The book inside you (and the 4 F’s!)

What’s the reason you want to write it? [The Writer’ s Life]( June 23, 2023 "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." — Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain Happy National Typewriter Day, {NAME}! In his autobiography, Mark Twain wrote that his first novel written on a typewriter — the first typewritten novel at all — was Tom Sawyer. He reminisced that in 1875, he wrote in a letter to the Remington company that he was no longer using his typewriter; it corrupts his morals because it makes him want to swear. He gave the infernal machine away, twice. It returned to him each time. Twain's last work was that autobiography. He devoted the last decade of his life to it, leaving behind 5,000 unedited pages of memoirs, together with notes saying he did not want them to hit bookshops for at least a century. So, as he wished, the first volume of 736 pages was published by the University of California Press, 100 years after his death. The eventual trilogy was almost 2,300 pages long — that's quite a memoir and legacy to leave behind! I once asked AWAI writers if they wanted to write a book … and if so, why … My assumption was money. After all, that's why most writers come to AWAI in the first place. So, I also assumed the conversation would simply move to the copywriting opportunity … and the 80+ ways they could make great money with it. But while money was part of the reason for many, it wasn't the only one. What about you, {NAME}? Is there a book inside you? There's definitely one (or five) in me! 😊 So today, Barefoot Writer Managing Editor, Mindy McHorse, takes a deeper look at four reasons why you might want to write a book. By understanding your motivation and ultimate goal, you'll take a big step toward getting that book underway. It's a goal many of our members have in common. There's a book inside of them … and they want to get it out! If that's you, we've asked award-winning author Donna Baier Stein to help out … She's created a comprehensive step-by-step program for AWAI to help you get your first-ever story, novel, or memoir written. The program has everything you need to know — from where to get ideas … to editing your story … even getting it published. [And today, you get to grab it at a massive discount here.]( AND to motivate you to get it done once and for all this year … When you're done writing your book, let us know. We'll celebrate your success by promoting it to over 250,000 AWAI members! Now all you need to do is write the book … So, let's take that first step … [Wouldn't this weekend be the ideal time to finally get started?]( Now, over to you, Mindy! Rebecca Matter President AWAI Now Accepting New Members Ready to claim the ultimate "YES" writing career? - Yes! Take charge of your projects. (Goodbye, bosses!) - Yes! Schedule your day as you see fit. - Yes! Work from the comfort of home. - Yes! Give yourself a raise every month. - Yes! Take a vacation whenever you please. - Yes! Be there for the moments that matter. Thousands of others have already done it. Now it's your turn. [Claim Your Freedom Now]( The Book Inside You (and the 4 F's!) By Mindy McHorse [author drafting a novel on vintage typewriter] If you and I and all the other readers of this newsletter were sitting in a room together, and I asked, "How many of you want to write a book?" Tens of thousands of hands would shoot up — mine included. Because writing a book is like the holy grail of life as a writer. It's what writers do. It's what most non-book-writing writers aspire to do. Right? But have you ever stopped to consider why you want to write a book? It's an important question … Because if you take the time to articulate your reason for achieving a big goal, you're much more likely to succeed at that goal. It also puts distance between goals you feel obligated to achieve versus goals you're deeply driven to achieve. That's why I want to share the four most common reasons writers write books. Use this list to pinpoint your own driving reason for writing your book. Because once you've defined it, your reason why will serve as powerful motivation to help you follow through on your goal. Here they are — the "4-Fs" behind wanting to write a book: Reason #1: FAME Life as an author means instant recognition, both from the writing and reading community. Depending on how your book does, it could mean recognition from the world at large. It's the ultimate approach to building clout as a creative person. It's also an established way to let others know you can take on something big and follow it through. It elevates you from average to expert and from ordinary to exceptional. Above all, it offers instant proof of your ability to write — even if you're talking to someone who's never read your book. Just imagine being on the receiving end of this conversation … "Oh, you write for a living? Have you written any books? Really? Wow. Impressive … " Reason #2: FORTUNE Not everyone who writes a book will get rich … but a lot of people who write books make money. And if you're skilled as a persuasive writer and know the basics of copywriting, you can really elevate your earnings. So it's worth acknowledging that books can pay the bills. Writing a book can bring you a passive income stream. It can make it possible to leave your full-time job, pad your retirement account, or save up for something big. And that's important. After all, money buys freedom. A steady income can help you take control of your life. It's a way to purchase your independence. Reason #3: FAMILY Maybe your ultimate goal as an author is to build a legacy. Maybe you want your story to live on long after