Writers — you HAVE to do this...

You gotta say when. July 16, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "The secret to getting ahead is getting started." — Mark Twain Hi {NAME}! Do you know the story about the five frogs sitting on a log on a sunny riverbank? They were sitting there, having a good time and enjoying the warmth of the sun. But as time went on, it started to get uncomfortable. They got hot sitting there in the sun. And they thought the shady side of the river looked like a better place to be. So three of them decided they'd jump into the water, swim across the river, and see if the other side was, in fact, a better place to be. Now, before we go further into the story, and to make sure you're paying attention … how many frogs are still on the log in the hot sun? If you're like most people, your answer is two. But that's not the right answer. In fact, all five of the frogs are still on the log. Because they only decided to take action … They didn't say when they'd do it. You, too, may have decided on your one strategic next step that will move you forward in your writer's life. But as we see with our frogs, deciding to do something isn't enough. You have to also say when you're going to do it … You have to give yourself a deadline. This is something I've seen to be true over and over again: Deadlines are for doers. Doers give themselves deadlines. They commit to taking action, and they schedule their next steps so that they meet both their external and internal deadlines. Depending on the complexity of your action step, your deadline may be in the next hour, by the end of the day, next week, or even next month. The frogs in our story could have given themselves a deadline of just a few minutes. The important thing is what the deadline represents … It is your commitment to following through on your decision to take action. The writers I've mentored are familiar with this concept. I rarely let a Mentor Call end without getting them to tell me a realistic deadline for the action they've committed to taking. It's something I do myself, which I learned from Tony Robbins. He teaches, "Never leave the scene of a decision without first taking a specific action toward its realization." Giving yourself a deadline for your next step IS taking a specific action. It is doing something to keep you moving forward. So, today, I ask you this … When will you take the action you've decided on? Commit to a realistic deadline and schedule it into your calendar. In fact, why not go ahead and do it now, while you're thinking about it? If you're looking to move forward with your writing, [this will make scheduling your next deadline easy …]( It's all baked into the training, along with a chance at a byline and a paycheck!! [Check it out (and add it to your calendar).]( 😉 Be sure to check back in tomorrow, when I'll help you strengthen your commitment to taking action and meeting that deadline you just set for yourself. Until then, I've curated some additional resources you might find helpful below. Cheering you on! Michele Michele Peterson COS Mentor and Direct-Response Copywriter P.S. Just like the frogs, you aren't stuck where you are. You are a decision … a deadline … away from taking the action required to get you where you want to be. Make the decision, then take the action. Inside this issue: - [How One Decision Changes Your Writing Career Opportunities]( - [6 (Almost) Foolproof Strategies for Meeting Deadlines]( - [One Decision Helped This Member Build a Six-Figure Writing Career]( How One Decision Changes Your Writing Career Opportunities By Sandy Franks His dream job was being a cartoonist. So in 1947, Ed McLean moved from New Orleans to New York. But finding his dream job wasn't easy. In fact, Ed wound up taking whatever jobs he could find just to put food on the table, including one that gave him enough free time to work on his art. One day while walking to one of his day jobs, a dog bit Ed on the ankle. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the same thing happened again two weeks later. Ed had had enough — and he decided he needed to change direction. So he took a job as a writer for the Radio Advertising Bureau and Sky Publishing (a publisher of True Detective magazines). And in 1959, McLean wangled himself an interview at Newsweek. He stretched the truth when he told the interviewer he had been a reporter in New Orleans. [Continue reading here.]( LIVE 2-HOUR WORKSHOP — Get Published, Get Paid! I want to personally help you get into the paid-writing game NOW! I've set aside two hours to help YOU get your first byline AND your first paycheck as a professional writer. I'll share everything I know about writing the kinds of articles we here at AWAI (and thousands of other companies doing digital marketing) pay for and publish. Then, you'll take what I show you and write an article for AWAI. My marketing team and I will review ALL submissions. If we like what we see, we'll PUBLISH your article AND pay you for it. And there's no limit to the number of articles we'll choose. So if you're ready to get your first "win" under your belt … [Let me show you how to do it.]( 6 (Almost) Foolproof Strategies for Meeting Deadlines By Tim Geiger Napoleon Hill, the legendary father of productivity and personal leadership, said, "A goal is a dream with a deadline." I remind myself of this any time I have a project with a deadline attached to it. I have to, because when someone says anything about a deadline, my inner procrastinator's instinct is to rebel and try to negotiate a later deadline (yes, even before starting on the project). Fortunately, the professional in me activates the filter between my brain and my mouth and reminds me of another gem about deadlines attributed to Robert Herjavec, from ABC's Shark Tank. He said, "A goal without a deadline is just a dream." These two quotes really work well together … don't you think? In any event, those words shift me into productivity mode and remind me that while deadlines can be stressful, I can achieve a whole lot more with deadlines than without them. There's a reason deadlines are important: Deadlines focus the mind. Without them, it's easy to lose track of time, give in to domestic and work distractions, and wander down any of the myriad rabbit holes offered by the internet. Over the years, I've found six strategies that help me keep on track and meet deadlines … [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.]( One Decision Helped This Member Build a Six-Figure Writing Career By Sandy Franks At first glance, you could say it was a matter of coincidence. Or maybe just luck? But the more stories we hear from AWAI members, the clearer it is that their success has nothing to do with luck or coincidence. In fact, it comes down to making a few deliberate decisions, which have a profound impact on their freelance writing careers. Take AWAI member Jessica McKay. She was struggling for almost eight years to make her inspirational coaching business a moneymaker. She was writing daily emails to her clients, but it wasn't paying off, at least not in terms of letting her lead her ideal writer's life. But one day, by asking one simple question, Jessica's freelance writing career changed dramatically. Just 24 hours later, she landed her first paid writing project. [Continue reading here.]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Copywriter – Artisan Talent Contractor, Chicago, IL Develop content for Paid Media (SM, FB, LI), Sales Enablement Sell Sheets, Long-Form Sell Reports, banners (publications & websites), eBlasts and Case Studies. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Oak Street Health Full time, Chicago, IL Collaborate with the Senior Creative Director and designers to conceptualize and execute ideas across all channels. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Rooms To Go Full time, Atlanta, GA Writes creative, clear, concise, and brand-right web copy. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. 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