Monica Day
AWAI Member Since: 2002
Age: 40
What’s your current occupation?
Copywriter/Internet Publisher
What’s your former occupation?
Little of everything: Sales, Trainer, Organizational Development, Fundraiser
What was the first project you landed?
- Direct-mail series for a mortgage broker – which I got by answering an ad posted on a website. I used my earnings to attend my first AWAI Bootcamp – because I knew then that this was FOR REAL... and I really could do it... big time!
- A spec assignment advertised in The Golden Thread for a health package – it mailed, I made $500 (just missed beating the control, so no royalties), plus I got a great sample to show future prospective clients!
- 18-month contract to write a bi-weekly health e-letter for an Agora franchise – also got this one through a TGT ad. I made $2,000 a month – which really launched my career because it helped with cash flow issues while I looked for other clients, learned more about copywriting, etc. It goes to show you that editorial writing can pay the bills and be a good way “in” while you’re working on getting promotional clients.
What are your current projects?
Developing Copy Protégé e-letter and products to fullest potential (this is a biggie), plus building from there to publishing other online publications. I’m very excited to be applying copywriting and business skills I’ve learned over the past 4-5 years to my own venture now! I also still have Sovereign Society (financial), Nightingale-Conant (self-help) and International Living (travel) as main clients. New financial clients Angel Publishing and Eagle Publishing just came on board.
What has been your proudest copywriting moment?
I think it was the time Justin Ford (a mentor and copy coach I work with at Sovereign Society) heard one of my draft headlines on a phone call, and rather than offer any comments or criticisms he simply said, “I think we’ve got ourselves a control!” … and indeed, he was right! It was a package for a currency service called Money Trader, and it did become a control, taking readership from 200 subscribers to 1,000 over the course of 6-8 months. Learning to write financial packages was hard-won for me. I had zero experience going in. I think we value the things we work the hardest for more than the things that come easy to us. I’m always glad I picked the financial road, despite the challenges it has presented all along the way.
What’s your favorite niche to write for?
Financial writing – because it’s like a four-course meal in Tuscany; Travel-writing – because it’s like dessert; and Self-help – because it’s like a glass of Limoncello at the bar later.
What is your income goal for this year?
$300K
What’s your writing routine?
With kids, it’s a little all over the board. But I mostly try to keep mornings sacred for writing, and stack conference calls, brainstorming sessions, administrative work and/or research for the afternoon. I’m still not past sneaking downstairs after the kids go to sleep to write a little more, but it’s a habit I do want to break!
Please give us an example of how your life has changed since becoming a copywriter.
I was barely employable before – in that I always wanted to have my own gig, but I worked for others because it was necessary. Now, I think I’m completely unemployable. I can’t imagine ever filling out a W-4 form again!
What success tip would you like to share with your fellow writers?
Just do it. Isn’t that annoying? But it’s true. The time you spend in doubt, fear, worry – all those places where we get stuck – just robs you of precious time and energy. Make goals, follow them through, and listen to your gut. If this truly isn’t for you, lay it down and find something that is. But you won’t know for sure until you take it all the way.
When did you realize you were living the copywriter’s life?
When I spent six weeks on an island off the coast of British Columbia with my kids last summer... and still managed to keep my business rolling along.
