Overcome overwhelm by focusing on this...

It works almost instantly. For everybody. July 15, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but take a step." — Naeem Callaway Happy Monday, {NAME}! This is Michele Peterson, and I'm taking over The Writer's Life this week. 😎 I've been getting paid to enjoy the writer's life for 15 years now. Full time for the last 13. And recently, I've been helping fellow writers build their own successful writer's lives as an AWAI [Circle of Success]( Mentor. In fact, I've logged almost 300 official COS mentoring sessions so far! I'm not saying that to brag — although it's something I'm incredibly proud of … But rather to set the stage for why I know I can help you if you're feeling overwhelmed. For me, and for many of the writers I've mentored, overwhelm most often results from the sheer abundance of opportunities there are for us. All of them involve choices and knowing what steps to take next. - How can I possibly narrow down all the opportunities I see in the world around me and choose a single niche of clients to write for or projects to specialize in? - There are so many AWAI programs that sound interesting and valuable, how do I pick which ones to enroll in? - Of all the strategies for getting clients, which will work best for me? - Do I even want clients? Should I go the clientless route? - I landed a big project (YAY!), but now what? Where do I start? Feel familiar? If you're nodding your head "yes!," you're not alone. And I've found — through my own experience as well as from the hundreds of writers I've mentored — that the best way to overcome that feeling of overwhelm … No matter what's causing it … Is simply this: Focus on ONE next step at a time. Now, the tricky part is that the ONE best next step is different for all of us, depending on where we are in our writer's life journey. For some, it's going all in on one training program to improve our writing skills. For others, it's picking one ideal target market to focus our prospecting efforts on to land a paying client. For still others, it's deciding whether we even want to work with clients at all or prefer a clientless writer's life. What is it for you? What is your ONE next step? When you focus in on that single, strategic next step, you'll eliminate overwhelm. It's worked for me. It's worked for my writer friends. It's worked for all the COS members I've been privileged to mentor. And, it will work for you, too. (I promise J) So, I ask again … what is your ONE next step? And if you don't know exactly what it is, what is ONE thing you can do today to get closer to figuring it out? (By the way, that itself would be your one next step!) Looking for a suggestion? [Try this one …]( When in doubt, writing is always a good choice. 😉 And that one comes with a potential byline and paycheck — making it a GREAT choice! I'll be back tomorrow with a tip I share with my mentees to help them take the action their next steps require. But in the meantime, check out some of the useful tools and resources below, like today's Monday Morning Jumpstart on Focus! You might find them helpful in pursuing your ONE next step. Cheering you on! Michele Michele Peterson COS Mentor and Direct-Response Copywriter Inside this issue: - [Monday Morning Jumpstart: Focus]( - [Doing This One Thing Opens Doors to Industry Insiders]( - [7 Ways to Attract Quality Freelance Writing Clients — Inside AWAI]( - [Former Commercial Contractor Swaps 3-Hour Commute]( Monday Morning Jumpstart: Focus Are you focusing on learning one new skill at a time? Or is your time split between trying to learn multiple skills? In today's Monday Morning Jumpstart, AWAI Chief Success Officer Ted Capshaw and Director of Training Jade Trueblood talk about FOCUS, a formula that will help you achieve success faster and more easily. [Head over to today's Jumpstart now …]( New writers, listen up! I want to personally walk you through the exact formula and template I use to write content for AWAI, Copyblogger, Writer's Digest, and others … Use it and get paid as early as next week … Not just by AWAI but companies everywhere! [All the details here.]( Doing This One Thing Opens Doors to Industry Insiders By Sandy Franks Sometimes you just can't find the right words to describe to someone how good something is, especially when you know how much it can help that person out. When this happens, it's best to let other people say it for you. That's why I'm sharing this testimonial from AWAI member Tim Geiger. Tim just happens to be a member of AWAI's highest level of learning, Circle of Success (COS). And joining was a decision he says opened the doors to the right connections for him to advance his freelance writing career. Tim writes, "COS is one of the best investments I've ever made in my career and professional development — right up there at the top of the list with attending law school! I don't think anyone serious about a career as a copywriter can make a bad investment or go wrong with the investment in COS!! In addition to the guided learning and development, COS opens doors to industry connections and insiders who are invaluable to any aspiring or up-and-coming copywriter's success." Helping you connect with marketers who are looking for writers is just one way being a member of Circle of Success can advance your career. [Continue reading here.]( Turn $1 Into $2,500 as a Writer Using This Blueprint This blueprint will show you how you can start making $2,500 per month as a writer — even if you're just starting out. And if you decide to give it a shot, you'll gain access to every resource you'll need to execute that blueprint for just a dollar. All the roadmaps … All the articles … All the how-to videos … All the training webinars … The member forum, the job board, the tutorials, the tools … PLUS, three more valuable resources … It's all there — everything you need to get started making money as a writer. [Check it out for yourself for free right now.]( Inside AWAI Webinar and Q&A: 7 Ways to Find and Attract Quality Freelance Writing Clients You've got the skills needed to make a great living as a writer. You just need well-paying clients! Getting clients is often the one thing that holds writers back from achieving their writing and financial goals. And there are any number of reasons for it … Not knowing how the process works … Lack of confidence … No experience or samples … But none of that needs to hold you back. It's time to turn those writing skills into ongoing income, so you can achieve your version of the writer's life. [Continue reading here.]( Former Commercial Contractor Swaps 3-Hour Commute For 40 years, Curtis Dennis ran his own business in Southern California. The money was good, and the work was plentiful. But the commute was endless. [Read the rest of his story here.]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Content Writer – Peterson Technology Partners Full time, Chicago, IL Proofreading and editing content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to First student brand voice and style guidelines. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Beauty – Adecco Contractor, Remote Write content supporting the brand's monthly community and promotional priorities. Edit and proofread stories, including SEO optimization and enhancing diverse model imagery. --------------------------------------------------------------- Lead Copywriter – Jobs via eFinancialCareers Full time, Baltimore, MD Create and execute descriptive, concise and impactful copy for widely used digital products as well as the other communication touchpoints that surround those experiences. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2024 American Writers & Artists Institute Do you know of someone who would benefit from reading The Writer's Life? Simply direct them [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- American Writers & Artists Institute 220 George Bush Blvd, Suite D Delray Beach, FL 33444 Ensure your subscription delivery. 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