Sure, it's National Craft Month, but I really spend most of my time on two non-crafty “crafts”:

Writing.
Business.

I love both, but sometimes combining them feels like…work.
I always want to avoid sales-y, ick-y business writing and sometimes even the NAME of a business sales-y thing grosses me out.

Like “launches”. Long ago, I started calling them “brunches”.
Because isn't brunching the most relaxing thing ever? No stress! No waiting! Just piles of tastiness and conversation!

Last week I was getting ready to write something business-y (for the brunch of my Twitter class) and I got stuck. On the word.

Sales Page.

A totally icky word for what is a pretty simple thing: a description of what you are offering.

But as much as I love writing and I love sharing my thing, I always put off writing sales pages.
It just sounds painful and icky and sales-y, you know?

So let's metaphor-mouse it (that's a Havi thing):

Current relationship (sales page =?)
-icky
-salesy
-convincing
-“persuasive writing” assignments in school
-explanatory
+sharing my thing
+putting words to an idea
-static
-work
-“should”
-certain technique that I'm not doing and therefore “LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE” (ugh, I hate that saying)
-sticky
-should should should

Reminds me Of..
writing that is a “should” – school assignments, homework, wondering if I'm doing it “right”

My ideal metaphor (X=?)
+ease
+fun
+putting words to ideas
+sharing what I love
+confidence
+not scary
+no “right” way
+extra doses of me-ness

What happens when…
What happens when there aren't any expectations of what I *should* be doing? What does that look like?

That feels like I'm dancing around in my kitchen, as an adult (ie, not a kid doing homework), putting my favorite ingredients together, confident in my skill.

*bing*

When sales page = homework:
I feel:
like a kid
worried of getting in trouble
trying to please…the big kids? the experts?

When sales page = my baking
I feel:
like an adult
responsible to myself
confident
free
I want to share all the tasty goodness!

Sales Page = Baking!

Do We Have Metaphor?
Yes!
For me, baking=sharing, fun, having a party, inviting everyone, woo!
Baking for someone is a lot more fun than trying to sell them something (ick!)

—–

Is there a word you don't like? Would finding a better metaphor make it more enjoyable?

3 Comments on Baking = Writing

  1. Kelly Watson
    March 24, 2010 at 2:00 pm (14 years ago)

    Well, now, this is just brilliant. Not just Havi's idea but the way you spell everything out, so we can see your process.

    I just posted a four-page guide to “Copywriting From The Heart” on my blog, and then surfed over here from Havi's site as I was checking out the items in my Google Reader. Perhaps it's kismet?

    Anyway, I may have to mention this technique in the full version of the ebook. I can already picture ways to use it for myself 🙂 Thanks!

  2. Kelly Watson
    March 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm (14 years ago)

    Well, now, this is just brilliant. Not just Havi's idea but the way you spell everything out, so we can see your process.

    I just posted a four-page guide to “Copywriting From The Heart” on my blog, and then surfed over here from Havi's site as I was checking out the items in my Google Reader. Perhaps it's kismet?

    Anyway, I may have to mention this technique in the full version of the ebook. I can already picture ways to use it for myself 🙂 Thanks!