Accelerate your writing productivity

Get more done with tips, templates, and AI tools [The Writer’ s Life]( July 28, 2023 "Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort." – Paul J. Meyer Hi {NAME}, I'm always looking for ways to get more done in less time … You not only accomplish more … you also get to do more of what you WANT to do … Which is what the writer's life is all about, right? 😊 The most productive writers can write quickly, meaning they make more money, can take on other projects, or spend more time with family or friends. So today, AWAI Success Jen Phillips April shares some practical tips on how you can increase YOUR productivity and boost your output as a writer. You can start applying these ideas right away and see what a difference they can make in your writing business. Before I hand it over though, I have another thing for you that can improve your output in a big way … [These writing templates!]( We've taken 12 of the most-requested writing projects (the ones you'll most likely get asked to write) and turned each one into a handy template, along with a helpful how-to guide so you can write with confidence every single time. And today ONLY, you can get the bundle of all 12 of them for over 80% off! [Go here now to check out the full collection — and snag your savings.]( Just be sure to do it today — this Flash Sale ends at midnight. Hope you have a great weekend! Rebecca Matter President AWAI Start Getting Paid to Write! Get everything you need to start your paid writing career with access to roadmaps, training, and support … [Join Today — Only $249 $49]( Accelerate Your Productivity with Writing Templates By Jen Phillips April [male freelancer writing on laptop from template] Have you ever found yourself with a tough deadline to meet? Maybe it was an exam in school or a recent client project … You put your head down and got it done well in record time. It feels good when things come together, doesn't it?! Then there are the times when you think something will only take a couple of hours and … it takes longer … … sometimes a LOT longer. And when the time you've allocated eats into your other work time … well, it costs you money. Not to mention throwing off the rest of your schedule. The most productive writers can write quickly, meaning they make more money, can take on other projects, or spend more time with family or friends. Part of it is experience, yet another reason is they've found a way to make their work "templatized." They're not reinventing the wheel every day. When they put their fingers on the keyboard, they have a plan and can focus. Plan + Focus is a magical combination. Have you ever heard of Parkinson's Law? It's the idea that "work expands to fill the time allotted." Naval Historian C. Northcote Parkinson shared this observation back in the 1950s in The Economist. While he was talking about the British Civil Service at the time and the tendency of bureaucracy to find plenty of "tasks" for people, it holds true for us as writers. I don't know about you, but when I have a ton of deadlines and interviews, I'm a whole lot better at staying on task. But during slow times? It can take me DAYS to write a short article that normally takes three or four hours. And I know I'm not the only one. Every writer I know has a ton of "tricks" to get and stay focused. From a morning coffee ritual to specific playlists to outlines and templates, research shows repeated structures can help our brains get into the groove. The Benefits of Outlines and Templates Professional writers create repeatable ways of working so they can focus on doing their best work instead of drowning in possibilities. For example, take a typical blog post of around 1,000 words. I start with: - Working title - An idea of the ideal reader - What the reader already knows about the topic - Relevant Keyword terms - Relevant call-to-action (aka, what we'd like the reader to do next) - Relevant resources With all this in the blog brief, it's already taking shape, as you can see. I have some direction. But I don't have a template or outline yet, which will help even more. I've written thousands of blog posts, so I know the basic format: - Intro - Subhead - Subhead - Maybe another Subhead - Conclusion/Call-to-Action Listicles are even easier: - Intro - Subhead - Point 1 - Point 2 - Point 3 - Additional points - Conclusion/Call-to-Action I can type out those words if I'm having trouble getting started. As silly as it sounds, typing "Intro" as a placeholder is better than a blank page. Then, it's just a matter of filling in the blank spots. I'll google the topic, review the top posts, and notice how they're structured. What are their subheadings? What's their call-to-action? What questions do I have after reading these that I can answer in my article? Then, I might go to ChatGPT and ask it to create an outline for me based on specific criteria I'll give it. I can have ChatGPT crank out three to five different outlines by tweaking my parameters. Then, I can drop them all into a Word or Google doc and adapt them as necessary. It's all about getting something 'on paper.' Productive Freelance Writers Make More Money with Less Stress In 2012 when I started my freelance writing business, I mostly wrote web copy for small business owners. It was nerve-wracking every time. How did I write a homepage? What about Service pages? How should I present it? Would the client like it? It was a challenge. Back then, there were fewer templated resources for approaching the different types of web projects, and I created my own without realizing it. When I asked myself how I could work more efficiently, I had a major "a-ha" moment when I realized each specific writing project type had the same basic structure. Blog content had one structure, while Service pages had another. Essentially, I'd discovered the benefits of templates and created rudimentary ones for myself. I found myself stressing way less and writing better content faster. (If I'd