Goodbye “starving artist”

We write for money… [The Writer’ s Life]( September 26, 2023 "If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade." – Tom Peters Hi {NAME}, It's probably one of the most popular myths about our industry to those on the outside … that writers are "starving artists." But we know better … We write for money. And a lot of it! Copywriting opens the door to MANY forms of well-paid writing … Whether you're interested in paid writing to make some spare cash … or replace your career entirely … or somewhere in between … whatever your goal, persuasive writing can get you there with a [little bit of training](. But not in the way you might think … The "Three C's" of Copywriting Let's start by making sure we're on the same page when it comes to copywriting … Copywrit­ing is the learned art of persuasive writing where you, as the writer, convince people to take a specific action, using the words you put on the page. That action could be to buy something … but it could also be to click a link, donate to a charity, subscribe to a newsletter, etc. But it's also much more … Good copywriters know how to connect with their reader. They can effectively research a topic or mar­ket so they're able to pinpoint the needs, or "pain points," of the people they're writing to. They know how to talk to potential customers with enough emotion and proof that their messages resonate. And they're skilled at crafting content that informs, engages, entices, persuades, and entertains their audience. Chances are good you've used already some form of persuasive communication your­self. Maybe you've talked a friend into seeing a movie he or she wasn't excited about, but ended up really enjoying … Or you convinced someone to try a new restaurant they had no interest in, only to watch it become their favorite place to eat. Those examples are simplified forms of persua­sion, which is the heart and soul of copywriting. It's about connecting, convincing, and converting. In fact, if you think about it, that's really the root of all business and commerce everywhere: - To connect with people who need a specific product or service. - To convince those people to give the prod­uct or service a try. - To convert those people into happy customers. That's why copywriting can be so versatile … and lucrative. Projects and Writing for Clients Once you've [mastered the skill of copywriting](, you can pursue virtually any kind of writing proj­ect for any client in any industry … Projects like emails, blog posts, articles, social media campaigns, space ads, case studies, white papers, video scripts, and more. (We have a [free Pricing Guide]( we publish every year that lists 80 different project types!) And that's probably one of the biggest benefits of copywriting … No matter what type of writer you are … or the kinds of writing you enjoy … there are numerous ways for you to get paid well to write. Love to tell stories? Maybe you'll tackle case studies, articles, or sales letters. Good at researching? White papers may be your thing. Enjoy connecting with others? There's a huge demand for you in social media or writing blog posts. No matter what type of writing you enjoy — or excel at — there's a perfect project (or three!) for you. There's also a wide variety in what you can write about … You can write about things you're passionate about … like martial arts, alternative health, gardening, or finance … You can write about things where you have experience … like if you've spent the last 20 years working in the software industry, you can leverage that expertise in your writing business … Or you can write about things where you understand the reader very well because you are the same … like if you're a new mom and you understand the fears new moms face. Maybe you'll choose to write for companies that manufacture infant safety products. Again, once you understand copywriting, the opportunities are truly endless. And the money is great too … You can choose to write on a fee-per-project basis where clients pay you for each assignment you write ($100 to $300 for an article, $250 to $500 for an email, $1,500 for a case study, etc.). Or you can choose to write on retainer, for clients who have ongoing needs, and would prefer to pay you the same amount every month to write the same assignments ($1,250 a month for a regular e-newsletter, $2,000 a month to manage their social media accounts, etc.). And then there's royalties … Royalty agreements often happen when a copy­writer writes a direct-response sales letter, where the client can track every sale your letter brings in. De­pending on the agreement you make with your client, you could get anywhere from 1% to 10% of the sales. And that's on top of the money you were paid to write the letter to begin with! Your Key to Money-Earning Power for Life Copywriting is what we call a financially valuable skill. It's versatile. It's adaptable. And it's a talent you can use over and over again to gener­ate income for the rest of your life. All you need to get started is some basic training … And our [Copywriting Made Simple "Crash Course"]( is the first step. It's your opportunity to learn the basics of writing great copy … practice with hands-on exercises … and even learn how to get your first paid clients! [Check out the details here.]( This is the only time Katie and I are teaching it LIVE this year! To your success, P.S. At Noon ET today, we're holding a free training that takes you inside a project that pays $1,000 per page! We'll walk you through the project, give you some insider secrets to writing it, and reveal why and how companies use them as a core component of their marketing and sales efforts. [Go here for all the details.]( Unsure where or how to start your writing career? Katie + Rebecca + YOU! Copywriting Made Simple LIVE is starting soon! This is the LIVE event that has launched hundreds of successful careers … 
Where you get to spend 3+ hours over two days with Katie and Rebecca as they walk you through everything you need to launch your successful writing career. Meet … learn … write … ask questions … Get over $980 in resources … Launch your writing career the very next day! ALL WITH ZERO RISK! If, after everything, you decide copywriting isn't for you after all — you'll get a full refund! Full details here … But hurry! Copywriting Made Simple LIVE starts soon, and we have a ton of stuff to get to you! [SIGN UP HERE.]( What's Hot at AWAI … 👉 [Grab our Copywriting Made Simple for just $129 $49!]( 😄 [Freedom as a writer!]( 🙋 [From "I Can't" to "I Can!" — 5 easy ways to gain confidence as an aspiring copywriter.]( 👀 [FREE WEBINAR today at Noon ET: The $1,000 Per Page Writing Project.]( 🤩 [College professor turns lifelong love for writing into a full-time income — from an RV.]( Living the dream … [Social media post about receiving a signed proposal from a dream client one year after they lost their prior job] Elias, you have had quite the journey and it has been so amazing watching you flourish! Congratulations on all your success now and in the future. 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! Free Training: White Papers: The $1,000 Per Page Writing Project [Meet your new favorite B2B content writing project]Today at Noon ET 👇 [Access Instructions Here]( TODAY! Get all this for $1 … [PWA Product Spread] The Professional Writers' Alliance (PWA) takes the stress out of running your writing business. With ready-to-use business forms, templates, and checklists … VIP job board access … networking opportunities … and a mountain of tips, tactics, and "been there, done that" advice from working freelance writers … You'll minimize the "unbillable" hours you spend working on your business and maximize your time writing — and getting paid. [Claim Your $1 Access Here]( Featured Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Content Writer — Gordian Full-time, Remote Write, edit, and proofread a variety of types of content, including product brochures, press releases, customer success stories, white papers, blog posts, etc. --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Copywriter — Sr. Writer, CMX Marketing — Rose International Contractor, New York, NY This individual must have top-notch writing and editing skills, including knowledge of the digital media industry, and writing for a B2B audience as well as proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter — Robert Half Contractor, Los Angeles, CA In this role, you will be responsible for crafting compelling and engaging copy for a variety of projects, ranging from small advertisements to event collateral and brochures. Proven experience as a Copywriter, preferably with clients in the B2B space for Industry, Financial, or Professional Services. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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](.