Unlock Your Inner Genius: Discover the Power of Copywork for Brain Boosting Benefits
As a professional writer, I have come across many techniques that help improve my writing skills and banish the fear of the blank page.
The one technique that has worked most wonders for me is “copywork.” Copywork is the process of handwriting, word for word, a piece of text that you admire. The text could be anything from a novel, an essay, or even a poem. And of course, the Bible is, for me, at least the ultimate work to copy. Copywork has been used for centuries by some of the greatest writers in history learning from their forebears the vocabulary, diction, structure and syntax that makes writing come alive
In this article, I will explain what copywork is, why it is important, and how it can help unlock your inner genius.
What is copywork and why is it important?
Copywork is the process of handwriting, word for word, a piece of text that you admire. The text could be anything from a novel, an essay, a poem and the Bible, of course. Copywork is not just about handwriting, but it is also about reading and comprehending the text. Copywork forces you to slow down and pay attention to every word and punctuation mark in the text. This process helps to improve your writing skills, vocabulary, and comprehension. It takes you deeper into the text.
Copywork is valuable because it helps to train your brain to focus and pay attention to details. When you are handwriting a piece of text, you are engaging your brain in a way that typing cannot replicate. Handwriting requires more concentration and effort, which helps to improve your memory and retention of the text. Copywork also helps to improve your fine motor skills, which is important for children who are still developing their handwriting skills and for adults who have lost them over time. People, like me who do copywork daily end up with very strong forearms!
The benefits of handwriting for mental training and mental health
Handwriting has been proven to have many mental training and mental health benefits. Handwriting engages different parts of the brain, including the motor cortex, the sensory cortex, and the visual cortex. This process helps to improve your brain's cognitive function, memory, and creativity. These benefits compound and improve with time. The more you do the better you get.
Handwriting has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. When you are handwriting, you are engaging in a meditative activity that helps to calm the mind and reduce stress levels. Yu find you cannpt think about your everyday problems as you focus on the text in front of you. Part of copywork is memorizing, briefly, the text you are transferring from the source to your page. This act of memory occupies the part of your brain your problems and preoccupations like to take up. Copywork frees you from the insistent, repetitive thoughts your brain likes to keep around like house pets.
Handwriting also helps to improve your mood, increase self-esteem, and boost confidence.
How copywork can improve creativity
Copywork can help improve your creativity in several ways. When you are handwriting a piece of text, you are engaging your brain in a way that typing or even memory cannot replicate. Handwriting requires focused concentration and effort, which helps to improve your memory and retention of the text. This process stimulates your brain and improve your creativity.
Copywork also helps to improve your vocabulary and language skills. When you are handwriting a piece of text, you are exposed to new words and sentence structures. This exposure helps to expand your vocabulary and improve your language skills, which in turn helps to improve your creativity.
The Bible is an ideal source text, not simply because it is the in spired word of God…which should be enough of a reason alone, but also because its 66 books contain every genre for writing.
It’s 1189 chapters provide endless choice and variety. And because much of what you write is unfamiliar you have to pay even closer attention.
The science behind copywork and its effects on the brain
Copywork has been shown to have several positive effects on the brain. Studies have shown that handwriting engages many different parts of the brain, including the motor cortex, the sensory cortex, and the visual cortex all at the same time. This engagement helps to improve the brain's cognitive function, memory, and creativity.
This article in Psychology Today details how cursive handwriting was shown to improve memory and mental skills in school age children.
The Norwegian study “The Importance of Cursive Handwriting Over Typewriting for Learning in the Classroom: A High-Density EEG Study of 12-Year-Old Children and Young Adults” concluded “that because of the benefits of sensory-motor integration due to the larger involvement of the senses as well as fine and precisely controlled hand movements when writing by hand and when drawing, it is vital to maintain both activities in a learning environment to facilitate and optimize learning."
Copywork has also been shown to improve reading comprehension and retention. When you are handwriting a piece of text, you are engaging your brain in a way that reading alone cannot replicate. Handwriting requires more concentration and effort, which helps to improve your comprehension and retention of the text.
The Psychology Today article reported;
“Data analysis showed that cursive handwriting primed the brain for learning by synchronizing brain waves in the theta rhythm range (4-7 Hz) and stimulating more electrical activity in the brain's parietal lobe and central regions. "Existing literature suggests that such oscillatory neuronal activity in these particular brain areas is important for memory and for the encoding of new information and, therefore, provides the brain with optimal conditions for learning," the authors explain.”
These conclusions augment earlier studies such as the study in 2012 on “The effects of handwriting experience on functional brain development in pre-literate children” that found that handwriting ignites a “unique reading circuit” in the brain.
Psychology Today has ben reporting the benefits of handwriting for over a decade
For even more interesting science on this subject this article titled “How writing by hand may make you smarter” goes deeper into recent studies on why setting the keyboard to one side might add points to your IQ, and a spring to your step.
