AWAI: Professional Copywriting Training for Building Successful Freelance Writing Careers
American Writers & Artists (AWAI) exists to help people turn writing into real income… without needing a college degree, years of experience, or inside connections.
Find out why AWAI has been the go-to resource for copywriting training for nearly 30 years!
5 Compelling Reasons to Choose AWAI Copywriting Courses to Learn the Skills, Get Freelance Clients, Land Freelance Writing Jobs, and Build a Successful Writing Business
1. Since 1997… over 200,000 members and thousands of working writers!
AWAI is the largest, oldest, and most respected training organization for copywriting. For almost three decades, we’ve helped tens of thousands of people from all walks of life learn the practical writing skills companies need and pay for… and we’ve shown them how to turn those skills into flexible careers.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, changing careers, or looking for meaningful work in a new phase of life, AWAI gives you a clear, proven path forward.
Not hype. Not theory.
Just skills, clarity, and real opportunities.
“Copywriting felt like stepping into a completely foreign world. I knew I had the drive, but I didn’t have the roadmap — until I found AWAI.”
— Kazi Quinton
And in the ever-changing world of writing and digital marketing, skilled writers are more valuable than ever.
At AWAI, we believe…
- AI is a tool, not a replacement,
- strong thinking and clear communication matter, and
- writers who understand both the fundamentals of persuasive writing and modern tools will thrive.
We help writers learn how to work with technology — not be replaced by it — while staying focused on skills that create real value, sales, and growth for businesses.
👉 Read our Manifesto on the future of AI and writing
2. It’s your very best shot at a writing career… whether you’re a total beginner or a career changer.
The real problem aspiring writers face? Most people who want to earn money writing aren’t short on talent or motivation.
They’re short on clarity.
AWAI was created to solve that problem with writing-career clarity, including…
- which writing skills pay well,
- how businesses really use writers,
- where opportunities come from,
- how to move from learning to earning, and
- how to get started from where you are right now.
AWAI gives you a clear, proven path forward with dozens of courses based on the assignments and projects companies around the world need written today.
Each course includes training, hands-on exercises to give you experience, the creation of professional samples, and direction on how to get paid for your newly acquired skill.
Many AWAI-trained writers go on to…
- land freelance writing jobs with businesses and organizations;
- build recurring or retainer-based writing work;
- specialize in marketing, content, case studies, newsletters, and more… in a wide variety of niche industries; and
- create flexible careers they can grow over time.
Actor, Copywriter and Scriptwriter
Uses writing for the schedule flexibility, and as a way to bridge an income gap between shows.
Former CPA, Now Ghostwriting for the Accounting Industry
Applies her years of accounting experience to help accounting practices and thought leaders with marketing.
Former Sales Executive, Now Selling with Words
Writes in retirement while traveling the world with his wife, including time in Scotland, Baja, Mexico, and Japan.
Crime Investigator Turned Copywriter
Used investigative skills she honed in law enforcement to build a writing career that delivers high-value strategy and copy for clients worldwide.
Mom Matches Salary While Working Less
Created a flexible work life with freelance writing that lets her choose her hours, prioritize family, and work on projects she loves.
Rocket Scientist Turned Copywriter
Left long hours and burnout behind to build a rewarding career writing persuasive copy, earning at income levels that rivaled his engineering salary.
B2B SaaS Copywriter
Shifted from low-wage jobs and frustration to a skilled freelance copywriter — building a career that rewards his talent and fuels his ambitions
Former Event Organizer
What started as a desire for freedom became a real-world career where Jen earns more, travels more, and lives more fully through copywriting.
Former Contractor Swaps 3-Hour Commute
Shifted from blue-collar grind to creative copywriter, using his life experience and AWAI training to craft a flexible, rewarding business on his terms.
👉 Read more real writer stories
3. What makes AWAI different: practical, hands-on copywriting training and business-building taught by industry experts who are also active professionals
AWAI isn’t a university.
We’re not a generic online course platform.
And we’re not about “becoming an author someday.”
We focus on professional writing skills… the kind companies pay for.
That means…
- practical, in-demand writing skills;
- real-world examples and applications;
- clear explanations of how writing fits into business; and
- a focus on outcomes, not theory.
