4 (Totally Normal) Non-Copywriting Habits That Make Me a Better Copywriter
Here’s a plot twist: Some of the best things I do for my writing career have zero to do with writing. Shocking, I know.
While copywriting courses and templates and frameworks are cool or whatever… the real growth is happening when I’m binge-watching Netflix with a snack plate and pausing the show to analyze the dialogue like a nerd. Or when I’m eavesdropping on strangers in coffee shops like an absolute menace. Or when I’m in therapy unpacking why I still remember something my high school crush said to me in 2009.
So today, I’m sharing 4 non-copywriting habits that secretly make me a better copywriter, even if they look a little questionable from the outside. 🙃
1. Binge-Watching TV Shows Like It’s My (Unpaid) Side Hustle
Let’s get this straight: watching TV is not lazy. It’s research. The pacing? The witty one-liners? The way a character breaks your heart in exactly 8 seconds? That’s storytelling mastery. Binge-watching shows (especially the emotionally chaotic ones) has taught me more about hooks, emotional payoff, and dialogue than any online course ever could.
Plus, nothing beats shouting “OMG SAME” at the screen and then using that emotion to write a killer opening line for a sales page the next day. So yes, I do watch way too much TV. But it’s making me better at my job. And that’s what I tell myself every time Netflix asks: “Are you still watching?”
2. Reading Fiction for the Plot (& the Copywriting Lessons)
Give me a moody main character, a messy plot twist, and a sentence that punches me in the gut, and I’m happy.
Fiction fuels my creativity in sneaky little ways. It reminds me how people talk, what they care about, what makes a moment stick. The slow burns, the plot twists, the “oh no she didn’t” drama — it’s all storytelling gold. When I read fiction, I’m not just there for the vibes (okay, mostly I am). I’m studying how authors hook you in, how they pace big moments, how they make you feel something with just a few words.
When I’m stuck writing a headline or trying to craft a voice that actually feels human, I think back to those late-night reading sessions where I couldn’t put the book down. That’s the energy I want in my copy: the “just one more chapter” vibe. The stuff that hooks you without even trying.
3. Eavesdropping in Coffee Shops (Professionally, Of Course)
I swear I’m not a creep. I just have really good ears. Real people talk in ways that are messy, emotional, repetitive, and real. They use slang, make weird metaphors, and reveal what they actually care about, which is GOLD when you’re trying to write copy that connects.
So yes, I am 100% that person pretending to scroll while absolutely tuning into your convo about why your dog refuses to eat salmon kibble. It’s not weird. It’s market research.
4. Going to Therapy (AKA Getting to Know My Inner Chaos)
The better I know myself, the better I understand other people. And therapy is like emotional CrossFit for my brain. Working through my own thoughts, fears, and messy inner monologues helps me write copy that actually gets people, not just sells to them. Because if I can understand why I spiral at 2 a.m. over a harmless email, I can sure as hell write for a client who’s scared of raising their prices or launching a new service.
Emotional intelligence isn’t optional in copywriting, it’s the whole game. So shoutout to my therapist. This post is unofficially sponsored by him.
While these habits might not be on any “top 5 productivity hacks” list, they’ve helped me write clearer, bolder, more human copy that sounds less like a brand and more like a bestie who actually gets it.
Pssst… If you read this and thought, “OMG this is literally me,” or found yourself nodding along like we’re already besties, we should definitely work together!
Click HERE to work with me and let’s make your copy fun, clear, and full of personality.