Cursive writing in particular seems to have fascinating and valuable benefits because the movements and recognition required are more complex.
So with so many clear benefits to gain, what then should we write? and why copy out texts raher than just journal?
Why copywork beats journalling
Journaling has long been recognized as a highly valuable tool for lowering stress and getting bad thoughts, and good ones out of your head. Journaling, writing letters and cards, or essays by hand are all valuable exercises.
There are only two problems with journaling, which don’t occur with copywork. The first is that it can be hard to know what to write, whether to write it, and how to begin, end, or even structure the sentences. For most of us, when we start to write, we often stare at an empty blank peice of paper. It can cause more frustration than not writing at all.
Second, we are inclined to self-censor when we write a personal journal for the simple reason someone might read it. Do we really want someone to know our innermost thoughts and ideas? Do we even want to know them ourselves?
Personal journaling is a beneficial but difficult skill
Personal journaling is a potential minefield of concerns, worries, and anxieties that stand in the way of just getting those benefits.
Rather like a workout class, until we get experienced enough to create our own routines, it might be just easier and better to follow along, especially when we want to learn a new skill or mode.
When I started working out with kettlebells, I watched countless videos and attended classes long before I ginned up the courage to buy my own bells and swing them in the comfort of my own home.
Copywork offers the same promise of getting really good quickly, safely and without worry.
The different types of copywork exercises
There are several different types of copywork exercises that you can do to improve your writing skills.
The first type of exercise is to copy a piece of text word for word. This exercise helps to improve your handwriting, vocabulary, and comprehension.
The second type of exercise is to copy a piece of text and then rewrite it in your own words. This exercise helps to improve your writing skills, sentence structure, and creativity.
The third type of exercise is to copy a piece of text and then analyze it. This exercise helps to improve your critical thinking skills, comprehension, and writing skills.
Copying a Bible passage using each of the different techniques is a fantastic way to get the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of hand copying the Bible.
How to get started with copywork
Getting started with copywork is easy. All you need is a pen, paper, and a piece of text that you admire. Choose a piece of text that you would like to improve your writing skills in, and start handwriting it word for word. Start with short pieces of text and gradually work your way up to longer pieces.
Better yet, sign up for Bible Copy Club today, and we’ll do the hard work of choosing a variety of wonderful and inspiring pieces for you. We’ll send you a daily email with the passage embedded in it, so you have nothing to download and lose and nothing to forget to do. It’s easy to get started and exciting to keep going.
Bible Copy Club’s daily email is intended free you from concern and let your pen flow with the mind of God.
Tips for making copywork a habit
Making copywork a habit is important if you want to see improvement in your writing skills. Here are some tips for making copywork a habit:
Schedule a specific time each day for copywork
Choose a quiet and comfortable place to do your copywork
Start with short pieces of text and gradually work your way up to longer pieces
Use a timer to track your progress
Keep a record of the pieces of text that you have copied
Again, a free subscription to Bible Copy Club will help you do all of these things easily and with less stress. So you can concentrate on the pleasure of improving your skills knowing that the copywork you are doing is growing your mental and spiritual capacities.
Copywork resources for all ages and skill levels
There are several copywork resources available for all ages and skill levels. Here are some resources that you can use to get started with copywork:
In addition to Bible Copy Club there are a few other great resources I would recommend;
Simply Charlotte Mason has a host of resources from kindergarten kids upwards. this is a fascinating site that will expand your appreciation for what is possible.
Handwriting Practice: This website offers free handwriting practice sheets for kids and adults.
The Lost Art of Handwriting: This book offers a step-by-step guide to improving your handwriting skills. (This link is not an affiliate link.)
Writing Down the Bones: This book offers tips and exercises to improve your writing skills. If you are brave enough to let your pen flow with your mind. (again not an affiliate link)
Copywork and the education system
Of course, copywork has been used in education systems across the world for centuries, and remains a staple of homeschooling, where the pressure to standardize teaching and pupil progression is not so keenly felt.
Copying a passage proved to be an antidote to the “Spring Break Blues”
Even as digital multi-media tools have taken over copy work still has its place and is used to improve handwriting skills, vocabulary, and comprehension. Copywork is a singularly great way to teach children the importance of attention to detail and the value of slowing down and letting ideas fully germinate and develop. By imposing the friction of writing on ourselves, we create a space to think, meditate, and formulate new ideas. The very essence of learning.
Conclusion: Unlocking your inner genius with copywork
Copywork is possibly the most powerful tool that can help you unlock your inner genius. It is a simple yet effective way to improve your writing skills, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Copywork is the tool used by the greatest writers in history to learn and hone their craft and is still used today as a way to improve cognitive function and creativity. With the right resources, like Bible Copy Club and a little bit of patience and practice, you can use copywork to improve your writing skills and unlock your inner creative genius through the practice of copying to the creator of all things.
Get started with your first passage today, by signing up below.
