Make money writing faster — without writing?!?

Be the behind-the-scenes hero… [The Writer’ s Life]( January 2, 2024 "To write is human. To edit is divine." – Stephen King Hi {NAME}, Ever read the acknowledgements in a book? Inevitably, the author ALWAYS thanks their editor. I recently read a book where the author said the editor's name should be on the front cover … next to his!! "She took my words and made them great." The same holds true in the copywriting industry … When I can hand off a piece of copy to a skilled copyeditor … Confident that after they work their magic, it will be ready to be published … That copyeditor is worth their weight in GOLD! Copyeditors are the heroes who transform a writer's "good" copy into GREAT copy … Or take copy that's not quite "there" yet — and make it SING. It's a HUGE opportunity … one that's only going to get bigger and bigger as writers use AI more and more to gain speed. So today, I've asked an amazing copyeditor, Kathryn Aragon, to take you inside the opportunity to see what it's all about. Kathryn is a longtime AWAI success story, who ultimately was recommended back to me by Russ Henneberry, Co-Author of Digital Marketing for Dummies and the popular instructor behind AWAI's SEO and Content Certifications. I was looking for someone to fill an important copyediting role … And Russ said Kathryn was the one to call. (The world can be a small place sometimes, right?!) Fortunately, when we decided to build a Certification to meet the industry demand for trained copyeditors, Kathryn agreed to head that up too. 🙂 [More on that here!]( If you're not familiar with the copyediting opportunity, I HIGHLY recommend you check it out. You'll be shocked at just how big it is … how much money you can make … and how valued this role is within an organization. It's also an easy start on your path to a well-paid writing career, without having to put your own writing out there right away. [>> Check it out for yourself.]( And now, over to Kathryn. 🙂 To your success, Rebecca Matter President AWAI LAST CHANCE: Get It ALL for Just $1 Until Midnight Tonight! Get instant access to the exclusive B2B writing community and ALL their private resources, including … - All the success roadmaps … - All the writing templates … - All the articles … - All the how-to videos … - All 150+ training webinars … - The Forum, the Job Board, the tutorials, the tools … - And much more! All for just $1. [Join Before Midnight]( FLASH SALE: Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day! One day … that's all the time it will take for YOU to become a professional writer … And proud owner of your very own thriving, client-rich writing business that will keep rewarding you month after month, year after year. We've pulled out every stop — including bringing in the big guns — to make it happen! But hurry, this offer ends soon! [Go Here To Learn More]( How to Monetize Your Writing Skills (Without Writing a Word) By Kathryn Aragon [Writer sitting at desk with laptop taking down notes] 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 of 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? I've created an AWAI Certification that will give you all the information, resources, and tactics you need to get started … including a breakdown of my proprietary 4 M's Method for copyediting. [Check out the details on this new training here today.]( What's Hot at AWAI … 📝 Interested in editing? [We have the perfect thing for you!]( 🙌 Want to be a more productive writer? [Read this.]( 😎 [Five easy steps to launching your thriving writing business in 2024.]( 😍 [Former commercial contractor swaps three-hour commute.]( 6-month retainer in the bag … [Social media post about landing a new retainer] Congratulations, Michele! A retainer is a great cushion for consistent work and pay. 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](: --------------------------------------------------------------- ACD Copywriter – Engage Partners, Inc. Full-time, Melville, NY We are looking for an ACD Copywriter who is positive, motivated, and energetic. This person will be responsible for working directly with our Healthcare and Educational clients, elevating the brand by creating exceptional content within the digital space. We need someone who understands brand integration across website copy, social, and email. Having the versatility to write in many voices, tones and styles is paramount. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – FitLab Full-time, Remote The Copywriter will work closely with FitLab's cross-functional teams to accelerate consumer growth and engagement through all our brand channels. This role will be empowered to shape the voice and direction of our portfolio of global brands, while also contributing to the overall success of a dynamic fitness startup. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter - Neiman Marcus Group Full-time, Dallas, TX This person has the ability to write and edit copy for cross-channel assets, including print, digital, email, app, and social. The right candidate will be able to deliver engaging, focused, accurate copy for a wide variety of projects; own assignments from concept to initial draft to deployment with oversight/input from leadership; respond quickly and accurately to requested revisions; and participate, with oversight, in the evolution of our brand voice. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2024 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. 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