What Is The Southern Copywriter blog?

A reintroduction.

MJ Polk

May 31, 2026

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I think it’s time I introduced myself properly: I’m MJ Polk, The Southern Copywriter. 🤠🤙

This is my blog. The Southern Copywriter blog serves as my catch-all — it’s the home of my personal creative journey. Any y’all are invited to come along for the ride!🚀

I write and publish a pretty eclectic mix of prose here on my blog. There’s lots of Fiction, and even more Personal Essays. You’ll even find some proper articles, if you dive deep enough. I consider myself a student of philosophy, so my essays will often have an underlying theme inspired by my attempt to work through difficulties using insights from the greatest thinkers of all time. This blog is my Light✨.

I will use this platform to be a Light of Positivity✨

“We all are part of the human community and have the responsibility to benefit that community. We should take a more active role in helping society by employing whatever talents and abilities we possess to help others. For if the human community is happy and at peace, we all benefit.” -Bhiksu Tenzin Gyatso

Oh and The Southern Copywriter blog isn’t my only publication or website. I’m also involved with two community publications.

At Stories from the Jukebox, each week myself and the Jukebox Writing Group tackle a writing prompt inspired by one of the greatest songs of all time! Are you a writer looking for rock’n write’n prompt? Join us. Musical and Visual artists are invited too!
The Southern Writers Guild is a place where the South comes alive! SWG was founded by myself, and two amazing writers, Gray & primalbeet. And it’s a deliberate assembly of stubborn scribes, poets, novelists, essayists, playwrights, and songwriters — who stake our claim on the American South. Are you interested in joining the SWG? Subscribe today, invites and submission info will be forthcoming. Oh yeah, it’s also the home of my pseudonym, Hank Cotton.

I’ve published my first book!

The Ugly Duckling, by Hank Cotton, is available for purchase on Amazon Now!

Hank Cotton, a Hotshot Truck Driver, doesn’t know that he’s picked up an unlikely passenger.

In this, his debut story—our hero Hank Cotton, is tasked with getting not only a travel trailer from Indiana to Florida; but also Jenny Deal, a thirteen year old runaway that’s been kidnapped and forced to perform as a sex worker.

Will Hank be able to out run her pimp, and out smart the crooked Alabama lawmen looking to stop him?

Find out how Jenny got in this mess—whether Brooke, Hank’s wife will understand why he’s got an underage sex worker with him, and whether Hank is able to get his cargo delivered safely in this novelette length story titled, The Ugly Duckling.

Purchase Book

Read & Listen on Substack!

Wow, I’ve been busy haven’t I? I guess it’s hard to see our accomplishments when we’re in the midst of them. Now that I look back at all that, I must say it’s pretty impressive. All of this started, because I wanted to be an example to my daughters — to show them that it’s okay to pursue your dreams. And I certainly don’t think anyone can say I’m not living the example.

Since this an introduction, I’m going to briefly work my way present from the time before — when life got turned upsidedown. You see, this is Part Two of the story of MJ Polk. The man who types this today, is not the man of just one decade ago. Back in 2018, everything I thought I knew about the world changed.

The time before is how I refer to what now seems almost a fictional existence. I was living the life many people dream of. I was a successful business owner, tied to an up and coming family name. My Sweetheart and I were members of the most prestigious clubs, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you what my monthly charge account bill ran at the Country Club. But all of that was a sham. What appeared to be a successful lifestyle from the outside, was crumbling from within. Ignorance and misplaced priorities, combined with an ample supply to drugs and money, proved to be a deadly combination.

With a marriage and a business failing and a faith that couldn’t stand up to the test, I turned to death. Only, I couldn’t do it. And I still don’t know if my running away to Mexico to die was the truth, or if I was running towards some sort of new life. Either way, it was that journey that saved me. There was a point, when the mission changed. It became a mission of survival, not of me seeking a way out.

Eventually I learned that my marriage wasn’t over, my Sweetheart still loved me. She never gave up on me. Somehow she was able to find me. And when she did, she never let go of me again. She came to Mexico and brought me back home.

But something happened to me on that trip that changed the trajectory of not only my life, but of everyone one of yours too. I discovered literature.

A simple statement to an expat friend, “Dude, I can’t read,” prompted him to call that nonsense — then gift me his copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. And boy was he right! I devoured the book. Tried to give it back to him two days later, but he wouldn’t take it back. I still have it, and it’s one of my most treasures possessions.

I’d also started journaling, though I didn’t really think about it like that. I was just writing down my thoughts. And I’ve just realized that this is also the first time I’d ever considered, Self, as someone I wanted to be friends with. Something I’m still learning to do.

That first journal? It’s the foundation for the character Hank Cotton. And it’s the basis of his novel, which I expect will be done in 2028. And maybe released in 2030? But I’m getting ahead of myself.

When my Sweetheart got me back to the USA, I didn’t plan on staying. I’d started driving professionally, and we were going to spend the off-season in Mexico. All the money is made in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. So we were going to spend Winter in my new favorite country. We actually kept an apartment in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, until Covid forced us to let it go.

And for the next few years, that’s how I spent my time. Traveling around the USA and Canada as a Hotshot Trucker. All the while I was reading everything I could get my hands on. I especially love the classic American writers like Hemingway, Kerouac, and Thompson. And I was writing too! I’d somehow managed to stumble headfirst into my passion, my calling. Writing quickly became all I wanted to do.

This is when, unbeknown to her, my middle child prompted me to go after my dream of being a published author. She was twenty-one, and back at home trying to figure out her next step in life. And I was trying to convince her to forget about norms, and follow her heart. But I realized, that I was not doing the very thing that I was telling her to do. So I took the first step towards realizing my dream as a published author, and enrolled in the closest university program that offered a Creative Writing curriculum.

The time since then has been a whirlwind of steps and accomplishments. From graduating Valdosta State University with a Certificate in Creative Writing, to publishing my first novelette, along with hundreds of other stories, essays, and articles. I’ve quit driving over the road, in favor of a local part time job that allows me to focus more on my writing career. I introduce myself now as a Writer.

I am, MJ Polk, author and Copywriter. It’s a pleasure to meet you. 🙏 Welcome to my blog. Happy Reading! 🤠🤙

“Unlike other copy-writers that may be on this platform, I will not be posting tons of content hyping up ‘what I can do for you’.”

I’ll continue to let my Creative Writing speak for me. It clearly shows what I am capable of. And if I can be of service to you in anyway, please don’t hesitate to message me.

My Editing Services include:

Substack Consultant Services
Proofreading
Copy-editing
Developmental-editing
Newspaper to Substack Editing & Consultant Services

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it and clicking that ❤ button, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Oh and if you’re an email reader, just hit reply — I want to hear from you too!