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Write Smarter, Not Harder: Build Your Style and Writing Skills with Copy Work
Transform your writing by learning from the best.
From Virgil imitating Homer to Hunter S. Thompson retyping entire novels, copy work (imitatio) has long been a powerful, underused tool for mastering the art of writing. In Write Smarter, Not Harder, you’ll learn how to borrow the structure, style, and rhythm of great authors to sharpen your voice, boost creativity, and elevate your writing.
Packed with practical exercises and customizable 30-day plans, this book gives writers of all levels a framework for using imitation as a springboard to originality.
Inside, you’ll
Why imitation works and how writers across history used it to excelHow to choose the right authors to target genre, tone, and pacing using examples from Hemingway, Austen, King, and moreSimple, effective copy work methods to build confidence and consistency for beginnersAdvanced techniques for sentence deconstruction, emotional rhythm, and style fusionTailored strategies for fiction, nonfiction, romance, thrillers, sci-fi, and beyondThe 30-day copy work challenge to build skill, spark ideas, and deepen your craft Perfect
Aspiring writers seeking a proven path to masteryExperienced authors breaking through creative rutsStorytellers exploring new genres or refining their voiceCopy work isn’t about copying. It’s about absorbing brilliance, studying what works, and evolving your style from the inside out.
Stop guessing. Start learning by doing.
From Virgil imitating Homer to Hunter S. Thompson retyping entire novels, copy work (imitatio) has long been a powerful, underused tool for mastering the art of writing. In Write Smarter, Not Harder, you’ll learn how to borrow the structure, style, and rhythm of great authors to sharpen your voice, boost creativity, and elevate your writing.
Packed with practical exercises and customizable 30-day plans, this book gives writers of all levels a framework for using imitation as a springboard to originality.
Inside, you’ll
Why imitation works and how writers across history used it to excelHow to choose the right authors to target genre, tone, and pacing using examples from Hemingway, Austen, King, and moreSimple, effective copy work methods to build confidence and consistency for beginnersAdvanced techniques for sentence deconstruction, emotional rhythm, and style fusionTailored strategies for fiction, nonfiction, romance, thrillers, sci-fi, and beyondThe 30-day copy work challenge to build skill, spark ideas, and deepen your craft Perfect
Aspiring writers seeking a proven path to masteryExperienced authors breaking through creative rutsStorytellers exploring new genres or refining their voiceCopy work isn’t about copying. It’s about absorbing brilliance, studying what works, and evolving your style from the inside out.
Stop guessing. Start learning by doing.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2025
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