Category: My Life as a Writer
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Editing and Revising: Turning Good Copy into Great Copy
Editing often feels like the unglamorous part of writing, but it’s where the transformation happens. Drafting is about getting everything out of your head and onto the page, and then sculpting it into something worth keeping. It’s about seeing the potential in your first draft and then taking it to a much higher level.
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How to Write Headlines That Actually Work
Years ago, I wrote what I thought was the perfect ad: smart copy, clean design, and a headline I was proud of. When the results came back, though, the numbers told a different story: almost no one read past the headline. That was the day I learned the hard truth about copywriting: the headline isn’t…
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The Writers’ Room Playlist: September Edition
Just like the creative process, this month’s playlist is a little messy and impulsive. Enjoy!
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Understanding Your Audience: The Key to Effective Copy
When I first started as a copywriter, I thought my job was to write the perfect words. Polished. Clever. Tight. But the longer I’ve been in this business, the clearer it’s become: the words themselves matter less than who they’re written for. You can write the cleverest line in the world, but if it doesn’t…
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The Basics of Copywriting: What Every Writer Should Know
People often ask me what copywriting actually is. Much to the chagrin of my relatives who still think I deal with copyrights, my answer is always: it’s writing with a purpose. Copy isn’t poetry. It isn’t your journal. It’s not even content, exactly. Copy is writing that persuades, informs, and moves people to act—whether that’s…
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Behind the Portfolio: The Story Behind My Most Impactful Campaign
When embecta—an injection technology leader with over a century of commitment to people living with diabetes—asked our team to create a storytelling campaign, the challenge was clear: How do you connect with more than half a billion people worldwide who share a diagnosis, but live in different countries, cultures, and circumstances? The answer was obvious:…
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The Copy Rule I Will Always Live By
Specifics aren’t just good writing. They’re good strategy. They help differentiate your brand. They make claims more credible. They give your audience something to hold onto. And maybe more importantly, they show that you see your audience. You understand their pain points, their goals, their industry quirks. That’s what earns attention. That’s what earns trust.
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The Writers’ Room Playlist: August Edition
I don’t know about you, but I can’t write a word without the right vibe. This month’s playlist is my go-to backdrop for getting in the zone—equal parts head-bob and deep-focus. Enjoy!
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5 Copywriting Myths That Are Holding Your Brand Back
Every brand wants words that sell, connect, and stick—the kind of copy that makes people stop scrolling, pay attention, and feel something. But here’s the problem: over the years, a few stubborn myths about what “good copy” looks like have taken hold. Let’s bust some myths, shall we?
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Bad AI Is Everywhere—And It’s Wrecking Good Copy
AI is changing the way we work, create, and connect. But let’s be real—not all AI content is created equally. In the scramble to adopt the latest tools, a lot of brands are churning out copy that feels hollow, robotic, and painfully off‑brand. The result? A flood of content that all sounds the same and…
Sara Barton 