Today, we're about to tackle a trio of writing challenges that often haunt our creative endeavors: Procrastination, Panic, and Prayer—the infamous 3 P's. We've all been there, wrestling with deadlines and struggling to produce our best work. But fear not! We’ll also guide you through a framework that will help you overcome these hurdles and become a more effective copywriter.

 

 

Procrastination: The first adversary in our writing journey is Procrastination. It's the art of delaying work until the last minute, an all-too-human tendency that can hinder our creativity and quality of output. Who hasn't faced that dreaded deadline of "end of Friday" only to find themselves frantically working late Friday afternoon?

 

Panic: As a natural consequence of procrastination, Panic creeps in when time is scarce. Rushed writing often leads to less-than-great results, and the quality of your work often suffers. Panic is that feeling of dread that makes it challenging to produce your best work.

 

Prayer: When Procrastination and Panic join forces, you're left in the "Prayer" territory. You're essentially hoping for the best, delivering your work when you can, but not truly giving it the attention it deserves. This is when your writing might not meet the standards you've set for yourself.

 

 

Now, for the good news! To combat the 3 P's, we have a simple and effective framework: "Prepare, Draft, Revise." This three-stage process empowers you to break free from the cycle of procrastination, panic, and prayer and elevate your copywriting game.

 

Prepare: This is where you need to be paranoid early. Instead of procrastinating, plan your writing well in advance. Allocate time daily to make progress. Research, gather resources, and outline your piece thoroughly. The Prepare stage sets you up for success.

 

Draft: Find your flow, create an initial draft, and stay focused. Discover your optimal writing environment where you can be productive. By the end of this stage, you'll have a complete draft. Ensure you have enough time for revisions before the deadline.

 

Revise: Effective revision and editing are essential. Understand that your first draft is rarely your final one. Tinker, improve, and polish until you have a final draft you’re happy with. Manage your reviews effectively, considering the feedback you need. Be prepared for the time the review process takes, especially if you have multiple reviewers.

 

By following the "Prepare, Draft, Revise" framework, you'll have a system in place that allows you to consistently deliver your best work and conquer the 3 P's. 

 

This is just one of many the helpful tools and techniques from our popular “Copywriting for Fundraising Success” course. Find out more here.