Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Larissa Riley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Larissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned how to be a copywriter in the most formal sense — I went to school for it! Growing up, I was the girl who was always reading and writing. I wrote poems for fun, kept up with a journal and read my fair share of Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew and The Babysitter’s Club. So when it came to figuring out what major to pursue in college, I found the sweet spot between creativity and business where I could write and make a living. My major was Communication with an emphasis in Advertising, and I knew from the get-go that my dream job was copywriter.

One obstacle that stood in the way of learning more was the nature of the internships I had in college. Most college advisors recommend internships during college to gain real-world on-the-job experience. I listened and actually completed two internships at advertising agencies during my college career. The challenge, though, was actually getting opportunities to write copy during those internships. Most of my intern duties were administrative. I made copies, distributed creative briefs and proofread ad copy. But when it came to giving the intern keys to the copywriting castle, those opportunities were non-existent. If you’re managing interns who know exactly what they want to pursue as a career, give them low-risk chances to shoot their shot. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you get in return!

Larissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been a copywriter for more than 18 years. That’s a long time to be writing, building brands and advising clients, but it’s absolutely what I’ve always been meant to do. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been challenging along the way.

For 17 of those years, I worked in corporate marketing growing brands and businesses of all sizes from small- to medium-sized businesses looking to grow their online presence through website copy, SEO and press releases to large global billion-dollar brands looking to capture market share. Life as a corporate marketer was working just fine for me — until it wasn’t.

I reached a point where I knew I wasn’t being leveraged to my fullest potential. As a highly motivated creative person, there’s no worse feeling than to be bursting at the seams wanting to serve others, impart knowledge and use your time, energy and talents to make an impact, without having an outlet to channel that creative energy. The thing about me, though, is if I know something isn’t serving me, I move on. So I did.

In September 2023, I left my corporate job and launched Sun Scribe Creative three days later. Today, I’m working with a wide range of clients from small female-owned businesses here in Phoenix to national and global brands in the healthcare, consumer packaged goods and food and beverage spaces. Essentially, I write copy for these brands to ensure their voice is heard, their message is clear and their communication efforts are effective. In addition to copywriting, I also provide foundational brand building for businesses to clearly define who they are, why they exist and how they show up for their consumers.

That major shift from corporate marketer to creative entrepreneur has been the riskiest decision I’ve ever made, but it’s backed by a solid 18-year marketing career and an education in marketing communication and business. All of that has made me more than just a copywriter. I’m a copywriter who understands brand, digital, performance, content and search marketing. It’s understanding the entire marketing ecosystem, and how all the pieces and parts live, breathe and feed off one another to be successful. That’s what sets me apart from other copywriters and brand strategists, and I’m incredibly grateful to the clients who choose to work with me because of it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Confession: I used to hate networking. I’m willing to bet there are people out there reading this who are nodding their heads and will admit that they always have hated it and still do! I’ve heard some circles talk about “networking” being an icky word, which I get. Networking can feel very self-serving. It requires time outside of your day-to-day work. It demands a certain kind of energy to strike up conversations and cultivate genuine relationships.

In my corporate life, that felt like entirely too much work. In my entrepreneurial life, it’s undoubtedly the fuel that powers my business. Once I knew how desperately I needed networking, it changed my views on it. I’m sure many people are familiar with the concept of not prioritizing networking until you really need it. In entrepreneurship, you always need it!

Yes, it’s time-consuming, energy-depleting and self-benefitting (but hopefully beneficial to others, too, if you’re doing it right). I’ve learned networking really boils down to human connection. I’m genuinely interested in learning from others, hearing their stories and understanding what moves and motivates them. Those are key ingredients to having genuine conversations. No agendas. Just listening, seeking to understand and leaving the conversation with a new person to further connect with down the road. Real connections make all the effort spent exponentially worthwhile.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that creativity often feels like fun more than it feels like work. For me, that’s the best kind of job to have. Even if you’re not a creative — if you’ve found a profession that feels like fun, you’re winning! And that may be why I pursued a career in advertising, marketing and branding and have never left.

As a copywriter, I get the chance to build brands through words. I get to see those words published on a website, printed on a package or scripted in a video and know that they’re working in tandem with other pieces of my clients’ marketing puzzle to ultimately create meaning and feeling and action. It’s most definitely an art that has inspired me for 18 years and will continue to do so for years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesunscribe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunscribe.creative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbsriley

Image Credits

SheaLyn Andersen, Spark Brand Photography