5-step plan for getting paid to write

You can do this… October 18, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." — proverbial wisdom Here we go, {NAME} … If you've yet to launch your writing business … or you're not thrilled with the one you have and want a "do-over" … Today, I'm going to give you a simple five-step plan to get you moving. It's the same one we'll walk through as part of our [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](. (Important note: Enrollment ends TONIGHT at midnight … If you haven't registered, [go here now to grab your spot]( and get 90 days of support AFTER the event!) We'll be covering more business-building strategies during your training … but these first five steps are the starting point. As you'll see, it's nothing complicated. There's no "secret sauce." And you don't have to invest a lot of money to get started. You just need two things: - The ability to make some key decisions. - The ability to follow through on those decisions. Yes, that means there is work involved … But you're launching a writing business that could be a source of income for as long as you want it to be … So, it's worth the effort, right? Let's dive in … Step 1: Establish Your Proof of Concept The path to your writer's life is marked with numerous milestones all along the way. And a big one early on is your first monetary goal for your writing. This is not your financial goal for the year, or even the month … It's just a check with a small number on it that will give you confidence and motivation to move forward. We call it your "proof of concept" because it proves to you that the copywriting opportunity is real and is a viable career path for you. Maybe it's $300 for a blog post you've written … Or receiving TWO payments from the same client, solidifying your confidence that you're good at what you do. Or maybe it's a retainer that allows you to obtain predictable income from your writing. There's no right answer — What comes to mind? Don't second-guess it — just write it down … And then move on to the next step, so you can create a plan to achieve it … and grow it … in the coming months. Remember, it's all about decisions and follow-through … Step 2: Determine the Service You'll Provide Now that you have your proof of concept — it's time to determine the BEST SKILL you can learn quickly to satisfy the goal. Notice I didn't say services … We just need one skill to get that first paycheck. If your proof of concept is small, you'll be able to achieve it with a simple email series … blog posts … or an e-newsletter. Can you achieve it with other projects? Absolutely … If you already have acquired an in-demand writing skill … or you've purchased a training from AWAI that teaches you something other than the ones I listed above … by all means, go forward with it. Again, the goal here is decision and speed. But if you're just starting out and need help deciding on a skill, those are three projects you can learn to write — and get good at writing — fast. So, pick a project, get what you need to learn it, and move on to the next step … Step 3: Determine the Market You Will Serve Now that you've determined the writing skill you'll offer, it's time to think about who you want to write for … and what you want to write about. In other words — what market do you want to serve? The good news is — it can be about virtually anything, because there's not an industry, product, market, or "niche" in the world where copywriting doesn't come into play. But this step can be challenging for new writers — because with so many choices, it's easy to get stuck wondering which is the best niche for you. If you're signing up for [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](, we'll make sure you feel confident in your decision. That one session will be an important and liberating experience. But either way, remember, your niche is never "written in stone." We're just making a quick decision to achieve your proof of concept, so you can gain the confidence you need to keep going. You can always change down the road, 100% confident that any skills you'll have learned can easily be applied to any niche you ultimately decide on. Now that you have your (first!) niche, we can move on to something a lot of new writers should do, but don't … Step 4: Create Your Identity Statement You wouldn't open a small business in your hometown without putting up a sign that lets potential customers know what you're offering … And the same goes for your freelance writing business. Your identity statement is like your sign … It clearly and simply explains what you write, who you write for, and the value you bring. But it's as much for you as it is for the businesses and clients who will be looking to hire you … Because once you commit and self-identify as the professional you strive to be (even if you're just starting out) … You're far more likely to achieve your goal than had you not! It also gives you the confidence and clarity to move on to our final step … Step 5: Choose Your Plan for Landing Clients Of all the worries new writers have, landing that "first client" tops the list. So, the faster we get it done, the better … Because once you do it the first time, the mystique is gone, and you simply replicate the action again and again. Now, there are literally dozens of ways to get clients ([we cover 26 ways here]() … It's built into every training we teach here at AWAI … AND we have a job board (WritersWanted.com) with thousands of job listings that comes free with almost every program we offer too. But the client-getting strategy that will work best for YOU is the one that you'll do. 