A workshop-style writing program designed to help you speak about your work with eloquence, power, passion, and clarity.
NEXT COHORT: JANUARY 2026
the craft.
YOUr work is magic.
Your words should be toO.
What's up, you sexy motherclucker?π
I see you, with your cool and innovative approach to the way you do your work.
Refining and reinventing; connecting and caring; dreaming and doing the most.
You pour your passion into every aspect of your business, from the teeny tiny LinkedIn icon that lives at the bottom of your emails, to those artsy handmade gifts you snail-mail to new clients.
This work you do is an expression of YOUβand DAMN are you good at it.
But when it comes time to bottle that magic into a cohesive, compelling piece of writing that clearly conveys what you do, who you work with, and why someone should hire youβ¦
Thatβs a horse of a different color.
If youβre a service provider, coach, course creator, an author trying to grow your platform, or an academic whoβs forgotten how to write like a human...
Writing about yourself and your work is HARD and unpleasant. (βIt makes me want to gouge my eyes out,β says one of my clients.)
But it doesnβt have to be!
Think about all the wild things youβve learned how to do since you started your business. Tech stacks and Canva presentations and Reels and just enough html to be dangerousβ¦
Writing (and copywriting specifically) is no different. You can absolutely learn to write about your work in a way that feels natural, sounds like you, AND gets results.
like thisβ¦
βYour emails are the only ones I want to read all the way through :)β
Megan Naasz, CPA & Coach for Online Businesses
βGREAT pitch! And lord, I love someone who follows instructions! It's great to be connected to you.β
Tara McMullin, What Works
Dorothy Illson, Needle's Eye Media
Most copywriting courses focus on the action you want your reader to takeβ
β¦and how to manipulate your language to *make* them do what YOU want them to do.
Theyβre all about the particular assets you need to create: a sales page, an email sequence; a sales-y webinar script. And theyβre usually taught by a βcopywriter on high,β whose methodology and swipe files youβre meant to snap onto your business like a Polly Pocket outfit.
But your business isnβt some mass-produced plastic trash (sorry, Polly).
Youβre stressed about getting it βright,β but you donβt really agree with what youβve been taught is the βrightβ way to do it.
Instead of spending all that energy trying to squeeze your writing into a too-tight pair of jeansβ¦
You need to spend some time learning...
THE CRAFT.
If you can string together some words that more or less make sense, and you have a blinding passion for the work you do and the people you serveβ¦
Then you can learn the art and technique of writing that grabs attention, moves people to take action, and reads like the most *YOU* youβve ever youβd.
And thatβs why youβre struggling with your writing.
welcome toβ¦
the craft.
A 10-week writing workshop to help you master the actual CRAFT of great writing β the timeless techniques that connect, inspire, make the reader feel something, and keep them wanting more.
NEXT COHORT: JANUARY 2026
Pay in full: $1800 USD | 3 payments of $600 USD | 6 payments of $300 USD
*click here for my my "world peace discount, designed to take the sting out of the exchange rate for my international friends π¨π¦π¨π¦
FACTS: Literally every goal youβve set for yourself this year hinges to some degree on your ability to WRITE about your work.
You want to grow your social media presence >>
You need captions, scripts, and carousel text.
You want to appear on more podcasts or as a guest expert >>
You need a strong pitch that grabs attention but also feels natural and sounds like youβnot some bizarro Troy McClure version of yourself
Youβre rebranding; introducing a new offer; have an old-ass website from 2018>>
You need offer pages, a home page, a bio, a work with me page, a landing page for your offer, etc.
You want to start sending consistent emails to your list, AND you want them to read, enjoy, and act on those emails>>
You need newsletters, Substack articles, long-form blog posts, etc.
You have a group program >>
You need a sales page (like this one)
Youβre launching >>
You need emails! And sales content! And a plan! And all of the above!
You have a difficult email to send >>
You need to learn the secret judo I teach ;) Works every time.
FACTS: All these goals and writing projects have *one* thing in common: the human on the other end whoβs going to be reading what you wrote.
Your email subscribers
New, cool business friends
Potential new clients
Your social media followers (and potentially new ones)
A coach youβre thinking of hiring
Potential & established referral partners
The host of a podcast you want to be on
The designer you hired
Extreme empathy is at the core of all good writing. Learning to dissolve your own agenda and sink into the headspace of your reader is a tough trick to masterβbut it CAN be learned.
