Seeking Fortunate Opportunities-A-Toast To You

“Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.”
~William James

In Issue #135

Editor’s Note: Happy New Year! May this be the happiest, healthiest, and most successful year of your life.

In this special Holiday edition of Copy Protégé, Laurie Cauthen reviews her 2007 accomplishments and prepares for 2008. Check out the websites Laurie mentions below, I think you’ll find them useful. Enjoy!

Seeking Fortunate Opportunities-A-Toast To You
by Laurie Cauthen

It’s been four months now that I have been a member of AWAI. The learning process in 2007 was mind expanding and a positively life changing page in my personal memory album.

In just this short period of time many of my writing goals and objectives are being realized, including my life-long goal of being a published writer!

For the first time in my life, my words have been published on the internet through a popular weekly e-zine. These articles are now the first samples for my writing portfolio.

And because two extraordinary professional online publishers gave me this chance, I’ve learned first-hand how to meet deadlines for publication and the collaborative process of editing.

I will forever be grateful to AWAI Wall of Famer’s Krista Jones and Monica Day for publishing my articles in The Copy Protégé.

Another AWAI Wall of Famer whom I admire, Kelvin Parker, has been sharing some of his incredible marketing knowledge with me. He’s been very kind and gracious with his advice. And we’ve discussed plans to collaborate on some future projects in 2008.

He has extensively studied many of the great master copywriters like Eugene Schwartz, and many others of whom I am just learning about, like John Carlton, David Ogilvy, Robert Collier, just to name a few..

To view samples of Kelvin’s excellent copywriting and to download his informative free report “714 Ways Pro Copywriters Boost Response And Make Millions of Dollars” go to www.kelvinparker.com

I’m currently writing a spec-fundraising story for my dream client, Arnold Palmer Hospital. They are willing to use my son’s personal story of his premature birth (and subsequent success in life, he is now 17) in their marketing material.

He was three months premature, weighing only 1 lb. and 13 ozs. Since they literally saved my son’s life, I always wanted to give back to them in some way. After 17 long years, I’ve finally found a way to do that through the art of copywriting.

I’ve had the pleasure to correspond with Paul Lawrence, a best selling business author, produced screenwriter and film producer, to possibly write a screenplay based on one of my original stories. (I’m finishing up my outline to submit to him in January of 2008).

Paul is also a talented copywriter and motivational speaker. To see samples of Paul’s excellent copywriting and to view the vast array of his many business ventures, sign up for his free Positivetip newsletter here www.smallbizriches.com

I attended my first awe inspiring AWAI Bootcamp, experienced my First Peer Review Process there; a very valuable tool, and submitted a Bootcamp Spec Assignment.

At Bootcamp I found talented networking buddies, like Circle of Success (COS) Member Frank Eaton from Florida and Conrad Hall from Canada. Conrad and I both signed up for Circle of Success at Bootcamp.

Since we are members of COS, Conrad and I take Accelerated Training Services Classes together as well. In our ATS classes Conrad keeps all of us accountable and organized with the goal setting updates he voluntarily initiates each week. Everyone should have a

Conrad in their corner. He’s definitely a rising star to watch for in 2008!

Our Grand Tetons Group is currently mastering “Headlines and Leads.” We are working on our first assignment that will ultimately lead to eight copywriting samples for our portfolio with AWAI’s full endorsement of our work (priceless)!

A quarterly networking dinner has been organized for Georgia copywriters to meet with Krista Jones and myself. The launch date is set for Saturday, January 19th, 08 at The Westin Hotel, Atlanta Airport. Contact me for more information or to be added to our list cauthen614@charter.net

I’ve accomplished quite a bit so far, and it seems I am already acquiring much of the tools I will need to start my career quickly except of course, for more experience, writing-skill practice, and the guiding hand of an official mentor.

In this new year of 2008, it would greatly accelerate my copywriting dreams to find a coach who would be willing to help shape my copywriting career and invest in my future; any volunteers?

I don’t believe in the ambiguous odds of luck, however I do believe in seeking and obtaining your own fortunate opportunities. As 2008 rings in, remember… “The FAILURE to ask, is even more final than a no!”

Happy New Year and Cheers to you all!

Until next time…

Resource Referral: Top Five Reads of 2007
by Krista Jones

As you know, reading is a big part of a writer’s life. Most days, I read for at least one hour. Last year I read books that fell into two primary categories—writing and personal development.

My favorite writing reads were On Writing by Stephen King and Creative Rules for the 21st Century by Herschell Gordon Lewis. Two very different books—the first helps you improve your writing skills; the second helps you improve your copywriting skills—that are now front and center on my bookshelf.

I also read several personal development books in 2007. Without a doubt, my favorites in this category were:

All five of these books are great reads. If you haven’t read any one of them, get a copy and let me know what you think.