😉 My personal recommendation? LinkedIn … Over the past couple of years, it has become the No. 1 way for new writers to get clients. It's the method business-building expert Ilise Benun teaches during [our Launch training.]( But whether you use LinkedIn or one of the other 25 methods you'll find above, you want a plan you can use again and again to attract your ideal clients. Again, there's no "right answer" … so pick one to get started and see it through. And that's it! Like I said, no secret sauce … Just decision-making and action. Now, there's more that comes after, sure … And during [Launch Your Writer's Life in a Day](, we're also going to cover onboarding clients, so that you handle projects like a pro … and give you an action plan you can follow for the next three months. But even if you decide not to do the training … You now have a framework for moving forward with your writing business. The keys to success now are decisiveness and action. If you get stuck at any stage, reach out. We're here, always ready to help! I hope you have a wonderful weekend … And if you'd like us to help you with the above plan, I hope you'll [sign up for the training](. To your success (always), Rebecca Rebecca Matter President AWAI P.S. In case you missed it … Today you can get FULL ACCESS to Digital Copywriter for just $1. I'm talking all the trainings, all the templates, all the tools … EVERYTHING! [Check this out.]( Inside this issue: - [One Writer's Strategy for Getting Paychecks Coming In]( - [Writer Confidence from Three Little Letters]( - [Retiree Makes MORE in Retirement than in Her Old Job, While Finding Purpose in Writing for the Christian Market]( One Writer's Strategy for Getting Paychecks Coming In By Rebekah Mays For most beginners, landing their ideal clients and earning high professional writing fees takes work … and sometimes it takes longer than they'd like. But here's the thing … While challenging yourself to go after the income you want is totally worth the investment of time and effort … You don't have to wait for a "dream client" before you can start earning money. So today, I want to show you how to use my No. 1 strategy for getting those first few paychecks, faster … [Continue reading here.]( Start Your Writing Career for $1 With this Blueprint This blueprint will show you how you can start your writing career — even if you're just starting out. And if you decide to give it a shot, you'll gain access to every resource you'll need to execute that blueprint for just a dollar. All the roadmaps … All the articles … All the how-to videos … All the training webinars … The member forum, the job board, the tutorials, the tools … PLUS, three more valuable resources … It's all there — everything you need to get started. [Check it out for yourself for free right now.]( Writer Confidence from Three Little Letters By Katie Yeakle "This is the day I'm going to do a full-arm balance" (aka, a handstand). I'll say this out loud tomorrow morning … just like I have most Tuesday and Thursday mornings recently. I'll mention it to my husband as he's making his coffee and I'm brewing my tea. I'll think about it while I'm driving to the yoga class where this feat will occur. I'll picture myself going up into this pose of grace and strength as I climb the stairs to the studio, walk in, and get situated on my mat. My confidence will grow as my teacher leads us through the series of poses that all support doing full-arm balance. And, even though in my mind this should have happened already … it hasn't. Or, actually … let me rephrase that … It hasn't happened … YET. I say "yet," because I know that it will. I'm strong enough. I understand the mechanics of the pose. I am SO determined. [Continue reading here.]( LAST CHANCE: 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 this exclusive offer ends at midnight! [Go Here to Learn More]( Retiree Makes MORE in Retirement than in Her Old Job, While Finding Purpose in Writing for the Christian Market Marianne Foscarini was preparing for a quiet retirement writing fiction. [See what unexpectedly set her on the path to a new career — and income stream.]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Copywriter – The Sage Group Full time, Redwood City, CA Write editorial, creative, marketing and technical copy for a wide range of stakeholders – from consumers to investors, media, social audiences and newsletter subscribers, as a start. --------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Copywriter – FWD People Full time, Brooklyn, NY Lead copy & content development, specifically in our Animal Health client portfolio, while also contributing to our impactful non-profit work. Own all stages of copy development, from concepting to final delivery, including proofing. --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter, Creative Services – Lakeland – Publix Super Markets Full time, Landland, FL Writing effective copy for a variety of customer-facing integrated communications, including but not limited to print, POP, social media, adaptive or responsive websites (desktop/mobile), mobile apps, email, digital ads, direct mail, videos, radio ads, and other necessary content. 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? 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