George R.R. Martin is one of the most prolific writers of our time. He’s responsible for the Song of Fire and Ice series (which is better known as Game of Thrones).
But… he’s not a professional writer in my not-so-humble opinion.
If you’ve watched HBO’s Game of Thrones live television series, mayhap you already know where I’m going with this.
If’n you haven't watched Game of Thrones, here’s why I’m bringing it up:
Through the first several seasons of Game of Thrones, it quickly became one of the best TV shows of all time. Both from critics and fans. But as the series continued, it became notably worse.
Why?
Well, George R.R. Martin, who released the first Game of Thrones book way back in 1996, still hadn’t finished the series by the time the television creators got to the end of the story. So they had to write it themselves—to the show's detriment.
Game of Thrones (the TV show) ended in 2019.
George R.R. Martin has two books left to write. The second-to-last book is nine-going-on-ten years late. Martin hasn’t even started the last book.
A couple of years ago, Martin did some kind of panel with an actual professional writer, Stephen King.
And he asked King how he writes so damn much.
King’s answer was as simple as it was professional:
He writes 6 pages per day.
That’s it.
It only takes him a few hours of work.
But because he has a goal and achieves his goal regularly, King can pump out a few hundred page book—from start to finish—in a mere six months.
That’s the difference between a professional writer like King and an unprofessional writer like Martin.
And you know what?
It’s also the difference between professional copywriters and unprofessional ones.
The difference from a successful piece of copy and an unsuccessful one.
If, for example, you care too much about what your list will think of your email, you’ll never send it. You’ll never see your bottom line tick, tick, tick up. And you’ll never have a chance to improve.
Imposter syndrome affects everyone. Even George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind Game of Thrones for Jiminy's crickets!
But professionals don’t let their imposter syndrome consume them. Because it’s powerful enough to make one of the most prolific writers of our time be 10 years behind on a project.
Anywho:
If you need help sending more profitable emails, hit reply, and let’s chat.
John