Make money writng — without writing?!?

You’ll be the behind-the-scene hero… [The Writer’ s Life]( September 20, 2023 "Editing feels almost like sculpting or a form of continuing the writing process." – Sydney Pollack Hi {NAME}, Did the typo in the subject line make you twitch? 🙂 If so, it might mean opportunity for you! You see, you may know there are many paths to the writer's life … Short copy … like emails, social media posts, or blog posts … Long-form copy … like sales letters with royalties to boot … And several options in-between … But one path doesn't involve the pressure of original writing. There's never a blank page … No writer's block … And no quest for the perfect Big Idea. Instead … You can make money writing … WITHOUT writing!! I know it sounds odd … But when it comes to this incredibly valuable role, the majority of your time is actually spent reading, commenting, and editing. As you get more comfortable, you can certainly add in your own words … AND make more money as a result. But when you're just starting out as a copyeditor, your primary goal is to make what you're reading even better. That's right … Contrary to common misconceptions, copyediting is not simply proofing for typos and grammar … that's a proofreader's job. Copyediting is about taking good copy and pushing it the last few steps across the finish line to make it clear, concise, and as effective as possible … You're in the improvement role … Much like an interior designer helps the architect push a well-built house into something potential homeowners want to buy. So today, I've asked an amazing copyeditor, Kathryn Aragon to take you inside the opportunity to see what copyediting is really all about. If you're looking to make money sooner rather than later … Or have been stalling on jumping in as a writer for any reason … [I highly recommend you check out copyediting as a way forward toward your writer's life.]( You'll simply use the fundamentals of copywriting to elevate copy and content that has already been written … Allowing you to make great money in this industry, get hands-on experience working with copy, and make great connections for your own future writing endeavors, all at the same time. Today you can [grab our self-paced copyediting program]( at a massive discount … And get everything you need to become the "secret weapon" behind successful copy and content. [Get all the details here.]( To your success, Rebecca Matter President AWAI FLASH SALE: Get Everything for $1 Everything you need to make $2,500 to $8,000 (or more) a month as a writer is in the Digital Copywriter membership site … And you can get FULL ACCESS for just a dollar! You'll get roadmaps … tutorials … how-to videos … job board access … an active member forum … the training webinars … All for $1. If you want to make good money as a writer, this is where you'll do it. [Get it all now for $1!]( How to Monetize Your Writing Skills (Without Writing a Word) By Kathryn Aragon [freelance copyeditor working on laptop at desk] As writers, we're constantly looking for new and exciting writing projects. But there's another way to monetize your writing skills that's both fun and rewarding — and that is to become a copyeditor. And if you want to take your writing to the next level, copyediting will actually help you become a better writer. Let's take a look at the copyeditor's job and how you can add this valuable skill to your writer's tool belt. Copyediting Definition Copyediting is the craft of revising any writing project to improve its value, readability, and style. Now, that may bring up visions (nightmares?) of your high school English teacher pouring red ink over your essays. Thankfully, that's not what copyediting is about. As a copyeditor, you're a partner to the writer, helping them express themselves more effectively. You're also a partner to the business or publisher, ensuring the project will resonate with their audience and achieve their business goals. But you may be asking yourself, Is editing really necessary? The answer is Yes! Let's take a look. The Importance of Copyediting Every writer, no matter how skilled, needs an editor. You. Me. Even Stephen King. Writing is the act of crafting the message. Editing clarifies and amplifies the message, so the work can achieve its goals. Notice that word, goals. Beautifully written words are meaningless if they don't connect with the reader and achieve their intended goal. That's why editors evaluate every project through several lenses. "A good editor is someone who cares a little less about the author's needs than the reader's," says Dene October, author of Marco Polo and Enchanting David Bowie. And he's right. A good editor reads a project from the perspective of the reader. They see where the writer became a bit too focused on their words, or lost their train of thought, or muddied the waters by getting things out of order. As editor, you bring the message forward. You clarify it and polish it and make it shine. A good editor also reads a project from the perspective of the business or publisher. They understand its purpose and make sure it can drive those outcomes. Looking at it like this, copyeditors are mediators. They aim for a win-win-win, bridging the gaps between the writer, the reader, and the publisher. The Copyediting Job The copyeditor is an essential part of the writing process. Once the