Writing cheat code (super simple secret)

Here is a writing cheat code that is so simple, you won’t believe it works.

How do you get better at writing?

Here’s a way that many recommend, but few actually do.

It’s super simple.

Are you ready?

Writing cheat code

It’s typing out someone else’s work.

Literally sitting down, book in hand and you write or type it out.

Copywriters recommend building your skill by copying out sales letters from the masters like David Ogilvy. Search David Ogilvy here.

It can work for fiction writing too.

I don’t do this as much as I should, but I have copied out two short stories.

-Little Jack by Anton Chekov

-I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison

As of right now, I am one chapter into typing out Coogan’s Trade by George V Higgins. Cogan’s Trade is one of my favourite books. I’ve read it every year since 2012. Be sure to understand, I’m not a guy who usually rereads. There’s something about this book. It was the first book that showed me you can tell a story almost entirely through dialogue with minimal description.

What was it about this book? What was it about writing?

By typing out the book, I intend to find out.

When you type out someone else’s work, you’re going through their thought process. You are there as the author makes each decision.

In short, you are entering into their spirit.

Why did the author choose this particular word at this particular instance? It gets you thinking about writing differently.

You pick up on subtle things that you took for granted, as a reader or something, you may have missed.

In a way, you are writing a classic.

Check out Elliot Chan, who typed out The Great Gatsby.

If you want to be a better writer type out your favourite book.

If you want to do it on hard mode, write it out by hand.

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