Wanna know a secret?
The fastest way to become a better writer is by copying other writers.
Sounds weird, right? But it’s true. And I learned it from the man himself—Gary Halbert.
You see, Gary wasn’t just a genius copywriter. He had this trick up his sleeve. A trick that turns regular writers into great ones. It’s called copywork.
What is Copywork?
Copywork is simple. You take great writing, and you copy it. Word for word. By hand.
That’s it.
Doesn’t sound like much, but trust me, it works. You’re not just reading the words. You’re writing them. Feeling the rhythm. The flow. You start to see why one sentence comes before the next. Why some words just pop off the page.
For me, it started with Gary Halbert’s letters. His newsletters. His sales letters. Anything I could get my hands on.
My First Attempt
I remember sitting down with one of Gary’s letters. It felt weird at first. I mean, why copy someone else’s words? Shouldn’t I be writing my own?
But I stuck with it.
And after the first few pages, something clicked. Gary’s voice started to flow through my pen. His rhythm, his style—it all started to make sense. I could feel the power in his words.
The more I wrote, the more I learned. Gary didn’t just write to sell. He wrote to connect. Every word had a purpose. Every sentence pulled you deeper in.
That’s what copywork does. It makes you absorb greatness.
Why It Works
You see, when you copy someone’s writing, you’re training your brain to think like them. You’re learning their patterns. Their tricks. It’s like on-the-job training but for writing.
You start to pick up on things you wouldn’t notice just by reading. Like how Gary always opened with a hook. Something that grabbed your attention right away. Or how he used short, punchy sentences to keep you glued to the page.
Copying Gary’s work helped me become a better storyteller. A better communicator.
It didn’t take long before I started seeing the change in my own writing. Emails became sharper. My voice got clearer. I knew what to say—and how to say it.
Why You Should Try It
If you’re serious about writing, try copywork. Start with someone you admire. Maybe it’s Gary Halbert, maybe it’s someone else. Doesn’t matter.
The goal is to get inside their head. To write like they write. Feel like they feel.
You’ll be surprised how fast you improve. I know I was.
And if it worked for me, it’ll work for you.
So, thanks Sir Gary of Halbert. You made me a better writer. One letter at a time.
Final Thoughts
Copywork might sound old-school. It might sound boring. Many copywriting goo roos will tell you it’s nonsense (ohh you fools).
Gary was the best. And the best said it’s the best ways to get better. And if you stick with it, you’ll see results.
So grab a pen. Start copying. You’ll thank yourself later.
You have chosen wisely,
Daniel Matievich