writer submits their work, the editor reviews it and prepares it for the next phase of the project — often, publication. That may involve marking up the writing, asking the writer to add sections, moving things around, and even a bit of writing or research. The editor checks for plagiarism and verifies that all quotes and proof elements are properly cited. They also make sure the project is well organized and easy to read. That means making sure the work has a logical flow, with no confusing tangents or gaps. Generally, 10% of a project's words can be trimmed — and never missed. The challenge, of course, is knowing which words can be cut. (Hint: Think adverbs, adjectives, articles, and phrases that don't really say anything.) As Truman Capote said, "I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil." The copyeditor's job is to identify the unnecessary bits and gaps, and work with the writer to fix those issues. What's Required to Succeed You don't have to be the best writer to be a great editor. In fact, the most important skill for copyediting success isn't grammar. It's critical thinking. You need to be able to see what the words really say. You need to be able to evaluate the flow of ideas and find stoppers and gaps that keep the message from shining through. You also need an eye for detail. You need to be able to zoom out to see the overall structure and message of the project, and then zoom in to catch awkward phrases and words that miss the mark. You need to know the mechanics of writing, including punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and grammar. But just as important are the soft skills of copyediting. You need to be able to collaborate with the writer and the client. And at the end of the day, each should feel you made their jobs easier — and their work better. The Opportunities Are Endless Because most businesses are publishing in one way or another — their blog, newsletters, e-books, and marketing campaigns, for example — copyeditors have a lot of options. You can hang your shingle as a freelance copyeditor, working with businesses and indie authors. Smaller companies often prefer to keep an editor on retainer than to hire someone full time. And book authors need a trusted copyeditor to help them get their book across the finish line. Another option is to take a job as an in-house editor. If a company has a blog, you can bet they need a copyeditor to review and edit every article before it's uploaded to the website. Companies that run a lot of direct-response campaigns also need an editor to review their lead magnets, reports, and an array of marketing pieces. But there's another opportunity that's a little closer to home. When you become a copyeditor, you become a master of the written word. And that affects your own writing for the better. Suddenly, your first drafts are cleaner and better. You're able to edit your own work and produce higher-quality projects for your clients. You become an in-demand writer and get paid better as a result. Bottom Line As a writer, you're likely aware of the importance of continually developing your craft. That includes grammar and style, but it also includes adjacent skills, such as copyediting. The difference, of course, is that copyediting can take your writing career to new heights. Which means the question isn't should you learn copyediting. It's when will you start? To give you the best foundation, [what you need is here]( in our new copyediting program. From your role in the copy process … to the mechanics of editing and proofing … to understanding how to use a style guide … to the importance of accessibility … to where to find clients … and everything in between … It's all in the program! [Check it out today]( — and grab it at a big discount. What's Hot at AWAI … 📝 Interested in getting paid to edit copy? [We have the perfect thing for you!]( 👀 [Free Training: Make Great Money EDITING Copy.]( 😄 We love seeing our members succeed! [Check out their success stories]( if you need a little inspiration to get started. 👉 [Why AI is driving demand for this specialty in the digital world.]( 🙌 [Copywriter overcomes odds: from teacher to traveler.]( Copyediting win! [Social media post that they landed a discovery call with a new copyediting client] Congratulations on landing a discovery call, Rebecca! Good luck, but we know you've got this. (To get started as a copyeditor today, [check this out](.) 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! Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Editor – Freelance — FanDuel Full-time, Los Angeles, CA The Editor will report to the Lead Content Producer and work alongside the FanDuel racing production team. --------------------------------------------------------------- Writer/Editor — The Bowen Group Full-time, Chantilly, VA Applying the rules of spelling, composition, and grammar to writing or editing tasks. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copy Editor, CNN — Warner Bros. Discovery Contractor, Atlanta, GA Copy editors may be called upon to write some scripts. A copy editor may also be asked to review a writer's performance. The copy editor is expected to be a close adviser to the producer on any editorial issues or problems that arise with assigned scripts. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? 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