And when you start practicing this on a regular basis, your writing will open up, expand, and breathe. THIS is what gives writing that βoooohhhhh, yeahβ feelingβnot some tricksy copywriting tactic.
FACTS: ChatGPT is a pretty terrible copywriter.
Yes, you can develop custom prompts and learn to tailor your settings so itβs better at sounding like you. AI absolutely has a role in the writing processβbut it shouldnβt be used as a replacement for YOU.
In order to get the best results from your AI, you need to have clarity around who you are, what you stand for, and who you work with.
Because youβll only get usable results if you know what to tell it in the first place. And if you want it to sound remotely like βyou,β you have to be really grounded in what βyouβ are supposed to sound like.
FACTS: The best writers work in a community setting.
Think of one of your favorite writers. I guarantee that whoever youβre thinking of has:
sat in a room (or on a zoom call) and written in silence while everyone else also writes
let other people read their work and listened to how they responded
taken feedback about how to make their writing even stronger
done the same for the other writers in the group
celebrated and sent referrals to the members of their writing circle
reached out to a writer friend when they got stuck
helped a writer friend who was stuck
People think that writing is a solo activity, but itβs not.
If youβve spent any time in art school or theater, you know that critique and group work is part of the deal.
Writing is no different. But when most people teach copywriting, they treat it like a home improvement tutorial:
"Just follow these exact steps, and boomβsales!"
If and when your writing doesnβt generate the desired result, you think the problem must be that youβre βnot goodβ at copywriting.
Not only does ALL Of this result in some mediocre, formulaic writing, it manufactures distance and doubt between you and your own writing ability.
When you show up in a community though, that distance starts to close. Seeing your own work reflected back at you through others is fucking transformative.
"It's like watching my writing become more human in real time.β
The way Sam shows up for her clients and community is ART. I felt it immediately.
She brings together this rare mix of deep empathy, keen observation, killer writing instincts, and the skill of editing with sharpness that is always kind. So donβt be surprised if she gets your work better than you do!β
BROOKE HOFSESS. MIDLIFE MIDWIFE & COACH
welcome toβ¦
the craft.
A 10-week writing workshop to help you master the actual CRAFT of great writing β the timeless techniques that connect, inspire, make the reader feel something, and keep them wanting more.
NEXT COHORT: JANUARY 2026
Pay in full: $1800 USD | 3 payments of $600 USD | 6 payments of $300 USD
*click here for my my "world peace discount, designed to take the sting out of the exchange rate for my international friends π¨π¦π¨π¦
WHAT YOUβll Learn
This program will teach you the craft of great (copy)writing.
Youβll learn how to identify and incorporate writing devices like suspense, detail, psychic distance, and more. Youβll learn the real meaning of βshow, donβt tell,β and why this is terrible advice.
Youβll learn to harness the craft of different writing styles and how to apply them to your own content in a way that captures your readerβs attention and keeps their eyes on the page.
Youβll learn how to cut the fluff and reveal the David underneath all that chunky marble.
Youβll learn how to approach your own offers and messaging like a copywriter wouldβbut not just any Joe Schmo copywriterβone who truly gets you and cares about your clients as much as you do.
Youβll learn a repeatable, reliable way to approach any piece of writing you need to createβno matter which trends come and go, or how your business evolves over time.
Whatβs Included:
6 foundational modules that cover the pillars of great writing, pulled from my experience as an editor of fiction and creative nonfiction
Group workshopping sessions where weβll review each otherβs work in a safe, supportive space
Voice and style analysis of your favorite writers
Lots & lots of examples from books, film, song lyrics, emails, and sales pages
A private Slack community where you can share your work, ask questions, and get feedback from me and your fellow students
Weekly copy feedback from moi (via Jumpshare video and/or written feedback)
(Optional) weekly cowriting sessions in between modules, where we just show up and write together. Body doubling for the win π
BONUS: Make Them A Mixtape Workshop An on-demand workshop that will set you up to create and write consistent weekly newsletters. Youβll leave with your first 5-10 topics and a clear idea of what you want to talk about every week.
