“I don’t like to read very much because I don’t want to contaminate my voice.” I’ll never forget the look on Professor Eric Gansworth’s face when my creative writing classmate announced his stand on the professor’s suggestion that we read a wide variety of sources. It was actually a lot like this: (Yes, that’s really him) Here’s the simple fact about voice: You are the collective product of what you read, what you see, and what you hear. And that’s the cool part! That’s what … [Read more...]
How to learn someone else’s voice (and why you need this skill)
Last week at my 8-year-old son’s request, I was Star Wars-ing a bedroom. To prevent being seduced by Darth and the Dark Side, I listened to a podcast. 29 minutes in, I sat amongst the Galactic Empire and snickered. To my surprise, the host (Kevin Rogers) and his interviewee (Brian Kurtz) started talking about me! Ok, they didn’t mention me by name, but they talked about how one could get (and be successful at) a specific position with a specific client -- the one I … [Read more...]
How do you learn “voice”? [Part 1 of 3]
Voice is one of the most talked about yet most elusive parts of effective writing. You get an impression or feeling from a piece of content, but it’s not always easy to tell why. It’s a lot like your handwriting. If 5 members of your family wrote out identical grocery lists, my bet is you’d be able to match them pretty quickly. But if I asked you what about the list revealed the writer, you’d have a hard time pinpointing specific unique strokes or letter formations. That’s not to say your … [Read more...]
How “The Daily Show” used behavioral psychology to make a mockery of Whitesboro
A bizarre story from a few towns over from my home is making national headlines. This (not a joke) is the official seal of the village of Whitesboro: Not surprisingly, a local resident noticed and started a petition to remove the offensive-looking seal. The story goes that the seal actually depicts a “friendly wrestling match” between the village founder Hugh White, and the local Indian chief. Even if this is accurate, perception is reality and it’s not a shock that the village decided … [Read more...]
How I convinced strangers (and their moms) to give me money for nothing in return
Life likes to throw a whole bunch of crazy all at once, doesn’t it? I’m currently in the middle of writing an epically long post about my last 4 weeks which included zero copywriting but a big smack in the face on the personal front (there’s some serious lessons about what to say in the most awkward of situations coming your way shortly). Yesterday, a situation came up I wanted to share first. So I’m stepping back from megapost to show you how to get support for your pet projects and … [Read more...]
What beer and chainsaws can teach you about good copy (and how you can use it to persuade anyone)
First, here’s the things to know about me that will help you appreciate this post: I love commercials. I love commercials more than TV shows. And, I certainly find Superbowl commercials more entertaining than the game. I recently became a certified chainsaw instructor with a nonprofit organization called Team Rubicon. I grew up on a dairy farm in Upstate NY, which is decidedly NOT the same as Downstate NY or New York City. New York is actually a decent sized state that holds the nation’s … [Read more...]
What is copywriting? Or, more commonly: What do you DO?
Honestly, most people don’t know how I make a living. And, when I say “most people” I mean my husband, my mom, and pretty much everyone outside of this online narnia world that I’ve found myself. My husband, when I started working with Ramit Sethi, told someone I teach people how to make effective investments in the stock market. If you asked him today, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have a better answer except he’s learned I work on “launches.” (Maybe he thinks I’m resurrecting NASA?) I’ve … [Read more...]
I write like a chef
As I ate, he watched me. "What do you think of the dill? Too much??" "No," I replied, "It adds a little..." "Zip!?" He beamed when I nodded. "I was hoping you would say that. With the fresh tomatoes it makes a nice, balanced bite, right?" I laughed. I've been thinking a lot about this small, but meaningful interaction I had yesterday. A chef made me lunch, a salad. There were less than 7 ingredients. It wouldn't have won any awards or been featured in a magazine. He made it for me … [Read more...]
Let’s get to know one another!
Silly fact about me – I write for bloggers for a living but up until this moment, did not have my own blog. I have 20+ blog posts half-written, notebooks full of ideas and enough shower thoughts to fill up my hard drive. Finally the stars have aligned and I got sick of the subtle-not-so-subtle egging on from my amazing friends and colleagues. Who am I? Here’s the short answer: I’m a copywriter and content strategist for 6- and 7-figure+ businesses. I’ve been writing sales copy since 7th … [Read more...]