discovered this months sooner, I would have felt more confident and made WAY more money back then.) Now I have templates for every type of web-writing project, which makes a huge difference. During a recent busy spell, I cranked out approximately eight posts a week without breaking a sweat. (Plus a few emails and other pieces of copy.) I can only work at such a pace because I have my "go-to" templates. Need to write a landing page? I whip open my Landing Page template, refresh my memory, and start typing ideas. Same with emails or case studies, or anything else I may write. I'm not the only one. Every copywriter I know has a Swipe File of templates they turn to for inspiration and to boost the 'ol brain juice. It's working smart. How You Can Build Your Own Library of Project Templates When you know you can turn to your library of project templates, you feel confident saying "yes" to an array of projects. If you've never written an email autoresponder and a client asks you to write a few, you can confidently say, "of course," because you know you have a proven template to start from. To start building your template library, I recommend choosing one type of web project at a time. For example, if you want to write more case studies, you can google "Best Case Study Examples." Read through them. How are they structured? Make notes on the commonalities. Are there recurring sections? How long are they? Include your notes in your template, and when you're next assigned a case study, you can open your template and have a starting point. Common Web Writing Projects It's worth having templates for the top web writing projects ([this is an excellent shortcut to create your library](). That way, you're prepared and can get to work making money instead of googling "How to" and "Good examples of" when the time comes. Here's a list of today's in-demand writing projects to start with: - Homepage copy - Email autoresponders - Search Engine Optimized (SEO) Content - Email Promotions - Pay-Per-Click Ads - Blog Posts - White Papers - Case Studies - Email Newsletters - Landing Pages - Social Media - Video Scripts Project templates make it so much easier to say "yes" to new writing opportunities with confidence. When you have the right tools to start, write, and dazzle your client, you'll make more money easier by being more productive. If you'd like to save a TON of time in building a solid template resource library, you can grab [AWAI's template bundle](. These are 12 templates of the most in-demand web writing projects. Homepage copy … social media … emails … video scripts … and much more. These templates give you the structure you need to write faster, with more confidence, and accelerate your writing career. The [complete set of templates for the most in-demand writing projects]( is on sale right now — grab your set before midnight! What's Hot at AWAI … 👉 TODAY ONLY: [Grab our most popular writing templates at over 80% off!]( 😄 [The importance of starting small.]( 💰 [Use project templates to grow your writing business — and your income — faster.]( ☀️ [Daily morning routine success practices for writers.]( 🤩 [Copywriter designs life as digital nomad.]( 🔥 Unlocking the AI Revolution. Mari Smith, "The Queen of Facebook," offers a sneak peek about her upcoming Bootcamp appearance. In this preview, Mari talks AI … and why she thinks it's one of the most interesting things happening in social media right now. [Watch it here.]( Ex-College Student Thrives as Full-Time Writer, Earns $5,000 Paycheck and 10K Scholarship, All Thanks to First-Ever Bootcamp! Lynelle Suan's journey as a copywriter began as a side gig while she studied entrepreneurship as a 19-year-old student. Eager to seize every opportunity, she celebrated her 20th birthday by joining [AWAI's world-renowned Bootcamp]( virtually from her home in the Philippines. With AWAI as the missing link in her copywriting journey, Lynelle dove headfirst into AWAI's active and encouraging community, soaking up knowledge like a sponge. Her success has been extraordinary! That same year, Lynelle surpassed the average annual income in the Philippines in just eight months, out-earning engineers and physicians — all without a college degree. [Watch Lynelle tell her story in the video here]( as she illustrates the transformative power of pursuing your passion, defying norms, and embracing opportunities. And if you're not yet signed up for this year's Bootcamp, don't miss your chance to grab a seat. [You'll find all the details here!]( Have your own story to share? 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 all the details here.]( Full Access for Just $1!!! This free blueprint shows you how to make $2,500 to $8,000 a month as a writer. And for just a buck, you'll gain access to every resource you'll need to execute that blueprint. 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 … All of it! [Check It Out Now]( Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Marketing + Local Store Marketing Specialist — Recipe Unlimited Corporation Full-time, New York, NY The Specialist will be involved in all aspects of marketing the brand with an emphasis on local store marketing as well as developing and managing NYF's U.S. digital and social presence. --------------------------------------------------------------- Brand Copywriter — Modern Marketing & Commerce Full-time, Remote Collaborate with Sr. Art Director, account management, and the digital team to understand the client's business and program deliverables and interpret those into brand messaging, headlines, body copy, and call-to-actions. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sr. Digital Copywriter (Journalistic, Relocation Assistance) — Onward Search Full-time, Remote You will share your work with relevant team members and with stakeholders to gather feedback, edit, and improve so each piece is ready to go live. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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](.