*Pay in full bonus*
Mini Remix ($750 value)
After the program closes, Iβll take what youβve been working on and give it a professional glow-up. Weβll also have a 1-1 call to talk through anything you feel stuck on or want my help with.
PROgRam sCHEDULE
Upcoming cohort: January 2026
-
Week 1: I feel you
Imagination & Empathy
This is the secret behind writing that feels good AND sellsβbeing able to βbodysnatchβ your ideal client and dissolve into what itβs like to be them.
Thatβs how you form an immediate, emotive bond with your reader THE SECOND they land on the page. Itβs how you establish trust and let them knowβthis is FOR THEM. -
Week 2: Shout (let it all out)
Headlines, hooks, taglines, point of view
Most writers say a whole bunch of words before they get to the good stuff. But your reader doesnβt care about all that!
Iβll show you how to pan for gold in all that word dirt(?), so you can center & showcase your Big Idea in a way that makes them go βYES!YES!YES!β or βTELL ME MORE!β -
Week 3: f*ck the (grammar) police
De-formalizing your writing & cutting the fluff
Here is where youβll start to hone your voice and get comfortable with a less formal, un-academified way of writingβlike what I just did in this sentence. This will create a more connected, intimate, human, *real* experience for them.
Weβll also look at rhythm (my favorite!) and why the ideas you think are awful are usually the best ones. -
Week 4: truth hurts
What βshow, donβt tellβ really means and how to use it in your writing
This is the module that blows everyoneβs minds. When you understand the makeup of tools like showing vs. telling, specificity, the narrative βclock,β and others, writing becomes demystified and you learn how to wield control over what youβre saying.
This is the week thatβll make you a sold writer for the rest of your days.
-
Week 5: Thriller
Ratcheting up the suspense to keep your reader engaged
It doesnβt have to be all Hitchockian in hereβsuspense just means you donβt know whatβs going to happen next, and it makes for a GREAT reading experience.
Iβll show you how to use cliffhangers, open questions, and storytelling structure to keep your reader clinging to every word. -
Week 6: doinβ it
Calls to action and getting people to do a thing
Every piece of copy has a job, and in our final module weβll work on making sure YOUR writing is doing its part.
This is where youβll learn the how and why behind writing that compels your reader to do the thing you want them to doβjoin your email list, hit the buy button, register for a workshop, etc. -
Weeks 7β10: Workshopping
This is where the magic happens!
Once weβve made it through the core curriculum, weβll spend the remainder of the program workshopping each otherβs writing. If you havenβt done this before, donβt worryβIβve prepared lots of resources and a clear structure to make sure everyone feels prepared, safe, and ready to be an excellent workshopper.
During these calls, weβll take 20-30 minutes per writer, discussing whatβs working about the piece and addressing any areas that could use a little zhuze.
Before our first official workshop, weβll workshop one of my projects, so everyone can get a feel for what itβs going to be like. π€ -
On Demand: Make them a mixtape
Bonus module!
A pre-recorded workshop in which I show you how I managed to establish and maintain a consistent, twice-weekly newsletter. Youβll leave with a clear idea of what you can write about every week; your first 5-10 email topics; and a few strategies for staying consistent when the creative juice dries up. -
TBD: closing time π’
You don't have to go home but you can't stay here
On our final call, weβll celebrate all the work weβve done, discuss any lingering questions, and talk through whatβs next for everyone. And donβt be sad! Every new beginning starts with some other beginningβs end. (SORRY)
hi. Iβm Sam.
Iβve been a bartender, a barista, a personal trainer, a park maintenance worker, and the stoner running the antique photo booth at Six Flags.βπ½
Now Iβm an editor, copywriter, and writing instructor with over a decade of experience in online marketing.
Iβve been referred to as the "email queen," probably because Iβve done things like triple someoneβs open rates, generate $75k from a single campaign, and develop distinctive brand voices and thought leadership messaging that get my clients known for their emails.
In 2024 I left that all behindβburned down my whole business, lowered my rates, revamped the way I work with clients, and created Indie Copy Studio.
As an editor, I help emerging authors develop their manuscripts from "almost there" to actually, really, finally DONE, whether you're sending it out to potential agents or moving forward with self-publishing.
I created THE CRAFT to bridge the gap between these two worlds.
