You're facing tight deadlines for copywriting. How do you inject creativity into your work?

Before diving into writing, it's essential to take a brief moment to plan. Sketching a quick outline of your copy helps identify the key message and desired action for the reader. This roadmap doesn't need to be detailed, but it should highlight the main points you need to hit. Having a clear outline allows you to avoid the common pitfall of rambling and ensures that you stay focused on creating impactful, creative content that aligns with the project's goals. Planning also provides a structure that can enhance the logical flow of your writing, making it more coherent and persuasive. By setting aside a few minutes for this preliminary step, you set yourself up for a smoother writing process and a more effective final piece.

The worst thing to do: Start typing and expect an awesome article. That never happens. At least not with me. The way I divide my writing: Outline first, then output. Outline is the thinking and framing step. Output is when you do the actual writing. Let's assume outline takes X time and output takes X time. That should mean doing both together will take 2X time right? Wrong. It can take up 5X or more. To keep the total time at 2X, you need to outline and output separately. Preferably on separate days. This method ALWAYS work for me and eases my cognitive load with the writing process.

Having an outline is like having a roadmap. When you don't have a roadmap, you're always wandering around. But when you have one, it's easier to find your path. For shorter deadlines, it's best to create a better outline, so your content would be good too.

Plan before writing. Note down the key points which must be there in your copy and then write without overthinking as this mostly hinders your creativity. Let your ideas spread on the screen. This will help you enter a state of flow where words magically pop out of your mind and time becomes no more an issue.

When facing tight deadlines, injecting creativity into copy can be tough. But here's my secret: break the routine. When I was swamped with a big project for Nike, I took a quick walk to clear my head. Sounds simple, but it works. Stepping away from the screen gives fresh ideas room to breathe. Also, I lean on tools like BuzzSumo for inspiration and Evernote to capture random ideas throughout the day. These little boosts can spark creativity even when time's running out. Remember, creativity isn’t about long hours. It’s about smart breaks, fresh perspectives, and a bit of fun. Injecting humor or a clever twist makes your work stand out. Deadlines don’t kill creativity; they challenge it. And that’s where the magic happens.

You can spend hours on something that doesn't work, or minutes on something that is hugely successful. In fact, a lot of the time, we overthink when what our reader wants is something quick, simple, and accessible. Embrace constraints, do what you can, and unleash a different kind of creativity. This way, you may even create your best work.

I believe quality can't happen when you are in a rush. Writing requires a certain of slowing down. Like a craftsman's approach. That said, some constraints (self-imposed and not by others) can set you free and flowing with creative ideas. At times you can come up with ideas or enhancements on the spot. Like stopping and saying "wait, let me think" about a specific problem. This works for me and it definitely doesn't amount to stifling yourself.

According to Parkinson's law: "Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion." So, if you have 8 days to complete a project, you're gonna take 8 days to complete it. But for the same project, if you have 8 hours, you're gonna get it done in 8 hours. Yeah, that's the power of your brain. That's why it is always said to give yourself shorter deadlines if you want to be more productive. So, take shirter deadlines as a challenge and prove the Parkinson's law right

"Your brain is for having ideas, not for storing them" And the first draft does the exact same job... It helps you shift your ideas from your mind to your screen. You shouldn't be editing it, because it's literally a draft, and this is what drafts are for.

Ruthless refinement polishes your freewriting into a compelling, concise copy. It ensures clarity, coherence, and impact, essential for meeting high standards under pressure. So, edit with a critical eye. Remove fluff, simplify complex sentences, and enhance key points. Always prioritise clarity and conciseness. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to streamline your editing process efficiently.

Fast iteration allows you to quickly test and refine your copy. It helps identify what works and what doesn’t, ensuring your final product is polished and effective. So, use rapid feedback loops. Share drafts with colleagues or mentors for quick input. Make incremental improvements based on their feedback. Keep the iteration cycle short to maintain momentum and meet deadlines.

I'm currently in the same situation right now 🥲 And lemme tell you you can write creatively even in tight deadlines if you're mind is thinking as fast as you write. Yeah, but there's one thing that you'll have to do: tons of editing 😭 (Now, I'm going to wake my mind up...)