Our job isn’t to teach you everything about writing.
Our job is to help you learn the right skills, in the right order, so you can confidently move forward.
Our experts show you the copywriting systems, formulas, and frameworks where you can…
- develop high-value writing skills businesses rely on;
- understand how companies use writers to grow, sell, and communicate;
- apply those skills in practical ways, even as a beginner;
- build confidence through clarity, structure, and guidance; and
- create income opportunities that fit your lifestyle and goals.
Not Your Typical Businessman
AWAI Co-Founder Mark Ford is a self-made multimillionaire, New York Times bestselling author, master copywriter, successful business builder, and philanthropist.
Founder of Copyblogger, Creator of Further and Leading Expert
Brian Clark is a writer, traveler, and entrepreneur best known as the founder of the pioneering content marketing resource Copyblogger, along with its popular StudioPress and Rainmaker business lines.
Copywriting Strategist, AI Advocate, and Champion of the Solo Agency Model
Nick Usborne is an online copywriter, author, and site optimization expert with over 25 years in the marketing industry.
Award-Winning B2B Copywriter, Author of The Everything Guide to Writing Copy
Steve Slaunwhite is a highly-sought-after B2B copywriter, respected author and teacher of building a successful B2B copywriting career.
Copywriter, Marketer and Writer’s Advocate
Rebecca Matter is a partner and the President of AWAI, a copywriter, and marketer with almost three decades of direct-response experience.
Master Networking and Self-Promotion Consultant
Ilise Benun, founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, is a self-promotion and marketing expert, national speaker, coach, and author of seven books.
Top AI-Copy-Strategy and Expert Master Direct-Response Copywriter
Guillermo Rubio has been helping top direct-response companies with their full-scale launch campaigns, email sequences, and more for close to two decades.
Copy Chief, Marketing Strategist, Publisher and Author
Sandy Franks brings over three decades of publishing, marketing, and copywriting experience to writing and teaching with a special emphasis on story telling.
Master Copywriter and Co-Founder of AWAI
Paul Hollingshead is an A-Level copywriter whose sales letters have built multi-million-dollar companies and mailed for decades.
Direct Response Pro and Co-Founder of AWAI
Katie Yeakle is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of AWAI with over 40 years of direct marketing and publishing experience.
AI-Powered Marketing Strategist, Founder of theCLICK
Russ Henneberry is an AI-powered digital marketing trainer, consultant, speaker, and co-author of Digital Marketing for Dummies.
A-List Health Copywriter
Carline Anglade-Cole is a direct response copywriter with decades of experience writing multi-year controls for the health industry and was instrumental in the launch of O Magazine.
👉 Meet AWAI’s impressive faculty of instructors
4. AWAI copywriting courses emphasize real-world writing projects for real paying clients.
At AWAI, we teach what WORKS every day, for ourselves and for companies around the world.
You get to…
- discover breakdowns of successful copy and content;
- practice with assignments tied to actual business scenarios;
- focus on “what works in the market,” not academic rules; and
- learn how campaigns work throughout “customer journey” stages for businesses.
👉 See how getting paid to write actually works
5. AWAI is always one step ahead of how to build a long-term, flexible writing career.
There’s no single “right” path to the writer’s life… We help you find one that fits you.
- Are you looking to make extra income on the side?
- Are you exploring a career change?
- Do you want flexible, location-independent work?
- Are you returning to work after time away?
- Are you planning a second-act or retirement-friendly career?
If you answered yes to any of the above, AWAI can help you.
You don’t need to…
- already call yourself a writer,
- have published anything,
- be tech-savvy, or
- worry about competing. (There are millions of potential clients and dozens of ways to get paid.)
All you need is curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn skills that matter.
👉 See how getting paid to write actually works
Your Next Step for a Rewarding Freelance Writing Career
If you’re curious about getting paid to write — and you want a clear, realistic explanation of how it works — your next step is to learn about what you can expect with our free training series…
The #1 Way to Make a Living as a Writer
- High Paying Projects
- Write from Anywhere
- Flexible Schedule
- Beginners Welcome!
