accompany, and teach music.
I even run a choir too.
I get paid for my skills.
And I make a comfortable living from it.
I’ve put thousands of hours into my craft.
So I know the importance of reps, deliberate practise, and striving for the next step.
I want to apply some of those principles into getting better at the craft of copywriting too.
Follow along with this challenge by either…
1. Remembering to visit my website every day… click here for the web page.
OR
2. Signing up for my mailing list here by clicking here. I’ll send each post to your inbox.
If you know email marketing, then you know I’d prefer you choose number 2.
But your choice.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE
“Who ARE you?”
Hi!
I’m Lucus Allerton.
Professional musician.
Copywriting fan.
I’m developing a copywriting philosophy for myself I call Celebration Copywriting.
Find out more here by clicking here.
“What gave you the idea of this Challenge?”
This article:
<https://copyhackers.com/2018/03/writing-headlines/>
Justin wrote 10,211 headlines in 100 days.
He got much better as a result.
If he can do 100 headlines a day…
… I can write one lousy post a day and get better.
“Why News.com.au?”
Because I felt like it.
Arbitrary choice.
“Which types of articles will you choose?”
Whatever I feel like.
I’ll probably avoid political or depressing news though.
Maybe unwholesome things too.
It keeps it family friendly…
… but no promises.
“When do you send out the posts? What counts as one day?”
My criterion: Anytime between two sleeps.
This means if I’m late, I can stay up to finish it.
Then send it out.
And maybe do another one early the next morning.
“How do you prove the story was on the front page of News.com.au on the same day or the day before?”
I’ll provide a screenshot with the date and time I took it.
It’s like those photos where people hold today’s newspaper up, as proof of recency.
“But that can be faked can’t it?”
I can’t be bothered to fake it.
I’d rather fail than lie.
“What’s your time zone?”
That’s quite the eye for detail you’ve got.
I like it.
My timezone is Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
(I live in Australia.)
Currently, UTC+11:00 (daylight savings is on right now).
“What if you cheat by writing multiple stories on one day, then post them one by one?”
I’m allowed to do that.
BECAUSE… it’s a bit risky.
Why?
Because a story that’s on the front page one day…
… might NOT be on the front page later, when I need it to be.
And if it’s not, I CAN’T use that story anymore.
“What if you miss a day?”
Then I have to compensate by writing TWO posts for the missed day.
Then write one more post for the current day.
This means if I miss one day, I’d have to write THREE posts the next day.
And urgh, I don’t want to do that.
“What happens after the challenge?”
I write about the experience, what it was like.
And any bonuses the experience brought me.
“How do I keep track of this challenge?”
Two options:
1. Remember to visit my website every day… click here for the web page.
OR
2. Sign up for my mailing list here by clicking here. I’ll send each post to your inbox.
If you know email marketing, then you know I’d prefer you choose number 2.
But your choice.
“What’s in it for me?”
Nice use of the ’WIIFM’ copywriting technique.
Reason to sign up:
You get front-row live seats to the inspirational story of seeing someone push themselves to get better…
… or see someone crash and burn.
Either way, you might find it entertaining.
“Awesome, sign me up.”
Thanks for letting me transition to the Call to Action again, rhetorical disembodied voice.
To be honest, I can’t sign up for you.
But YOU can.
Emails begin as Halloween ends.
Depending on your time zone.
Hope to see you soon,
Lucus