I am not an athlete.
I can barely run.
About two years ago, I managed to train enough to run a 10k around Richmond Park in London.
It was tough.
Since then, I haven’t run again.
I wish I were fitter.
My partner says she doesn’t mind.
But still, I wish I were fitter. Everyone does, right?
So, this year I’m going to run again.
I’m going to run around my home town of Grimsby in this year’s Great Grimsby 10k.
I know for runners reading this, that’s not much. But give a guy a break. Maybe if it goes well I’ll step it up a gear.
For now, though, my partner and I have started training and are tentatively building up the distance.
We’ve been out three times now and it’s going OK, but going from 0k to 10k might take a few weeks.
Why am I telling you all this?
Well, we thought it would be a good idea to raise some money while we’re doing it. So, I would like to invite YOU to sponsor us.
In fact, I’m going to offer an ethical bribe to do so.
More on that in a moment.
As my partner and I have both raised money for different charities in the past, this time we decided to opt for the British Heart Foundation, as we’ve both had family members affected by heart problems.
You can find more details and sponsor us here.
Any amount is welcome, whether it’s £2, £5, £10 or more. It’s up to you and it all adds up.
We’re aiming to raise £500. We’re 24% there so far.
To encourage you – as someone interested in copywriting – to sponsor me, I thought I’d add an extra incentive.
It’s an ethical bribe as they say.
And here it is…
For anyone who sponsors me – for however much – I’ll hold a special LIVE webinar where I’ll present a number of my best writing tips and do a live Q and A.
To get access, you just need to take a screen shot of your donation and email me at the usual address ([email protected]).
I’ll be in touch separately with those who donate and will arrange a time when we can all jump online and hold the live Q and A.
Sound good? I hope so.
Of course, you don’t have to take part in the Q and A and can just sponsor us if you like. It’s completely up to you.
But if you’re able, any donations would be very much appreciated.
An update on the book
While we’re off the usual beaten track of practical advice this week, I thought I’d take the opportunity to update you on a few projects I’ve been mentioning here and there.
Number one is…the book.
In case you didn’t know, at the end of last year I signed a book deal to publish my first proper book on direct response copywriting.
Yup. A proper book in bookshops and all that kind of thing. Exciting, right?
Last month, I finished the manuscript and it’s now in for editing.
We expect it’ll be through there by the end of this month and then it goes into production.
Amazon pre-orders should be up in May or June and the official launch will likely be in September. There’s a lot more that goes into publishing books than even I realised.
The book is all about direct response copy and in it I share all my secrets. There’s loads of practical advice. And hopefully a fair few entertaining passages too.
At the back there’s also exclusive interviews I’ve done with three master copywriters who’ve been a big influence on me: Mark Ford, John Forde and James Woodburn.
When we get closer to the pre-order stage, I’ll be in touch with a very special offer for All Good Copy readers and though I can’t confirm just yet, I am aiming for you to be one of the very first people to be able to get your hands on a copy.
Oh, and I’ll be doing some kind of live event or two for the launch, so it’d be grand to see you there.
I’ll keep you in the loop.
Get trained by me
As well as the book, I keep teasing that I’m going to organise some kind of training course, in which I’ll teach people everything I know.
For those who’ve emailed me about this already…don’t worry…it’s getting closer.
I’ve been drafting out sessions and working out the ins and outs of how to best present it using the feedback I’ve already received.
I want it to be the best of its kind and a little different, so I’m taking my time.
In the meantime, please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like me to cover or any thoughts on what kind of course you would like to see and how you think it should be delivered. It all helps me figure out the best approach.
I’m hoping to get it all together by June and kick something off then in one form or another. Fingers crossed.
And finally…
I’m not a huge social media person, but I do post the odd bit on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. And I do put a fair few personal pictures up on Instagram. That sounds weird. I just mean personal as in what I do in my spare time, what books I’m reading and what my dog has done to amuse me recently.
Anyhow, you can follow me on your preferred platform here:
OK. That’s all for today, I’ve got to get back to a sales letter I’m working on for an Income newsletter in the US. I’m around 4,000 words in and I reckon just under half way through.
I’ll leave you with that link again to sponsor Ruth and I:
Donate to our sponsored 10k run around Grimsby.
And remember, all you need to do to get access to the exclusive live Q and A session I’ll be hosting for those who sponsor me is take a screen shot of you donation and send it to me.
Thanks in advance for any one who puts something in.