A powerful reminder from the $2 billion letter...

Do this next time you sit down to write August 30, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come." – Steve Jobs Hi {NAME}, If you've spent any time learning copywriting, chances are you've come across the famous Wall Street Journal letter. It's a simple two-page letter that was mailed to millions of homes for nearly 30 years. And it brought in an estimated $2 billion in subscriptions! Now, most copywriters would have approached this letter by filling it with facts about the Wall Street Journal …  … and why it's so valuable for anyone who subscribes. However, the copywriter of this letter — Martin Conroy — took a different approach. He chose to tell a simple story about "two young men" who graduated from college together and went to work for the same company. The men were very similar to each other. The story then compared their lives 25 years later and made this revelation: One of the men had become a company manager, the other the company's president. The difference? The company's president had been a subscriber to the Wall Street Journal. This simple story resonated with its readers. It's the kind of story they could instantly "see" themselves in. It's why, despite countless copywriters trying to "beat" this letter year after year, it remained the undisputed champion of sales letters for 30 years! And it's a powerful reminder to you, as an aspiring or working copywriter … Sometimes we get caught up in trying to come up with unique "big ideas" or huge promises …  … when the most effective approach could be to tell a simple story. It's like the old adage says — "show, don't tell." So next time you're writing copy, try starting with a story that illustrates your prospect's problem and how your product or service solves it. You may be surprised at how much better your copy performs! In today's featured article, Senior Copy Chief Sandy Franks gives you three things that will make your stories more meaningful to your reader … and get them to take action too. And if you're looking to move forward with your writing, [this will allow you to make money from your storytelling ability.]( It's all baked into the training, along with a chance at a byline and a paycheck!! [Check it out (and get ready to write!).]( To your success, Rebecca Rebecca Matter President AWAI Inside this issue: - [These Three Elements Give Stories More Meaning to Your Reader (and Gets Them to Take Action)]( - [3 Ways to Open a Story That Will Hook Your Reader Fast]( - [College Professor Turns Lifelong Love for Writing into a Full-Time Income — from an RV]( These Three Elements Give Stories More Meaning to Your Reader (and Gets Them to Take Action) By Sandy Franks We crave them … In fact, we can't wait to read or listen to one. And when we're finished, we feel good. I'm talking about stories. The reason we react so well to a good story is that our brains are wired for them. Literally. Princeton neuroscience professor Uri Hasson, who has been researching and studying how the brain works since 2004, says that "a story is the only way to activate parts in the brain so that a listener turns the story into their own idea and experience." When you can get your reader to feel this way, there's a higher chance they'll read much of what you've written … all the way to the point where you ask them to take some action … such as hitting the "buy" button or "clicking here" for more details. But it's more than just a feeling you create with the story you are sharing with your reader … [Continue reading here.]( Get Published, Get Paid! I want to personally help you get into the paid-writing game NOW!... By helping YOU get your first byline AND your first paycheck as a professional writer. I’ll share everything I know about writing the kinds of articles we here at AWAI (and thousands of other companies doing digital marketing) pay for and publish. Then, you’ll take what I show you and write an article for AWAI. My marketing team and I will review ALL submissions. If we like what we see, we’ll PUBLISH your article AND pay you for it. And there’s no limit to the number of articles we’ll choose. So, if you’re ready to get your first “win” under your belt… [Let me show you how to do it.]( 3 Ways to Open a Story That Will Hook Your Reader Fast By Heather Robson I kind of like stories. Not surprising. Most people do. And, why not? They can be engaging, inspiring, educational, and just plain fun. They can also add an element to your copy and your content that makes it more memorable and persuasive. But, when you're thinking about introducing a story in your copy, you might be wondering, How do I do that without sounding awkward? [Continue reading here.]( Your ALL-ACCESS Key — Just $1! Get instant access to this 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! [Go Here for More Details]( College Professor Turns Lifelong Love for Writing into a Full-Time Income — from an RV After a master's degree, a professorship, and work as a columnist for her town's newspaper, Melissa Gouty yearned for a change. [Read about her journey to becoming a full-time writer.]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Freelance Copywriter (Umbrella) – Aquent Part time, London, UK Creating website copy, creating content for menus for the clients businesses, Maintaining the brands standards and aesthetic of the company. --------------------------------------------------------------- Creative Copywriter – Profiles Part time, Remote Create captivating copy for the brand's social media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. --------------------------------------------------------------- Veterinary Copywriter – Robert Half Contractor, Irving, TX Conceptualize and write copy for multiple channels, including email, direct mail, print and digital advertisements, landing pages, social media, and more. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. 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