Why you already have dozens of course ideas in your brain

Yes, REALLY! October 2, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity — not as a threat." — Steve Jobs Hi {NAME}, FACT: You're sitting on a gold mine of course ideas right now. Courses that you could create and offer for sale to those who want and need them. And yesterday I showed you why you don't need to be an expert on the topic. I even gave you some homework to help get you started. But you still may be thinking … Rebecca, are you serious? I have NO CLUE what to create a course about. That's why I haven't done it yet! I hear this from countless writers. And I get it. At first glance, coming up with course ideas can feel challenging. So today, let's dig in further … so we can uncover the dozens of course ideas that you could get working on. The secret is that if you're like most people, you're thinking too BIG. Let me explain … When most people think about what to create a course on, they imagine teaching an entire subject from A to Z. That's the wrong way to think about it! (Plus, that's not what successful online courses are typically about.) Instead, the majority of bestselling courses often focus on solving a very specific problem or teaching very specific skills. So instead of thinking you need to teach a "master's level" college course on a subject … - Think about a skill you have. - Break that skill down into its smaller parts: What are the individual or sub-skills involved? - Voila! Each of these sub-parts can be its own course! Here's an example: Let's say you're a hobby photographer. You love taking photos of landscapes, people, and wildlife. Instead of thinking you need to teach the most comprehensive, doctoral-level course on photography … Break down the skill of photography into its smaller parts: - Selecting the right camera - Selecting the right lens for the kind of shot you want - Understanding your camera's "manual" mode - Understanding lighting - Knowing the difference between shooting with natural light and "studio" lighting - How to frame the photos and improve your composition - How to take quality photos with a smartphone, for when you don't have your camera available - How to edit your photos in software like Photoshop Each of these could be its own mini-course, solving a specific problem or teaching a particular skill that aspiring photographers are eager to learn. For example, selecting the right camera becomes … "The Simple Guide to Choosing the Right Camera for Your Photography Goals." Or understanding your camera's "manual mode" becomes … "Manual Mode Demystified: Taking Control of Your Camera Settings." Breaking down your knowledge this way makes course creation far easier. And, it has the added benefit of automatically creating a targeted topic people will be interested in paying to learn more about. Now it's your turn … Pick a skill you're comfortable with. Set a timer for five minutes, and list as many sub-skills or components as you can. Review your list and circle the top three potential course topics. There you go — now you know what to create your course about! 🙌 And like I mentioned yesterday, course creation is just one of many ways you could use your life experiences to make money as a writer. Businesses need your expertise too! [Learn more here.]( We'll introduce you to the wide range of well-paid writing opportunities, help you choose which ones are right for you, give you the basic skills you need to get started, and give you access to working writers who can help you succeed. [Check it out today]( … there's an incredible discount that expires at midnight. To your success, Rebecca Rebecca Matter President AWAI Inside this issue: - [A Letter to My Younger Self]( - [Added Benefits of Being a Solopreneur]( - [Living the Writer's Life: Melanie Warren]( A Letter to My Younger Self By Rebecca Matter A couple of years ago, a good friend named Marcella Allison invited me to participate in an event she was holding to empower and pay it forward to other copywriters, marketers, and entrepreneurs in our industry … I was to write a letter to my younger self with a piece of advice I wished I could go back and tell her, and then read it to the group. What helped me get ahead, what got in my way, and what really mattered? The idea was inspired by the famous Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, and I was flattered to be asked to participate. But looking back now, I realize the experience of writing the letter was wildly rewarding to me personally. [Continue reading here.]( CLOSING: Now Accepting New Members Your new life as a well-paid and in-demand writer is just one click away … A life that offers freedom, lots of fun, no more money worries, and so many unique, high-paying writing opportunities. But the clock is ticking … The discounted new-member pricing disappears in a matter of hours! [Get it before midnight tonight!]( Added Benefits of Being a Solopreneur Do you know ALL the benefits of being a solopreneur? AWAI Chief Success Officer Ted Capshaw and AWAI Director of Training Jade Trueblood talk about some hidden benefits you may not be aware of … and how you can best take advantage of them. [Watch it here.]( Our industry lives and dies by GREAT sales copy. And, as a writer, you can be the one to wield that power — and help companies grow their sales exponentially through the letters you write for them! Join us on Friday, October 4, at noon (ET) for a LIVE TRAINING EVENT with legendary copy chief Sandy Franks. [Save your seat here.]( Living the Writer's Life: Melanie Warren Melanie Warren is the kind of person who sets her sights on something and goes all in. So even though she took a curvy road to get to copywriting, once she found it, she soared. [Read on to discover how she built up a successful writing business fast, and don't miss the part about her magical Vegas Christmas, which is bound to inspire every up-and-coming family-minded writer.]( FREE Training Series: Be an In-Demand Copywriter Get immediate access to our BRAND-NEW training today — completely free of charge! In five fast-paced video lessons, you'll learn … - why copywriting is such a valuable skill to have … - why you don't need any past experience to be successful … - why copywriters can earn so much and which niches pay the most … - how to ditch the 9–5 and enjoy ultimate freedom writing from anywhere … - the one writing project businesses need most and the simple formula to writing it … - and much, MUCH more! [Go Here to Get Immediate Access]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Social Media Content Writer & Creator – Summer Discovery Full time, Roslyn, NY Develops content for social media including ideation, design, copywriting and posting to the proper social channels aligned to the company content calendar. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Kforce Inc Full time, Lakeland, FL Copywriter will develop creative concepts that align with creative strategies, marketing objectives, and marketing strategies, all in the company's brand voice. --------------------------------------------------------------- Financial Writer – Seeking Alpha Full time, Remote Ghostwrite articles on stocks and ETFs under the name of a prominent Quantitative Strategist to convert web audiences into paid subscriptions (A ghostwriter writes on behalf of another person). Trouble viewing this email? 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