148: Dan Nelken on copywriting confidence, creatively winging it and not giving a forklift

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This week, we got into a thumb-war-to-the-death with our inner critic in order to lure over legendary copywriter, speaker, coach, author and all-round good Canada goose egg Dan Nelken.

The alphabetical genius behind the bestselling Self Help Guide for Copywriters, and his 5-star online course ‘Writing Under Pressure’, Dan has made it his mission to rescue writers and brands all over the world from the malign influence of the dreaded inner critic – a character that Dan describes, with characteristic politeness, as a ‘ding dong’.
The true Canadian king of creativity (shut your face Reynolds) Dan chats to CTA about the importance of creating stuff that’s just for you, the long-game of any creative career, how to gain and maintain creative confidence, and of course his own grapplings with an inner critic he calls Alan.
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Visit Dan’s site
Jerry Seinfeld's interview with Tim Ferriss, the interview every creative should watch
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Timestamps
(02:05) - Quick Fire Questions
(04:05) - Dan's Early Jobs
(04:53) - From Forklift Truck Driver to Copywriter
(06:45) - Finding His Path into Copywriting
(08:36) - First Copywriting Gig at Cosset and Breaking through with McDonald's
(12:02) - Value of Getting Lost
(13:21) - The inspiration behind “Writing Under Pressure”
(17:59) - Creating a Course On Writing Headlines
(21:03) - Response to the Book
(22:40) - Maintaining Creative Confidence
(24:09) - Confronting Your Inner Critic
(26:07) - Structure in Creativity
(29:07) - Creativity Closer to Math(s) than Magic
(31:04) - Importance of Structure in Creativity
(32:39) - Most Creatives Hate Brainstorming
(36:57) - Naming Alan, the Inner Critic
(39:21) - The Joy of Creating for Yourself
(42:46) - Impact of Creating on Social Media
(43:40) - Audience Questions
(48:20) - Four Pertinent Posers
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Dan's book recommendations are:
A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters by Dan Nelken
Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan
Mind Management, Not Time Management by David Kadavy

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