Dunder Mifflin's Secret Formula for Writing Every Day

The best thing you can do as a copywriter is write more.

Not for clients. For yourself.

The more you write, the better you get. And the better you get, the more you want to publish and share your ideas...

And that's the name of the game in brand building for copywriters and solopreneurs.

Write a lot, share a lot, build authority, build your list. Boom.

Simple enough. But for years, I struggled mightily with step 1. I wanted to write, but couldn't figure out a routine.

I tried writing in the morning and writing at night. I tried writing for 15 minutes, I tried writing for an hour. 

But nothing ever quite clicked... until I discovered the simple advice that finally made writing daily feel effortless.

The source of this game-changing insight? None other than America's favorite secretary hottie, Pam Beesley.

I'm a fan of The Office, and occasionally listen to the Office Ladies podcast. The hosts can get pretty annoying... but they also share some good insights into the creative process.

Case in point: In an episode from a couple years back, Pam (aka Jenna Fischer) is yakking it up with cohost Angela Kinsey about a new book they're launching.

They're talking about how long and grueling the writing process was... until Jenna shares her cure for blank page syndrome:

Instead of going in cold, first read a little, journal a little, and only then start writing. 

Pretty simple, and by no means groundbreaking. But it's been super effective for me.

Here's how it works:

1. Read for 15 minutes

Read whatever gets your juices flowing. Right now, I'm reading old editions of Matt Furey's paid newsletter.

They're ancient by internet standards, but the Fure-cat's marketing wisdom is timeless... after 15 minutes, my mind is buzzing with ideas about email, marketing, and copywriting. It's the perfect way to ease into the creative mindstate.

2. Journal for 15 minutes

Write whatever you want, just keep your fingers moving. Write about your day so far, what's been going on in your life, your goals, how much you hate journaling, anything.

I've been journaling for 13 years. There's no better way to "prime the pump" for writing copy in the world... especially copy for your own business. The magic is in the momentum—it doesn't matter what you write, just that you keep writing.

3. Write

Now you're ready to dive in. Your creative brain is activated, the subconscious psychic energies are bubbling up, ready to be channeled into words on the page.

How long your session lasts depends on your goals and writing stamina. For me, it's about 25 minutes. Not a ton, but I'm consistent. And that's the key—I'm building it up as I go.

There you have it... a dead-simple writing routine, courtesy of America's favorite secretary.

Give it a shot for a week. Read for 15, journal for 15, then write. Even if you only write for 10-15 minutes at first.

Stack up the small wins, and soon enough, you'll have a consistent writing habit... and a growing pile of emails to share with your list.

-Brad