Episode 049
Tough Titties, Tiny Details, and the Truth about Writing Like Yourself
What do a rotten egg, two scoops of Raisin Bran, and a Radisson Inn with a chlorine stench have in common? According to Laura Belgray – everything you need to write your guts out and turn it into gold.
This episode is a love letter to the misfits, the late bloomers, and the writers who still cringe at “authenticity.” Laura Belgray (yes, that Laura Belgray – copy queen, Talking Shrimp founder, and author of Tough Titties) joins Heather to talk about curveballs, cringe-worthy marketing jargon, her favorite AI tricks, and how to write like a real human instead of a robot in a pantsuit. Whether you’re launching something new or just trying to get your words to sound less like a TED Talk and more like a text to your funniest friend – this episode is your permission slip to let it rip.
“Take going deep on the tiny things – that’s my favorite kind of writing.”
Connect witH laura:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabelgray
- Website: https://www.talkingshrimp.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to Curveball: Laura Belgray Is Here
02:00 – The Art of Spinning Cheese Shopping into Copy Gold
06:45 – Black Eggs, Rotten Fridges, and Raisin Inflation
10:59 – Discipline, Habit, and How She Really Starts Her Day
13:23 – 750 Words and the Joy of Digital Journaling
18:25 – How Laura Helped Heather Fall Back in Love with Writing
20:24 – The “Email From a Bestie” Rule (EFAB)
23:03 – What to Do When Your Writing Sounds Like a LinkedIn Post
26:15 – Making Woo-Woo Services Sound Human
33:05 – The DIY Launch That Made Everyone Lose Their Minds
35:25 – How Laura Uses ChatGPT Without Losing Her Voice
38:06 – Writing a Memoir Hangover
40:27 – On “Authenticity” and the Power of Specificity
44:36 – Curveballs, Chlorine, and Writing Your Way Through It
48:29 – Why Writing Should Feel Like a Warm-Up, Not a Grind
51:26 – In-Person Writing Retreats and the Joy of Community