Advice to your younger self... and a gift for you now!

If I knew then what I know now … [The Writer’ s Life]( December 25, 2023 "Happiness is an inside job. Don't assign anyone else that much power over your life." – Mandy Hale Hi {NAME}, At some point or another, we've all thought, "If I knew then what I know now … " No doubt we'd have saved ourselves a lot of worry! 🙂 I was recently offered a chance to learn how much wiser my "older" self is … And it was such a valuable exercise, I wanted to share it with you and encourage you to do the same as you wind down this year. It may help you on your journey to the dream life you're building as a writer! But quickly, before we get into that … I have a little gift for you today! 🎁 🎉 We talked A LOT about AI this year … How it can make your job easier, help you write faster, better, and more clearly … So today, as a very special GIFT from all of us at AWAI to you, we're giving you an incredibly valuable tool to kick-start your success with AI — by helping you craft effective prompts so you can master using it. [>> Download your free copy here.]( I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season! To your success, Rebecca Matter President AWAI 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]( TODAY! Get all this for $1 … [PWA Image Spread] 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]( A Letter to My Younger Self By Rebecca Matter [Woman writing a letter to her younger self] 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. These days, many of us are way too hard on ourselves … We struggle to do everything "right" and be our best … as children, parents, partners, writers, employees … And we focus on what we haven't yet achieved, rather than celebrating all that we have already accomplished in life. Maybe you can relate? As a writer, it's easy to get caught up in what you're not doing well … and the next rung in front of you … Getting your first client, making the jump to the next income level, mastering a new skill, adding another revenue stream … there will always be another rung no matter how far you climb. And while I'm a big believer in pushing forward to always grab the next rung on the ladder, I now know from experience that pausing for a minute, and looking down the ladder you've already climbed, can be extremely motivating. So today, I'd like to invite you to write your own letter to your younger self … What would you tell them today that would provide comfort and encouragement on the journey ahead? I've pasted my letter below … And if you'd like to share yours with me, I invite you to paste it in the comments below or [send it to me here]([.]( Just remember, when it comes to the writer's life, there is no "finish line" — and there will always be another goal in front of you … So schedule in those moments to take a break … reflect on how far you've come … and then get back to work! 😉 A Letter to My Younger Self … Dearest Rebecca, You're going to be successful. Relax! I realize the world feels so big and the path in front of you seems overwhelming at times. So I'd like to give you some guidance on how to make that journey more enjoyable. To start, know that early on, you won't actually know as much as you think you know. It's going to be a humbling experience after college. But when you figure that out, your real learning will begin. Surround yourself with smart people. You will have many incredible mentors along the way — be open to every opportunity to learn. Just don't let your ego get in the way. You don't have to know it all. And you won't! So use this time to learn. Next, be brave … The best things in life will make you feel like you're going to throw up. Literally! But I promise they're worth it. Go ahead and walk through every door that opens. And feast your heart on what it craves. And finally, practice self-care … both physically and emotionally. I know you like to burn the candle at both ends, and are proud of your "first in-last out" way of working, but it will come at a cost. It may seem counterintuitive right now, but the more you can focus on what your body needs … rest, water, sleep … the faster you'll move forward and the more successful you will be. Remember to BREATHE. And while yes, being a perfectionist and a strong competitor will serve you well … Life will be far easier if you remind yourself at every turn that you're doing the best you can. And sometimes — most times — that will have to be good enough. You are good enough. Love you! Rebecca What advice would you give your younger self? Let us know in the comments [here](! What's Hot at AWAI … 🎁 Did you grab your free gift? [Download it here!]( 👉 [Get started with our Money-Making Websites program for just $69.40.]( 🤩 [Asheville woman pivots to double her income within a year.]( Two clients in less than 3 weeks! Well … less than 3 weeks into this and I may have just landed 2 accounts. One for a business that sells wooden alcohol barrels. They need SEO on their website, blogs, emails and maybe some Facebook posts. The other is for a local church, website audit, blog posts, and possible newsletter. On both, we tossed around several ideas. I am going to send over some samples of some of the practice stuff I have so far. I am pretty excited. – John Orth Wow, John! You have kicked off your writing journey with a bang! Congratulations, and much success to you now and in the future. 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](: --------------------------------------------------------------- Copywriter – Hire Innovative Full-time, Remote The ideal candidate is a creative team player, conversion-minded, and a talented wordsmith. You will be responsible for developing marketing and communications content that will separate us from the crowd. 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