Good post, Andrew. Here's how it happened for me.

First, I started doing direct mail in the early 90's, and I wrote all the sales copy for my products. I never knew copywriting was something that could be done as a career back then. I simply knew I needed to understand direct response copywriting in order to be effective at DM.

My first product was an info-product on quitting smoking called "Kick the Habit" (which you'd have a good laugh if you ever saw me hanging around the smoking area at seminars. I did use my method to originally quit, but let's face it: quitting's easy. I've done it hundreds of times!)

I made a few mistakes, like using a 2-step ad when a 1-step was warranted. But eventually I learned what worked and what didn't. I took my first copywriting "course" from a student of Gary Halbert's, a fellow by the name of Lawrence Tabak.

So I dabbled in DM for about 10 years or so, honing my copywriting skills, before I learned that I could write for others too. I started purchasing more copywriting courses and products, starting with AWAI's, John Carlton's, and more.

The first salesletter I actually wrote for a client was for a physical book he had just written. I got paid $500. I started getting clients, mostly through my own marketing efforts, including direct mail, postcards, online, and word of mouth.

I started charging a few $K per salesletter. I fedex'd a handful of copywriters that I knew who I wanted to work with and get any overflow work they had (I used Matt Marshall's letter as a guide, as he did something similar). I ended up getting work that way from several copywriters, some who are members of this board.

I attended marketing seminars and met many of my clients there. I got regular repeat business and many referrals.

From there things just snowballed. I started creating front-end products and developing a more effective marketing funnel--all designed to get qualified prospects to raise their hands when they needed copywriting. And to allow me to pick and choose the "fun" projects. In the process, I raised my fees accordingly along the way.

Fast forward to the present. I've got 4 new product launches in the works, and a rebranding of an existing product. 2007 was the first year where a significant portion of my income came from other-than-copywriting fees.

2008 will be even more so. I'm now at the point where I write and consult for a select few clients that I really enjoy working with.

Like many of you, I can work where I want, when I want. And thanks to my many websites and direct mail campaigns (yes, I still sell via DM), I make money even when I'm sleeping.

But this took many years in the making. It didn't happen overnight, much like many "get rich" products out there would have you believe. And I do work a lot of hours. But by choice.

I get up in the morning, and I can't wait to get started. I work well into the evening, because I like to. My work is my passion, and I wouldn't trade my career for any other out there.

I also have the freedom to enjoy my many hobbies whenever I want as well. I can get up and take a walk in the middle of the day if I want. I can pick up my guitar and write a song or just jam some blues if I feel like it.

I'm nobody special. If I can do this, anyone can, although it DOES take work, dedication, and patience.

Well, anyway. That's my history. I, too, would be interested in hearing how others got started.

Cheers,

John