Fiction & Marketing

Written in 2019:

This might sound absurd… Or downright obvious.

But until 7 months ago - I believed reading fiction (at my age) was useless...

If it wasn't a nonfiction "how to" book solving a real problem in my life... Or even a biography. I thought it was a waste of my day.

I can't remember where this idea came from - I want to point a finger at Tai Lopez. Because he's fun to blame and it's also probably true.

But the point is I found real value in occasionally (if not frequently) indulging in tales of a faraway land or a raunchy murder story.

So, how does fictional writing impact my work? And life?

For one, I've experienced a shift in my creative thinking. I'm better at vividly describing scenes (if only in my inner monologue) and better at "painting mental pictures" while I'm copywriting. After spending an hour of reading good fiction... I write more hypnotically. And it's like the part of my brain wired for "storytelling" is ignited. The ebb and flow of conflict and resolution becomes ingrained in my thinking.

My second point is... Any time I've considered flipping on Netflix, I turn to fiction reading instead. Which is arguably a healthier habit, fulfills my "need" for escapism, and supercharges my creativity for the next day.

And thirdly, as someone who's into meditation, I find that reading fiction can "suck you in" and get you "in a flow" similar to meditating can. I know this can happen with any reading, but recently, I've seen the biggest impact from detailed fiction. I come out of the reading session feeling balanced and mindful.

Hope this was insightful. I know the concept isn't SO black and white, but it's still been eye-opening.