Any mentors taking on students anytime in the near future?

[MsConnie]

From all the searching I've done, I know you all don't come anywhere near cheap (nor would I want you to). I can earn any required "fee" by doing more of my other writing work, although one mentor, Vin Montello, may be waayyy out of my current financial reach from what I've read.

Anyway, what I'd like to know is:

If you're still coaching or mentoring, when will you be taking on students again?

Do you coach newbies or just experienced writers looking to improve their copywriting skills--or both?

What do you charge?

Do you require full payment before coaching begins? Can a student pay in installments? Either way is fine with me; I just need to know so I can plan my budget (and how soon I can even get started), kwim?

Any other information you can provide would be very much appreciated.

[Raydal]

You can find details about my program in my signature
below.

-Ray Edwards

[Rose Anderson]

I feel really stupid. I've been reading and absorbing "Writing Riches" and just now realized you are THAT Ray Edwards.

Thank you for your informative book.

I have several projects to complete this month but then I'll be seriously looking into your coaching program. I want to be sure I have to time to focus once I start.

Rose

[max5ty]

Probably won't be popular here, but after my years in the business, I've found that most of what you pay for is worthless. The best approach is to get out there and simply start - also study all the great work that's been done - virtually everything is free on the internet.

I'm sure someone will want to sell you something - and if you decide to go that route, ask for samples of their previous work. And I mean work that's not advertising their current program on how you can learn to get rich following their system - find out how many controls they've set or beaten.

I cringe when I hear someone wanting to sell their secrets - I'm not trying to brag, but I've sold more than most on here will ever hope to sell. I could try and sell a course, but it's not fair, you have to learn by getting your feet wet - the biggest thing that holds a new copywriter back is the fear of failure. You will fail, everyone does, that's how you learn.

[arfasaira]

Originally Posted by max5ty

Probably won't be popular here, but after my years in the business, I've found that most of what you pay for is worthless. The best approach is to get out there and simply start - also study all the great work that's been done - virtually everything is free on the internet.

I'm sure someone will want to sell you something - and if you decide to go that route, ask for samples of their previous work. And I mean work that's not advertising their current program on how you can learn to get rich following their system - find out how many controls they've set or beaten.

I cringe when I hear someone wanting to sell their secrets - I'm not trying to brag, but I've sold more than most on here will ever hope to sell. I could try and sell a course, but it's not fair, you have to learn by getting your feet wet - the biggest thing that holds a new copywriter back is the fear of failure. You will fail, everyone does, that's how you learn.

hmmmm....maybe, if you've got a ton of time on your hand and you can learn without any advice on how your doing or getting motivation when your low.

Before I was coached here on the forum, I decided to take a 'cheap' route with a 'cheap' course and of course free material from the web. Did it make me a fantastic copywriter? No, far from it.

Before I came to this forum, I'd already been published online and offline in several places, so I was already a dab hand with the pen....but copywriting, well, that's a different world.

Sure, lots of people do it by going it alone and its highly valuable too. Self education is a fantastic experience if you've got the patience and the time - and with two young kids, I certainly haven't.

But for me, and for countless others who like structure, feedback, constructive criticism, motivation and a gentle nudge when things are slowing down, coaching is the way to go.

Books and free stuff don't teach you experience or critique your lovingly constructed copy...and they certainly don't point out where you're going wrong either.

And besides, just because someone is selling you their secrets doesn't mean that they're greedy and trying to rip you off. There are lots of well respected copywriters here who offer coaching and are proven copywriters and superb Internet Marketers in their own right.

And no, most of what you pay for is NOT worthless. For any of you wondering, I did the 6 month coaching course from Paul Hancox and it was the single best decision I ever made in my life. I don't have to go out to earn a living - I work from home and look after my kids. That's not worthless - that's priceless.

Everyone's got something to sell, even if it's themselves. That's how I feed my kids and its what's enabling me to move home. And those selling their copywriting secrets are no different to me. They also have to live.

[max5ty]

There's nothing wrong with helping others - I believe if you read my comment, I have a problem with the charging money part to offer the help - if your copywriting career revolves around how much you make charging others to teach them how much they can make to teach others how much they can make...(you get the point), then your not a real copywriter.

Frankly, we all know of several (numerous) people who tout the fact that so and so trained them - usually before they're done explaining their history, your mind has drifted off to another more exciting land, and about the only thing that can bring you back to the moment is a bird flying over and dropping a similiar load on your head.

[Mark Andrews]

Originally Posted by max5ty

I'm not trying to brag, but I've sold more than most on here will ever hope to sell.

Do you have any proof of this?

[Daniel Scott]

There are two "Ray Edwards" who are copywriters.

I think the book you're talking about was written by the other Ray Edwards, but could be wrong.

-Daniel

Originally Posted by Rose Anderson

I feel really stupid. I've been reading and absorbing "Writing Riches" and just now realized you are THAT Ray Edwards.

Thank you for your informative book.

I have several projects to complete this month but then I'll be seriously looking into your coaching program. I want to be sure I have to time to focus once I start.

Rose

[Raydal]

Originally Posted by Rose Anderson

I feel really stupid. I've been reading and absorbing "Writing Riches" and just now realized you are THAT Ray Edwards.

Thank you for your informative book.

I have several projects to complete this month but then I'll be seriously looking into your coaching program. I want to be sure I have to time to focus once I start.

Rose

Not me, I'm the better looking one with hair.

-Ray Edwards

[Rose Anderson]

lol....okay....now I get to feel stupid for feeling stupid? Perhaps I should fact check before posting. Who knew that was such a popular name for copywriters.

Sorry for causing confusion.

[Hans Klein]

Here's the thing about mentoring...

Are you looking for someone to take you under their wing like a true "Copy cub"? Someone who critiques all your writing ruthlessly and takes your success personally? Someone who opens the door and teaches you everything he/she knows about the business? A true copywriting sensei.

Or are you looking for someone to teach you the basics with some personal feedback?

The first option (taking on a "copy cub") is expensive for the mentor. It takes a LOT of time. Therefore, if you're lucky enough to find someone willing to invest their time in you, the barriers to entry may be pretty high.

The second option is going to be much cheaper... and a much different experience. But it all depends what you want to get out of it if it's right for you.