August 2025 Winner of the $400 Writing Challenge

Congratulations to Jeff Alley, who wrote the winning blog post in our latest round of AWAI’s 4 Days to $400 Writing Challenge for new freelance writers.

This training program is for aspiring professional freelance writers learning the ropes of effective content writing through American Writers & Artists Institute (AWAI).

Participants were challenged to write a “how-to” or “listicle” blog post for AWAI readers, who are aspiring and working direct-response copywriters and content specialists.

The Challenge was to write a 1,000-word blog post that puts a fresh spin on the idea of how to write for money, which is what AWAI is all about. Participants followed four days of lessons on blog-writing best practices and how to find clients. They also scrutinized a variety of blog posts from different industries and audience types, studying the formulas that work best for business blogging. And they were given a chance to submit their best effort for the chance at a $400 prize.

The AWAI Editorial Team chose Jeff’s winning post titled “7 Surprisingly Fun Ways Copywriters Can Use AI (Without Losing Their Voice).”

In the short video below, AWAI Learning Chief Pam Foster explains why Jeff’s blog post stood above the rest.

Watch Video

Here’s what Jeff had to say about his post and the big news: “I’ve seen firsthand what AI can do and what it can’t. I wanted to show other writers that it’s not something to fear, but a tool they can use to do better, faster work without losing their voice. And I am miles ahead now with it from when I wrote the blog. It’s just so damn fascinating. (Insert Vulcan hand gesture here.)

“Writers shouldn’t fear AI, it’s a tool to embrace. It can mimic tone, but it can’t replicate human emotion. And that’s our edge. The 4 Days to $400 class taught me how to structure a blog and understand the different types. The templates, checklists, and real-world examples made the whole thing click. Pam Foster is a rock star, she made everything clear, fun, and easy to follow.

This was the first blog I’ve ever written, and without Pam and AWAI, I wouldn’t have known where to start. I’m so grateful for what I learned and fired up to write the next one.”

Congratulations to Jeff and to everyone who took the time to submit an entry. All participants who completed a blog post now have a finished sample of an in-demand project for their portfolio.

It can be your turn next! To enroll in our 4 Days to $400 Writing Challenge, check out the details here.

To discover more opportunities to get paid as a writer, be sure to read our daily e-letter, The Writer’s Life, and visit AWAI to browse through our many copywriter training programs.