Bypass burnout & end the year with a bang: how to relax during the holidays
Most years I enter the holiday season in a fog of to-do lists and fierce nostalgia. I think I look like this: I’m Jimmy Stewart, obviously. When in reality, I look like this: We don’t get much snow here in Virginia, but I imagine that lovely thick snow blankets the …
Read More
Sneaky writing habits that zap your authority
Remember when you were 2.25 years old and you cuddled on the couch with your mom? You both stared at a picture book splayed out in your lap, and she pointed to an illustration and asked, “What animal is that?” “DEER!” you shouted, beaming. And your mom smiled back. Or …
Read More
“What do you want to do with your life?” 3 ways to answer the world’s worst question
It’s the nightmare inquiry made of every soon-to-graduate liberal arts major in America. The niggling worry of every newly committed entrepreneur. The unscratchable itch burning every person who hits upper tiers in Maslow’s hierarchy. “What do you want to do with your life?” The question sounds harmless when posed by …
Read More
Bust through boring like the Kool-Aid Man: 3 free tools to write copy that pops
As a child, I consumed the written word the way I now consume brownie batter: in small, rapid bites, each flavor distinct but devolving quickly into a flurry of blurred indulgence. The pleasure never gets old, even though I seem to. After devouring all the text on a cereal box, …
Read More
A simple cure for writing overwhelm
You’re staring at a blank Word doc, watching the cursor flash, when suddenly the thought hits you: Would anyone notice if you just crawled under your desk, curled into a ball, and nursed a bag of Swedish Fish until tomorrow comes? And by “bag” I mean “bottle.” Dear reader and …
Read More
Pump up your perceived value with the Glade Candle Method (and discover the benefits of your soulful services)
Walking through Wal-mart the other day, I happened upon a mid-aisle display of pumpkin- and foliage-scented Glade air fresheners. Images of hayrides and color-changing leaves wreathed the cardboard display, which touted the “feelings of fall.” To an outsider, it looks innocuous, a gentle reminder that autumn is here and you …
Read More
How to “distraction-proof” your brain (and FINALLY write that blog post/email series/webinar/website you’re oh-so-eager to publish)
Raise your hand if your morning routine looks like this: Your alarm goes off (or a little one crawls into bed with you). You open your eyes, silently beg the ceiling for strength to tackle the day, then reach for your cell phone and open your Mail app. Maybe you’re fastidious …
Read More
Engage ideal clients on your About page with these fill-in-the-blank headline starters
Do you get the heebie jeebies when you think about your About page? Maybe you (gasp) haven’t written it yet. Or maybe you have, but you kind of hate it. You don’t like promoting yourself. You think your life’s boring. You think your About page is too salesy. Or WAY …
Read MoreAre you an expert in your field? That’s a problem. Here’s why.
The first rule of The Writing to Sell Club is: do not confuse your readers. The second rule of The Writing to Sell Club is: do NOT confuse your readers. Unfortunately, 100% of my copywriting clients (coaches, creatives, and consultants) struggle to pull this off. Which sucks because it results in lost …
Read More
Your secret weapon for writing magnetic copy (+ a formula for resonant Facebook posts)
Dear Diary… On the first day of high school, my best friend and I tumbled out of a bus in front of a squatty 1970’s brick building that looked not unlike prison. I was sweating bullets. We were fresh meat: shiny new members of the school’s performing arts program. The …
Read More