What puts the fire in your belly?

(Looking for the super duper copywriting giveaway? You want this post my dear.)

Have you ever struggled to hit the keys and type the words for your blog post, or leaflet or guest post? Maybe your posting schedule has become a little lack-lustre or that sales page is lying under a stack of info products you think have to read before you’re good enough to write it.

If so, don’t worry, it happens to us all. Even the writers amongst us have our off days.

But when it happens, think about…

What is your why?

Yesterday I met a lovely local accountant who I’m hoping will solve the receipt drawer of doom. We were chatting, and in between her wonderful patience and reminding me of my vitals…

“So you’re single, live alone, work at home alone…”

I stopped her.

“I’m not totally alone… I do have a boyfriend… he makes banjos.”

Cue friendly stare as if to say “To the tax man… you are very, very alone.”

I jest, she didn’t look at me like that at all, she was lovely.

Anyway, in between all of this, we chatted about her (first rule of copywriting – make it all about the other person).

She is a self-employed accountant about my age, and had worked for a big firm for 8 years. She decided to leave but apparently setting up your own accountancy firm is quite difficult, one of the requirements being you have to write a 100 page manual on something very important but dull (on what I can’t remember).

100 pages.

And we’re not talking 100 pages about the awesome stuff you do in your business, we’re talking about the driest, most un-exciting aspects of accountancy.

She wrote it on the commute to the full time job she was uninspired by and it took her 6 months.

And the thing that pushed her was her reason why.

• A hunger to leave her job and set up on her own.
• A desire to be her own boss and to create a structure that she believed in and was passionate about
• A workplace where she could be inspired and inspire others (she inspired me)
• A place where she could help others and make a difference to their businesses

Sometimes it’s easy to find this hunger when we’re in a job we hate, but when things are ticking over, we can end up coasting. We forget our whys, we forget the motivators that put fire in our bellies and we turn to distractions rather than to the writing that can build your business into something far greater than who you are.

So what is your why?

• Is it to speak at a conference one day and help others?
• Is it to entertain and inspire?
• Is it to provide a little extra security or stability to your family?
• Is it to pay the bills?

Your writing can help that “why”.

A blog post can communicate your message.

A newsletter can strengthen your personal relationship with each person on your list.

An email proposal could gain you a new client and keep the electricity on a bit more.

Your from the heart free eBook might just be the thing that helps someone find the passion to write themselves.

Write about your why, do a 10 minute blog post on your why, tell your customers and your readers about the reason why you’re doing what you’re doing. Tweet about it, tell a friend about it, tell yourself in the mirror or let me know in the comments.

One of my inspirational people I look up to wants to send 6 figures to orphans this year through her business. Another wonderful inspiration wants to raise £500 for her Give a Brick cause.

Does your why have to be charitable? No.

Does it have to get you off your butt and taking action? Yes.