11 writers secrets learned over 10 years

lessons to shorten your learning curve… and give you some insight and peace of mind about pursuing a well-paid writing career. [The Writer’ s Life]( December 3, 2021 Hi {NAME}, I love learning from people with loads of experience … Whether it's improving my writing, getting an insight on how to approach a project, or learning something new (like my current obsession – tennis) … Moving faster by leveraging their expertise always gives me a thrill. In her 10 years as Executive Editor of our popular Barefoot Writer Magazine (issue #124 drops today!), Mindy McHorse has had the luxury of learning from literally the best writers on the planet … As well as hundreds of AWAI members who have been profiled as success stories. She's here today to share what she's learned during that time, and offer suggestions for how to leverage those insights to build the writing career you want. But before I hand it over to Mindy … Just a quick reminder that today is your LAST CHANCE to join the Barefoot Writer Club and learn directly from Mindy in her upcoming LIVE training on the five BEST writing projects for beginners. This is a powerful, two-hour training on what projects you might want to start out with … how to get good at them FAST … where to find clients … what these clients are expecting … and so much more. It's a rare opportunity to not only learn what the best projects are for someone who's starting out … … but to learn directly from those who are working right now and are responsible for hiring writers and reviewing their assignments! Again — you get to attend this live event for FREE when you join The Barefoot Writer Club today. [Click here now to get in.]( To your success, [Rebecca Matter’ s signature] Rebecca Matter President, AWAI Writer Secrets Learned Over 10 Years of Life with Barefoot Writer By Mindy McHorse [Barefoot Writer Mindy McHorse playing with two dogs] Barefoot Writer Executive Editor Mindy McHorse with very happy furry friends! Hey, will you sit with me a minute? This month, I'm celebrating 10 years of working as the Executive Editor of Barefoot Writer. And I've learned some crazy things in those 10 years … Some good things. Some unexpected. Today, I want to share those lessons with you as we turn the page toward the New Year. Hopefully they'll shorten your learning curve … and give you some insight and peace of mind about this writing career you're pursuing. After interviewing over 350 working writers, editing over 530 pieces of editorial, gathering answers to 240 of our members most-pressing questions, connecting with thousands of new writers, and eating 120 pies along the way (it's what I do on publication day) … Here's what I know for sure: - That talent can be created. I thought I knew a few things about writing when I first started. But I didn't, really. I've learned it all along the way. The same is true for every writer I've worked with. We're all constantly learning, growing, and improving. Nobody's born with natural copywriting chops. - That persistence and a positive attitude win the day. This isn't a me-me-me industry. It's a try-try-again kind of world, where daily effort and a sunny outlook can get you further than any attempt at short-cutting or fast-tracking. - That most all freelancing stresses can be resolved with a walk in the sunshine. From missed deadlines to files that won't download to not knowing which next step to take, most of our writing woes exist in our heads. So give your head a break. Take a walk. Call a friend. And then tackle the problem with renewed perspective. - That millionaires are normal people. They shop at Target. Have technical trouble on Zoom. And also love writing. - That best-selling authors are normal people. They struggle with weight issues and temperamental teenagers. They've learned how to apply discipline to their professional goals. And also, they love writing. - That genius gurus and mentors are, you guessed it, just normal people. They just maybe have a knack for speaking to large groups, or coaching, or coaxing. But get them to sit down at a table with you in the back of a coffee shop and you'll discover that in fact, they still get nervous, still have doubts, and can't find enough hours in the day to do everything they want. - That it's okay to fret that you've failed. I've gotten countless emails from writers worrying they've botched their futures for one reason or another. I'm happy to point out the silver linings, because they're always there. There's always a lesson, and most worries aren't nearly as big as you initially make them out to be. I did this just yesterday and opened up to a client. She listened, showed me what's going right, then shut down the shame with, "now get back to work." - That we are outliers. It's tragically not normal to have as much freedom as we writers do, coupled with the ability to make as much money as we can, all while actually enjoying the work. Nobody else will ever fully get it, except maybe your spouse when he sees the checks rolling