I believe (now more than ever) that the most important asset in your business is your audienceβs trust, and I'm proud to be a part of a new online mini-economy rooted in mutual aid, community care, and regenerative (not extractive) growth strategies.
FRequently asKeD QuEsTions
If you've got a question you don't see answered below, contact me and just ask! We're friendly here!
-
The total duration of The Craft will depend on the amount of people in the cohort. Plan on about 10weeks.
Core Curriculum (Weeks 1-6): 90 minute calls on Tuesday; 90 minute co-working and integration calls on Thursdays.
Workshopping (Weeks 7-10): 90-minute workshopping calls on Tuesday (we will workshop two pieces per call). Youβll also want to build in time to read, jot down some perfunctory notes, and think about that weekβs writing (up to 2,000 words each)
It's important in workshopping that everyone show up preparedβI recommend using our Thursday co-working time to do this!
-
Yes (and no?). The Craft will teach you a reliable, repeatable way to approach any piece of copy you ever need to writeβregardless of where it will live or what its job will be. Itβs the whole βteaching you to fish instead of giving you a fishβ thing. When youβre done youβll have the confidence to plan and execute your own compelling copy, wherever and whenever you need it.
-
Either one! It really depends on a) how much bandwidth you have to develop brand-new copy during this particular period of time, and b) what you have coming up in your business thatβs going to require some kickass copy.
You absolutely do NOT have to start from scratch, but you should start thinking about what you might want to bring to our workshopping sessions.
-
I would go with either the piece that has the most impact on your bottom lineβso, a sales funnel or an email sequenceβOR the piece thatβs giving you the biggest headache (like your About page).
If youβre planning a launch in the next few months, I would strongly recommend using this program to develop some of your launch copy, especially your sales page. Or, you can bring the copy from your most recent launch and work on improving that.
-
No. I will use a lot of examples to illustrate different elements of writing craft and how to apply them to copywritingβbut Iβm intentionally NOT giving you swipe files, because I want your work to sound like you wrote itβnot like you just took Samantha Pollackβs copywriting course.
-
During a workshopping session, the group will be able to critique one sales page, one About page, or 3-5 emails (depending on length).
In between modules, you can post anything youβd like me to look at in the Slack channel, and Iβll respond with video and/or written feedback within 48 hours. But if you post a 100-page ebook in there, Iβll probably tell you thatβs outside the scope of The Craft. π
-
Once we get to the workshopping phase, we will workshop 2-3 peopleβs writing per session. Everyone will have at least one chance to have their work critiqued by the group, and you can also post your work in our community space for feedback from myself and the rest of the crew. Iβm pretty casual; youβll be able to contact me anytime you need to.
In short... a lot. All you want. :)
-
No! Nyet! Nein! Part of what makes a workshop successful is the trust that is formed by letting other people see your work.
If youβre willing to critique other peopleβs writing but unwilling to share your own, it erodes that trust. If youβre uncomfortable about this and want to talk about it first, email me: sam@indiecopystudio.com. -
In the short term, youβll have a piece (or several pieces) of copy that you KNOW are super dialed into your ideal clientsβ wants, needs, and feelings, and strategically crafted to keep them reading and sell your offer without engaging in any ethical weirdness. This could translate into things like more sales, increased enrollment numbers, improved email metrics, and more. It depends on what kind of copy you bring to the program.
In the long term, however, youβll be able to approach any future writing from a place of confidence, integrity, and groundednessβand youβll enjoy doing your own writing so much more. Being able to write good copy (instead of spinning out over it) will free up so much headspace and energy for you as well. -
In one of my cohorts, someone wanted to join from South Africa, but the exchange rate was truly bananas. They reached out to ask me about it, and we worked something out.
Soβ¦yes. Contact me and let me know whatβs up.
welcome toβ¦
the craft.
A 10-week writing workshop to help you master the actual CRAFT of great writing β the timeless techniques that connect, inspire, make the reader feel something, and keep them wanting more.
NEXT COHORT: JANUARY 2026
Pay in full: $1800 USD | 3 payments of $600 USD | 6 payments of $300 USD
*click here for my my "world peace discount, designed to take the sting out of the exchange rate for my international friends π¨π¦π¨π¦