“Selling isn’t sleazy when you genuinely believe in what you’re offering. It’s sleazy when you DON’T believe in it. If your product is good, selling it is a public service.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
Let’s address the elephant in the creative room: you hate selling. You didn’t become a writer or artist or maker to be a salesperson. You wanted to CREATE, not pitch. But here’s the uncomfortable reality: if nobody knows about your work, nobody benefits from it. And telling people about your work? That’s marketing. Which means writing copy.
Sleazy Copy vs. Authentic Copy
| Sleazy Copy | Authentic Copy |
| “BUY NOW OR MISS OUT FOREVER!!!” | “Here’s what this can do for you, and why I believe in it.” |
| Manufactured urgency. | Genuine enthusiasm with honest scarcity. |
| Makes promises it can’t keep. | Sets realistic expectations and over-delivers. |
| Focuses on the seller. | Focuses on the reader’s problem and solution. |
| Uses fear and manipulation. | Uses empathy and connection. |
Copywriting for People Who’d Rather Be Writing Novels
- Write about the TRANSFORMATION, not the product. People don’t buy courses. They buy the version of themselves on the other side.
- Use your natural voice. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re warm, be warm. Authenticity outsells polish.
- Tell stories. A client success story is more persuasive than a features list.
- Address objections honestly. If someone’s thinking ‘but what if it doesn’t work?’ answer that question directly.
- End with a clear call to action. Tell people exactly what to do next. One action. Make it easy.
Your Move, Creative
Write one paragraph about your creative product or service as if you’re telling a friend about it over coffee. No corporate language. No sales jargon. Just genuine enthusiasm. THAT is good copy.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