you've left this earth, or you want people you love to have something to remember you by. Perhaps you want to write a book with someone close to you, so you create a memory together. Or do you want to leave those memories to be tended by future generations of your family? And whether you want to tell your own story … share the captivating tales of your ancestors … or simply spread a message dear to your heart … The overarching goal is to mentor, impact others, and give your life a sense of completion. After all, nobody else on this earth will ever experience the life stories you've experienced, which makes your message captivatingly unique. Reason #4: FIRE If stories constantly play out in your head … If voices hash out a conversation in the background of your thoughts … If you want to provoke a certain feeling in others, be it inspiration or thrills or appreciation or resolution … If you tremble with the thrill of creating new worlds … If you'd like to change the current world through the art of your words … And if you feel empty at the thought of not writing a book … Then you, my friend, are fueled by fire. It's this fire that compels you to write a book, to the point where you must write a book for your own peace of mind. It ties you to craving that elusive sense of accomplishment as a published author, knowing you've helped others in some way through the power of your words, and that you've entertained, or made somebody laugh, or helped the world grow smarter or safer or healthier or happier thanks to what you put on the page. Which Is It for You? Given those four motivations … which is your driving reason for writing a book? Or is it a combination of the four? Or even all of them? Read through this list a couple of times till you really feel clear on your big reason why. Just make sure it's your reason for writing your book, not the reasons someone else thinks you should do it. And remember, being clear with your goals is the only way to reach them. In this case, it's one of the most important steps forward in your journey to life as a wildly successful and satisfied author. So why DO you want to write a book? Legacy? Money? Something else? No judgments … just a push forward. Whatever your motivation, there's no better time to get started than now. If there's a book in you, we'd like to help you write and publish it. [Click here to learn more.]( What's Hot at AWAI … 👉 FLASH SALE: [Write Your First Novel or Memoir Now program for just $497 $97!]( 😬 [How to face your insecurities as a writer.]( 💰 [Write a book for satisfaction AND profit.]( 😨 [Don't let this four-letter word stand in your way.]( 💻 [How writing fiction makes you a better copywriter.]( 🙌 Check out the all-star lineup of powerhouse speakers set for AWAI's 2023 Copywriting Success & Getting Clients Bootcamp [here](! Congratulations to a first book author! [Social media post about getting a book published] Yay is right, Melanie! 🎉 We're really excited for you! That's an amazing accomplishment. Let us know when your book is published, so we can celebrate that milestone too. If you've got a book inside you that's waiting to come out … it's time you shared your story. [Here's how you get started …]( Have your own success or milestone to share? We want to hear it! Email us at mysuccess@awai.com, or [post it over in the Facebook group](, so we can celebrate your win too! Attend the Copywriting Event of the Year! Your Bootcamp registration includes THREE FULL DAYS of learning what's working today from the most in-demand experts in the industry … Getting firsthand insights that will give you clarity and direction on how to build your business … Making connections with people who can help you grow and succeed … And having a ton of fun!! PLUS, you'll get FREE admission to our post-Bootcamp event: FastTrack to Copywriting Clients! [Get The Details Here]( Get $419 Toward AWAI Programs and Events This special "loophole" lets you start building free Alliance Dollars you can spend on any AWAI program or event you like. Best of all, the longer you participate, the more free money you'll earn to put toward advancing your career! [Check this out …]( Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Copywriter and Storyteller — Crowe Full-time, Grand Rapids, MI We're looking for a Copywriter to work in our design lab. You are driven to communicate and tell stories in a way that touches your audience on an emotional level. You are mission-driven and enjoy working with a team to further that mission. --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Content Copywriter — FinMe Full-time, Remote (UK) As our first copywriter, you will have the opportunity to help shape the tone of voice for our product and brand across all platforms and materials, leading our user's journey and exploring the diverse aspects of Real Estate endeavors in the U.S. market. --------------------------------------------------------------- Content Writer — Allegis Group Full-time, Remote (U.S.) Responsible for fulfilling content requirements and creating all content strategy deliverables, including content approach documents, writing, editing, proofreading, and developing nomenclature, tone, and voice guidelines. Plays a role in defining content standards, content quality, and processes that align with best practices. Beyond writing and editing responsibilities, the Content Strategist will play a critical role in defining content categories, taxonomy, and workflows within the enterprise content management system. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2023 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. 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