Copywriter, be patient.
Easy Read
“Magic is just someone, spending more time on something, than one would reasonably expect.”
— Raymond Joseph Teller
Japan has always intrigued me.
So when I came across “Our man in Japan” with James May, I flicked it on and settled to watch. It’s been a while since I finished the first episode.
I still think of this scene, though.
Find the Easy Reads helpful? LEAVE A REVIEW
It’s about 28 minutes in.
James travels to a forge in South-East Hokkaido to meet Korehira Watanabe, one of the last surviving makers of Samurai Swords.
He’s been honing his craft for forty years, endlessly obsessed with forging the perfect blade.
In one scene, Korehira reveals his latest creation. Holding its hilt and astounded by its deadly beauty and clean curves James asks:
“How long does it take to make?”
“This one..” Korehira replies “about 10 months”
For 10 months Korehira hammers red hot steel, each crack perfectly timed like a ticking metronome. He shapes the metal rhythmically, repeatedly, rigorously. Patiently crafting his masterpiece.
His patience is his religion. As your patience should be yours.
Yeah it's hard. There are days when writing is the last thing on your mind. When you’re jostling with your emotions thinking “what the hell am I doing”.
That feeling is okay. Universal almost.
Even the grandfather of Copywriting, David Ogilvy said:
“The copywriter lives with fear … I have never sat down to write an advertisement without thinking THIS TIME I AM GOING TO FAIL.”
I feel it too.
Days when I sit at my kitchen table and stare into space, biting my nails thinking “Am I cut out for this?”
The cursor blinks in front of me. I try to force something out, anything. But nothing.
Then I’m distracted by my cat meowing for food and that excuses me from the imposter syndrome. I leave the table gladly, but disappointed.
It's a feeling we all get. Im sure of it.
The trick I’ve learned, the magic trick, is to sit back at the table and go again.
🔎 Go deeper here: Cages or wings?
So don't sweat it.
Like a Koto Samurai Blade, with some consistent hammering, imagine where you could be in 10 months.
A different animal. Deadly.
Be patient. Keep going.
