Wall of Fame
AWAI Member Since: 2007
Age: 55
What’s your current occupation?
Freelance Copywriter and Marketing Consultant
What’s your former occupation?
Dietitian, Realtor, Financial Planner
What was the first project you landed?
Two days after returning home from Bootcamp 2007, I received a call from one of the Job Fair exhibitors, asking me to write a spec for one of their nutritional products. He loved the copy and hired me to finish the sales letter.
What are your current projects?
- A 16-page magalog for an international nutritional company
- A 30-second radio script for a network marketing nutritional company
- Developing website copy for local realtors
- Creating my own first informational product
What has been your proudest copywriting moment?
Seeing my first sales letter in print on the Web!
What’s your favorite niche to write for?
Alternative Health and Nutrition
What’s your income goal for this year?
I’ve considered my first year to be my “learning in action” year, accepting reduced fees for projects, so my income goal is a modest $30K. Next year I’m determined to break the $100K ceiling!
What’s your writing routine?
Mornings are crazy around my house, so once my kids head out the door to school and my dog and I finish our brisk walk together, I cozy into my routine. I quickly check my email, dial up my copywriting buddy to set goals for the day, and then, finally, grab my steaming cup of coffee and get started.
I’ll usually write (or do research, whichever step I’m at) for about four hours. A quick lunch break, and then I’ll continue writing (or researching) until my kids come home from school. Depending on the urgency of my deadlines, I might settle into my office after dinner for another couple of hours of writing.
Please give us an example of how your life has changed since becoming a copywriter.
The ability to pay my bills no longer worries me, even in these rough times. I know I can always market my skills to an endless list of potential clients and keep enough copywriting projects rolling in.
That feeling of security allows me to take the time to enjoy family and friends. I can attend my daughter’s afternoon soccer games or accompany my mom to a morning yoga class guilt-free.
I am indebted to Paul Hollingshead for his hugely inspirational letter that first led me through the doors of AWAI … and into the wonderful world of copywriting!
What success tip would you like to share with your fellow writers?
Treat your copywriting as a business – a business that you’re serious about. Do whatever it takes, even if you think you can’t do it. You just might surprise yourself!
Write specs and practice, practice, practice. I notice the more I write, the easier it is to write better copy. And thanks to the Circle of Success program, I’ve seen my copywriting skills and my confidence develop tremendously in one short year.
When did you realize you were living the copywriter’s life?
I knew I was “there” when the checks started coming in and I received requests for additional copywriting projects. It’s exciting to know you’re doing what you absolutely love and getting paid to do it!