in and knows that on top of that, you rarely work a full day and have a blast on every project. "You're not normal," he'll say, shaking his head in disbelief for the seven-hundredth time. But he's happy because you're happy and also, those checks. - That money doesn't have to change you. Through the course of my writing career, I've gone from holding debts to holding investments. I've seen writers I started with go from average to millionaire status. Yet at the core, we're all the same. Happy to be doing something we love and making a living at it. - That this world of writing opportunity isn't going away — it's getting bigger. I used to jump to report on this type of gig or that, worried that if we didn't unveil it soon, it might go away. But you know what? No writing opportunity every really goes away. Maybe it evolves. Maybe it's harder to see because of the dozen new types of writing projects that surface each year. But one thing's for sure: The paid writing world is an ever-expanding phenomenon. Thank you, internet. - That working with excellent people can make you a better writer and smarter businessperson. Our longtime magazine designer, Mike Klassen, is a font of wisdom and kindness. Copyeditors Nan Hughes and Laurel Robinson have taught me volumes by way of appreciating details, not to mention the occasional corny grammar joke. But my work with new writers — some in the midst of their very first projects — has also been enlightening. Each of you comes to the table with a unique viewpoint and particular way of telling your tales. You don't have to be experienced or paid to be a giver in this business. Just be yourself. That's already enough. The last decade of working with copywriters and working as a copywriter has, for me, proven to be a long-term, full-satisfaction lifestyle career. At the beginning, I just wanted to write. What fun! And get paid to boot? Count me in! Now, though … It's become a means to helping the people I care most about to achieve their own dreams. It's a door into a world of fantastic colleagues and clients who refuse to settle for a template-lifestyle, who inspire me with their energy, ideas, and actionability. It's the guarantee of no regrets on my deathbed. I've gone after my dream. I'm doing something I love. I didn't settle. And nobody is making me trade work time and income for family time and experiences. I call those shots. You can, too. This writing career is also the reason I don't speak up at dinner parties when everyone else starts grumping about their jobs and griping about their pay. I advise you to follow my lead. Sit quietly in your seat, nod to show you're listening, and stick a well-placed "Mm-hmm" into the conversation every now and again. Then tactfully change the subject to the weather. :) Do you have any questions about how to get started with your writer's life? [Share with us in the comments]( so we can point you to more resources. Editorial Note: We have all the resources you need to build a career that grows and changes with you — all in one convenient location. As an Infinity member, you'll have lifetime access to AWAI's entire library of home study and business-building resources … For a tiny fraction of what you might pay on a one-off basis. That includes everything we've already published over the last 24 years … AND everything we publish in the future! You'll have the information you need to tackle ANY project with confidence. [Check out this incredible "value deal" now — it's your LAST CHANCE before enrollment closes at midnight.]( CLOSING: Now Accepting New Writers Get accepted into the Barefoot Writer Club by MIDNIGHT tonight to claim your "Getting Started" writing gifts, worth $313 – FREE! You're a good fit for the Barefoot Writer Club if … 
 - You enjoy writing.
 - You want to make great money doing it.
 - You crave freedom to do the things you want to do.
 - You want control over what you write about and who you write for. But hurry … You only have until midnight tonight! [Get accepted here.]( ✨ Are You Ready for 12/6/2021? ✨ Here at AWAI we've been head down, working on something huge for you behind the scenes … It will absolutely TRANSFORM how you build, grow, and scale your writing business. We expect hundreds (or even thousands) of writers to go on and live the life they want, thanks to this. We're pulling back the curtain and revealing what it is in just a few days. Mark your calendar for December 6, 2021 … and stay tuned! [Watch this video for more info.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2021 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 (561) 278-5557 or (866) 879-2924 Ensure your subscription delivery. AWAI Whitelisting info available [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to this newsletter as {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe from any future issues of The Writer's Life, please click here: [Unsubscribe from The Writer's Life](. To unsubscribe from all AWAI broadcasts click here. [I want to permanently unsubscribe from all AWAI emails](.