So I’m a child of the ’80s. I was raised on Duran Duran, Tears for Fears & The Cure. (I love old school Rock and funk -- but I grew up in the ’80s)

Recently, I learned an exercise from Sonia Simone of Remarkable Communications. It’s called, “Native Tongue.”

You try to recall those phrases from your childhood or family life that were unique. And weave them into your writing. It fine-tunes your sensitivity to language and other people's perspectives.

So I started brainstorming some of those “conveniently forgotten” phrases that take me right back to high school.

Just for shits and giggles here are a few:

Later days (and better days)
We gotta bounce
As if
Don’t have a cow
Dope
Gnarly (I grew up in California)
Psych (my signature verbal tick junior year of high school)

As a conversion copywriter, I train myself to find those unique turns of phrases. I’m constantly listening for them.

And I try to weave those words and phrases into copy.

That’s what makes it pop.

Take a few minutes to brainstorm a few words or phrases from your childhood and jot them down. Even better, call an old friend or close family and ask them what they remember.

Imagine the juice (and the laughter) that’ll come from those conversations. It'll be gnarly.

If you're up for creative play and you geek out on this stuff - come to a scribbling circle. They're dope.

I'd be psyched to see you at one of these.

I wanna write with you!