When I was a little girl, reading everything in sight and falling in love with the words and stories on the pages of my favorite books, I had this habit of copying down favorite passages word for word.
I couldn’t have explained why I did it, other than I loved the stories, and the words themselves, and I loved the thrill I felt as they rolled off my pencil onto the paper.
Little did I know, I was unknowingly practicing a time-honored technique used by some of the greatest writers in history. It’s called copywork, and it can be a powerful tool for any writer, no matter where you are on your writing journey.
What is Copywork?
At its core, copywork is simple. It’s the practice of copying a piece of writing from an author you admire. You sit down with a passage that moves or inspires you and write it out by hand. While it sounds easy, this exercise is anything but passive. By slowing down and engaging with the words on the page, you begin to see and absorb the intricate details of how that writer constructs their sentences, their unique word choices, and the rhythm of their prose.
But copywork is more than just a mental exercise. It can also be a somatic writing practice, meaning it engages your body, through the physical act of writing by hand.
When you physically write out someone else’s words, it connects the mind and body in a way that typing on a keyboard doesn’t. You literally feel the flow of the language as your hand moves across the page, creating a deeper sensory experience. This body-centered practice can help bypass mental blocks and bring you into a state of creative flow, making it especially effective when you feel creatively stuck.
Why Copywork Works: Absorbing Greatness Through Imitation
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but in writing, imitation is also one of the sincerest forms of learning.
By copying down the words of a skilled author, you’re absorbing their style on a subconscious level. You start to see patterns in how they craft their sentences, structure their arguments, or build emotional tension in a scene. When you repeat this exercise consistently, you begin to internalize these techniques. Over time, you’re learning to recognize patterns that make good writing flow and what makes it impactful, and it will naturally start to influence your own writing style.
Famous writers like Benjamin Franklin, Jack London, and Hunter S. Thompson all used copywork to refine their writing abilities. Franklin, for instance, would take great articles, rewrite them in his own words, and then compare his version with the original to spot where he fell short. Hunter S. Thompson would type out pages of The Great Gatsby and A Farewell to Arms to feel what it was like to write those classic novels.
But copywork isn’t just for beginning or aspiring writers—it’s a tool you can use throughout your entire writing career, especially when you’re creatively stuck.
Even now, I write the words, phrases, and passages that stand out to me in a book and reflect on why they caused the impact they did.
How Copywork Can Help You When You Feel Stuck
We’ve all been there—the dreaded blank page. You sit down to write, but the words just won’t come. It’s frustrating and disheartening, especially when you know you have something to say but can’t seem to get it out.
Enter copywork. When you’re creatively blocked, copywork acts as a creative “warm-up.” Much like how athletes stretch or do light exercises before a big game, writers can use copywork to stretch their writing muscles. Writing anything gets you into the flow of writing without the pressure of having to create something from scratch.
By immersing yourself in someone else’s words, you bypass your own mental blockages and get into the rhythm of the writing process. It’s like easing into a river instead of jumping into the deep end. And because copywork is a somatic exercise, the physical act of writing can help ground you in the present moment, bringing your focus back to the sensation of the pen moving across the page. This mind-body connection can reawaken your creativity, letting the flow of writing return more naturally.
How to Incorporate Copywork Into Your Daily Writing Ritual
Now that you know what copywork is and how it can help, how do you incorporate it into your routine? Fortunately, that’s easier than you might think. Here’s a simple guide to making copywork a regular part of your writing practice:
- Choose Your Source
Start by picking a piece of writing that inspires you. This could be a page from a novel you love, a powerful blog post, a famous speech, or even a beautifully written poem. The important thing is that it resonates with you. - Start Small
You don’t need to copy pages and pages at a time. Just start with a short passage—maybe 5-10 sentences—and copy them out by hand. If the writing feels especially complex or rich, take your time with it. Quality over quantity is key. - Use Pen and Paper
There’s something transformative about the act of writing by hand. Studies show that writing things out by hand helps us process information more deeply, which is why copywork is often more effective when done this way. Plus, it forces you to slow down and truly absorb the words. If you just can’t write by hand due to a physical limitation, then by all means don’t let that stop you. Typing will work too. - Set a Timer
Consistency is more important than duration. Set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and commit to that time frame. You don’t need to spend hours copying to see benefits. A little bit each day will add up over time. - Reflect on What You’ve Written
Once you’ve finished copying, take a moment to reflect. Did anything stand out to you? Was there a phrase or sentence structure that felt particularly strong? Ask yourself why it worked. This reflection process will help you internalize the lessons you’re learning through the copywork. - Make It Part of Your Ritual
Whether you’re struggling with writer’s block or not, copywork can be a valuable part of your daily writing ritual. It’s an excellent warm-up on days when your creative energy feels low, and it’s a way to immerse yourself in the craft of writing on a deeper level.
Why Copywork Is More Than Just Practice
The beauty of copywork is that it allows you to become a student of writing without needing a formal teacher. You learn directly from the masters by inhabiting their words for a while, and in doing so, you unlock new possibilities for your own voice and style. It’s a deceptively simple practice that can yield profound results over time.
And remember, copywork isn’t just a mental exercise—it’s a somatic one too. By fully engaging your mind and body in the process, you’re creating a deeper connection to the art of writing and allowing yourself to truly feel the flow of the words. This connection can be the key to unlocking your creativity, especially when the ideas seem stuck.
So, the next time you’re staring down a blank page or feeling uninspired, grab a passage from one of your favorite books and start writing it out. Let the words of another writer guide you back into your creative flow, and you just might be surprised at what your own writing reveals.
Happy writing!