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Judi 411 | Judi Harrington

Paralegal and financial pro turned copywriter bringing boring topics to life, serving as the Resident Writing Expert for realtors, attorneys, and financial pros. Check out my emails below and enter your email address to get my freebie, "5 Ways to Make Your Copy UN-Boring"

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Featured Post

Back to school… back to business

Hi Reader, It’s that time again—back to school, back to business, and all the energy of fresh starts in the air. I’m in the thick of some really exciting announcements, and I can’t spill the beans just yet… So this week? You’re getting a cliffhanger. Stay tuned—next week, I promise, it’ll all make sense (and trust me, you won’t want to miss it). To suspense and fresh starts, Best,

Santa claus and elves on a festive stage.

Hi Reader, Happy Labor Day! While you may be sitting poolside or enjoying a day in your garden as you soak up the last days of summer, my kids and I are celebrating our favorite holiday: Allston Christmas! Every September 1st, Allston Christmas, my personal Super Bowl, descends upon Boston like clockwork. Thousands of students unleash chaos upon the city, transforming sidewalks into impromptu flea markets overflowing with discarded furniture and odds and ends. It's not just an event—it's my...

A young girl eats an ice pop.

Hi Reader, my fellow food lover, Years ago, I boldly declared: kids should make their own lunch. Yes, make their own lunch. Cue the gasps, eye-rolls, and the occasional concerned “Are you sure about this?” from parents who thought I was either a little nuts or a bad mom pushing childhood out the door faster than a speeding rollercoaster. Armed with bon mots like “Marie Antoinette said let them eat cake. I say, let them make lunch,” and “If your kids can carry 4 AP classes and still find time...

person in white shirt using black laptop computer on brown wooden table

Hello, hello, my fellow word nerd, It’s hot. And as a woman of a certain age, I’m hot for other reasons, too. But I digress… This heat got me thinking about icebreakers—those fun little questions that pop up in networking meetings to get the conversation rolling. A few months ago, I heard a great one: Would you rather be a talk show host or a talk show guest? Would you love to lead the conversation, ask big questions, and set the tone? Or do you prefer to share your expertise and let someone...

book lot on black wooden shelf

Hi Reader, Greetings, my fellow beach bunny — I’m excited to share a peek behind the scenes of a recent writing collaboration with Angela Todd — archivist, historian, and activist dedicated to bringing women’s stories into the spotlight. The challenge was clear: how to balance Angela’s deeply academic work with copy that clearly shows its value and impact. After seeing my draft, Angela said something that truly moved me: “Your copy convinced me of my own worth.” That says it all. Together, we...

woman's nails with manicure

Greetings and salutations,Reader, If you know me, you know I love a good manicure. The funkier the colors, the better. But it’s not just about the color itself—it’s about the name. I’m talking about shades like “Wocka Wocka” (a fiery summer red), “Less is Norse” (a moody deep blue), and “Berlin There Done That” (a sophisticated greige). Even the classic “Bubble Bath” had its moment before I graduated to bolder choices. Why do I love them? Because a great name makes an impression. It tells a...

round fondant cake with happy birthday candle

Hi Reader, As is my tendency, I’ll open up with a bit of storytime. My younger daughter, Ivy, celebrates a Fake Birthday. Fake birthday? Oh, absolutely. Fake birthday. Yes, this begs context. Here it is: Let me take you back 16 years, when Ivy and I were locked in a negotiation battle. She was digging in her heels about starting at a new preschool and insisted she would only begin there when she turned four. So, I did what I do best: I used my (super)power of persuasion to convince her that...

MacBook Pro near white open book

Hi Reader, my fellow earthling, Someone recently shared with me the seven magic words they use to start conversations about their work. And it got me thinking: I’ve got a seven-word phrase too. A verbal recipe. A little conversation starter. One that works like a charm for anyone out there who refers people my way—whether for website copy, bios, newsletters, or other “what do I even say here” moments. Here it is: 👉 “What are you saying on your website?” Simple. Direct. Non-threatening. It...

clap board roadside Jakob and Ryan

Greetings and Happy August,Reader, Rather than start with the obligatory Greek chorus refrain of “Where does the time go?” I’ll dive right in, as I always do the first week of the month, and start a conversation. Or, in this case, stir the shit pot. 🥄 💩 🍯 What is the order of operations for you: Book, then movie? Movie, then book? Or does it matter? I took a super scientific poll on this topic a few years ago. Okay, it was a Facebook post, but holy bananas, I got close to 200 comments on that...

black laptop computer

Hi Reader, Let me guess—you’re finally ready to get serious about building a list. (Cue confetti!) You're thinking about how to get your message out there consistently, and you're wondering: Do I start an email list from scratch? Or do I launch a LinkedIn newsletter and ride the algorithm wave? Friend, I’ve been there. I’ve weighed this same decision with clients in real estate, finance, law, coaching, consulting—you name it. We’re all asking the same thing: Where do I begin? What’s the best...