Writing Lesson: The Power of One

This classic lesson will improve everything you write, forever September 3, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "Mastery is not a function of genius or talent, it is a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field of knowledge." — Robert Greene Hi {NAME}, Copywriting is a financially valuable skill that can create numerous revenue streams … give you true freedom in your life … and build wealth and legacy. And the more time you invest in honing it … the greater your return. Sometimes you'll pick up a new skill, technique, or insight from another copywriter or a project you're working on … Other times, you'll revisit a lesson you learned early on and see it through a different lens … understand it at a higher level … or simply remember to apply it to your writing with intention, the way you did when you were starting out. I can't tell you how often I've been at an event or on a webinar with one of the industry's top Master Copywriters … and found myself jotting something down … excited to get to my next writing block so I could put it to use. I've been at this over 20 years … and I'm still learning every day. (It's one of the many benefits beyond the money! [Go here for even more.]() At the surface, each individual element of good copywriting can seem small … But the impact becomes greater the better you understand each one. And when you add up all the power from the elements combined … well, that's when the true power behind the financially valuable skill reveals itself. Today, I've gone into our ["Vault"]( to share a copywriting lesson from industry giant Mark Ford that is so iconic, I can still recall the first time I read it. It's a lesson I try to apply to everything I write … and find is often the reason something "isn't working" when I've forgotten it. It's also the most common piece of feedback we give new writers who submit copy for review. I encourage you to review it yourself today and then start applying it to EVERY piece of copy you write. Like I said, it may seem simple on the surface, but it will make everything you write more effective. You'll learn lots of other lessons like this one in our Smart Start for a Successful Writing Career training … which comes FREE when you [join our popular club for writers.]( You'll learn a four-step formula for writing copy that gets results … how to craft a compelling headline … how to write a "grabber" first sentence … how to structure your copy … how to get clients to pay you thousands of dollars in fees (and royalties!) … and so much more. [More on all that here!]( To your success, Rebecca Rebecca Matter President AWAI Inside this issue: - [The Power of One — One Big Idea]( - [Heisting Hall of Fame Headlines for Copywriting Success]( - [From Driving Limos to Writing with Legends: The 3 Tactics One Member Took to Make It Happen]( The Power of One — One Big Idea By Mark Ford One of the biggest lessons I have ever learned about writing came very late — in fact, more than 20 years after I wrote my first piece of copy. It happened about a year after I began writing Early To Rise (ETR). I was looking over issues I'd written that year and noting which ones readers rated the highest. Without exception, those achieving the highest scores presented a single idea. It struck me that readers didn't want to hear everything I had to say about a topic every time I wrote. They were looking for a single, useful suggestion or idea that could make them more successful. That was one of those "aha!" experiences for me. As a reader, I had always most enjoyed stories and essays that tackled one subject effectively and deeply. As a writer, I sensed my readers felt this way too. But it wasn't until I looked at the results that I recognized the power of a narrow focus in writing. [Continue reading here.]( Now Accepting New Writers If you want … - high-paying gigs, - predictable writing income, - greater flexibility … AND the satisfaction that comes with LOVING what you do for a living … Then getting accepted into our influential club can set you up for everything you're looking for in a writing career. NOTE: Your acceptance window will be closing soon! [Apply Now]( Heisting Hall of Fame Headlines for Copywriting Success By Mark Ford Old-time copywriters like yours truly enjoy a walk down Memory Lane now and then. We do it for fun, but it can be profitable, too. I'm talking about rereading the best-known direct-marketing ads of the past. Copy written by such luminaries as Gene Schwartz, Claude Hopkins, and John E. Kennedy. It's fun to read through these old ads. Looking at them now — with their dated language and primitive graphics — you might think they could never work in today's hypercompetitive market. Yet some of them are still working. And, most of them live on as the arms and legs or blood and bones of many modern ads written by copywriters who understand their value. There are many ways to learn from these time-tested ads. One way is simply to read them — over and over again. Maybe even copy them down by hand or say them out loud. I'm convinced that's the only way to understand all sorts of important but subtle things about good copy — diction, pacing, phrasing, and so on. But the best way to learn from them is to analyze them from the inside out. Ask yourself: What is going on here beneath the surface? What are the psychological triggers that are going off in the reader's heart and mind as he reads this? [Continue reading here.]( TODAY! Get all this for $1 … 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]( From Driving Limos to Writing with Legends: The 3 Tactics One Member Took to Make It Happen Ben Phillips worked various jobs, but none were fulfilling. Then a letter arrived in his mailbox, eventually leading him to a new career at one of the world's leading financial publications working alongside world-class copywriters. [Read the rest of his story here.]( Free Training: Inside the Ever-Growing Demand for B2B Writers Friday, September 6, at 12 p.m. ET 👇 [Access Instructions Here]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Content Writer – C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions Full-time, Milwaukee, WI C2's client has a special brand with stories to tell about it's past, future, leaders, team, unique approach, legacy of results and outstanding client service. The right writer is a consummate storyteller, weaving strong, differentiating marketing content from threads found throughout the firm. --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Copywriter – Behaviour Interactive Full-time, Hybrid (Montreal, Canada) We are looking for a full-time Senior copywriter to create promotional content in French in various formats: press releases, emails, landing pages, etc. Natural storyteller and experienced editor. --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Copywriter – Acrisure Full-time, Remote We are seeking a seasoned Senior Copywriter to join our high-growth brand and play a pivotal role in shaping our brand voice and messaging across various channels. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and a master storyteller. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. 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