Success Story Interview:
Jen Adams
Why the Best Writing Careers Aren’t Linear
Jen Adams has never been afraid to follow an interesting opportunity. Over the course of her career, she’s worked as an in-house copywriter, freelancer, agency writer, ghostwriter, editor, and now fiction writer.
Today, she helps thought leaders and executives bring complex ideas to life through books and content while also working with a story studio developing thriller novels with the long-term goal of turning them into comic books, web series, and films.
In this Inside AWAI conversation with Executive Director Katie Yeakle, Jen shares why she believes the most successful writing careers are often built through experimentation rather than careful planning. She explains how skills developed through copywriting continue to serve her in fiction writing, why persuasive writing principles apply to every type of storytelling, and how seemingly unrelated projects often create opportunities years later. From ghostwriting books for executives to researching cybercrime for thriller novels, Jen demonstrates how no experience is ever truly wasted if you're willing to stay curious and keep learning.
Jen also discusses the role agencies have played throughout her career, how attending live events helped her build lasting professional relationships, and why she continues to invest heavily in education more than two decades after buying her first AWAI program. Along the way, she offers practical advice for finding your place in the writing world, building a referral-based business, and creating a career that aligns with your interests, strengths, and lifestyle.
What You'll Learn
- Why copywriting skills make you a stronger fiction writer—and vice versa
- How Jen transitioned from banking and HR into a full-time writing career
- The surprising similarities between sales letters, ghostwriting, and thriller novels
- Why skills "stack" and how seemingly unrelated projects can create future opportunities
- How agencies helped Jen build long-term client relationships (including one that has lasted nearly 20 years)
- Why attending live events can accelerate your writing career in ways online networking can't
- How Jen built a referral-based business and eventually stopped relying on her website for leads
- Why continuous learning has been one of the biggest contributors to her long-term success
- Her best advice for writers: start somewhere, experiment, and let experience guide your next move
Recommended Resources:
- The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter
- The Professional Writers’ Alliance
- How to Become a Sought-After, High-Income Ghostwriter
The AWAI Method™ for Becoming a Skilled, In-Demand Copywriter
The AWAI Method™ combines the most up-to-date strategies, insights, and teaching methods with the tried-and-true copywriting fundamentals so you can take on ANY project — not just sales letters. Learn More »
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