How to think first and write later

When I had an article or sales letter to write I used to sit down and start writing but I don't do that anymore, instead Here's how to...

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Key to your writing success is at hand! Years ago I learned a lesson about writing that has stayed with me down through the years. Perhaps what I learned then can help you now. Back then as an inexperienced advertising copywriter, here is how one of my bosses taught me to write.
2. Think, think, and then think some more! At the time, I was trying to learn how to become an advertising sales letter copywriter. Each day, at my job, I would be given assignments to write one or more sales letters and attached to the assignment there was always an urgent due date – a deadline. So, each morning I sat down at my typewriter (this was before computers) and got to work typing the sales letter that was the most urgently needed. Of course, my circular file (the wastebasket) soon filled with crumpled sheets of paper that were my failed attempts to write the perfect sales letter I needed that day.
   
   One day my boss, whose office was right next to mine, walked over to my doorway and said: "Terry, stop typing! Now listen to me. Here is the way I want you to work every day from now on:
3. Thinking with cap on First, lean back in your chair, and second, prop your feet up on that desk! Third, swing around and look out the window. Now, fourth, mentally, I want you to put on your thinking cap and, fifth, think about what you are going to write.” Then, still in all seriousness, but with a smile on his face, he continued: “ If I hear that typewriter of yours clicking anytime between 9am and 3pm any day of the week from now on - you will be fired!
   
   "Then,” he quietly continued: “after you spend most of the day thinking you can put your feet on the floor, move to your typewriter, and spend your next hour writing. Believe me”, he said ” that is the only way you can write the kind of sales letters I will approve! With a smile, he then asked: “Why do I say this? Because, by the late afternoon, I know you will have thought the problem through and understand enough so what you write and hand to me for approval, will be very good!"
   
   Of course, I did what he said and - It worked! I kept my job there and my writing (and thinking) got better and better each day. But, I have to say this: by the end of each day thereafter, as I dragged myself home, I was physically and mentally exhausted!
   
   Believe me when I say digging ditches all day long would have been much easier work! Obviously, the lesson I learned back then was this: thinking is the hard work that makes writing easy!
   
   So, the next time you need to write something or solve an important problem, perhaps you should - first - put on one of those imaginary thinking caps.