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Member Benefit: Free Financial Consultations and Personalized Plan Reviews

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Member Benefit #39

Northwestern Mutual provides personalized financial planning and protection strategies designed to help clients secure their future and live confidently today. With access to one of the nation’s most trusted financial networks, Northwestern Mutual specializes in life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, investment planning, and tax-efficient strategies all customized to your goals.

NAIWE members receive complimentary financial consultations and personalized plan reviews!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Ruth Thaler-Carter, NAIWE’s Networking Expert

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We wanted to get to know Ruth Thaler-Carter (NAIWE’s Networking Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What are the key factors for success in your specific niche?

My factors for success include responding promptly to client requests, doing high-quality work, looking for new ways to provide services, and using networking to enhance what I provide. I aim to provide more than the minimum for every assignment and request.

How can you update your offerings or roll out new phases of your business to reach more clients?

We can update our offerings and roll out new phases of our businesses by being plugged into what’s going on with colleagues and clients through networking, reading reputable publications for trends and to confirm facts, doing training to develop new skills and improve existing ones, and generally being proactive rather than reactive. Not everyone needs or wants to find more clients, but we can often expand our services to current clients as a way to expand our businesses.

Do you periodically contact everyone you’ve ever worked with to let them know you are available for new projects?

Contacting people we’ve worked with in the past is a great way to generate new projects. It’s also smart to let current clients know that we’re available as needed and might have new services to provide.

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Many NAIWE members have been in business for several years, but nowadays, some might be feeling a little bored or burnt out, some have lost clients due to AI, some are experiencing stalemate, some seek new challenges — and all of us want to see our businesses not just survive but grow and expand. In our April webinar, longtime freelance writer/editor/proofreader Ruth E. Thaler-Carter will provide suggestions for taking an independent communications business to the next level and position ourselves for growth through new directions.

Ruth has been freelancing since high school and full-time since 1984. Over the years, she has expanded her writing business to include editing, proofreading, and speaking, and a diversity of topics. She has great insights into how to develop new skills and services to make an independent business go beyond static and toward sustainability.

She is the Networking member of the NAIWE Board of Experts, among several other association memberships, and will include perspectives on how active networking and membership can contribute to growing an independent communications business.

You can join in this conversation on April 16 at 7:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on developing and expanding your freelance business. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Ruth Thaler-Carter has been a full-time freelance writer, editor, proofreader, desktop publisher, and speaker for more than 40 years. She has been published locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally in, and does writing, editing, and proofreading for, publications, associations, nonprofits, websites, service firms, independent authors, and businesses. She sold her first freelance articles when she was still in high school. Often called the Queen of Networking, Ruth is active in about a dozen professional associations, serving as a newsletter editor, webmaster, publication author, speaker/presenter, blogger, program host or planner, and chapter leader. In 2006, Ruth launched the Communication Central Be a Better Freelancer conference — now cohosted with NAIWE — to help aspiring and established freelancers find greater success. Ruth is also owner and editor-in-chief of the An American Editor blog and owner of the Publishing with Flair publishing business. Her honors include member of her high school alumni hall of fame, in part for her publishing work and networking services; Writers and Books Big Pencil Award for teaching adults and contributions to the literary community; EFfie awards for writing, editing, and newsletters; an APEX award for feature writing; the Philip M. Stern Award of Washington (DC) Independent Writers for service to freelancers; and IABC/DC Communicator of the Year and Silver Quills for magazine writing and newsletters.

Days to Celebrate in April

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April: English Language Month. A month-long celebration of the uniqueness of the English language and all the learners working hard to master it.

April: National Poetry Month. Spend time this month writing, reading, and studying poetry.

April: National Volunteer Month. In the United States, volunteerism is instilled at a young age. Most organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without volunteers.

April: Records and Information Management Month. This event celebrates good record keeping and information management and emphasizes the importance of having organized records.

April: Stress Awareness Month. This month, we are all challenged to keep our stress levels low, and our peace levels high.

April 4: National Hug a Newsperson Day. Say thank you and send a hug to your local newsperson.

April 4: National School Librarian Day. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized, helping our children find the resources they need to encourage learning, and are dedicated to creating an environment children can learn in every day of the year. Set aside some time to honor school librarians.

April 4: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.

April 7: National No Housework Day. Freelancers working from home sometimes choose to be distracted by housework rather than work on a challenging project. On this day, it is not allowed, so find something else to distract you–or rather, sit down and work on that challenging project.

April 7-13: National Public Health Week. The week focuses on prevention and reducing unhealthy activities.

April 6-12: National Library Week. Visit your local library in person or online, and give your library card a workout.

April 8: National All Is Ours Day. This is a day to appreciate everything we have, rather than dwelling on what we don’t have.

April 10: National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Do you know a young person who has a vivid imagination, maybe someone who likes to tell stories and reads a lot of books? Encourage them to pursue their goals and develop their writing skills.

April 10: National Bookmobile Day. Honor the access to information and resources our nation’s bookmobiles make available to our communities and the professionals who work diligently to provide these services.

April 14: National Reach as High as You Can Day. Review and plan your goals for the upcoming quarter or the rest of the year as you reach for your dreams or goals.

April 14: Look Up at the Sky Day. Look for inspirations and beauty by looking up at the sky.

April 15: National Rubber Eraser Day. Celebrate the invention of erasers by acknowledging that we all make mistakes.

April 16: National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Let go of the stress of deciding what to wear for a day by wearing your pajamas to work.

April 16: National High Five Day. Spend a moment on social media, and give a virtual high five to someone who has recently helped you out.

April 16: Get to Know Your Customers Day. Select a customer and get to know them a little better.

April 17: National Haiku Poetry Day. Try your hand at this creative form by writing about what you see outside.

April 19-25: Administrative Professionals Week. Celebrate the administrative professionals and secretaries who keep businesses going.

April 19-25: National Volunteer Week. Provide support by offering your services to a local organization you feel passionate about.

April 21: National Library Workers Day. Library workers do so much more than keep track of the books we can borrow nearly any time of the day or night. Today, library workers are masters of research.

April 22: National Administrative Professionals Day. Some freelancers have virtual assistants, and we didn’t want you to miss this day! Celebrate your VA and show how much you appreciate this person.

April 23: National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Memorize a poem or two to share with the people you meet throughout the day.

April 24: National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Take some time to mentor your sons and daughters and aspire their writing to new heights!

April 27: National Tell a Story Day. Share a story with fellow word lovers.

April 28: National Great Poetry Reading Day. Celebrate distinguished poetry and the notable poets who wrote them.

Achieving with Words

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Here at NAIWE, we celebrated Words Matter Week last month with a bang!

We focused on the importance of word usage and the effect of words on all of us.

Gen Z may desire to expand their word usage to impress a teacher or perfect a college application. Millennials may discover the importance of words when writing a proper business proposal or other reports for their jobs. Gen X may desire to keep a journal of their family vacations, while Baby Boomers may want to recap life experiences to share with their family.

Words Matter Week touches every generation in little and big ways, and NAIWE wants to thank each one of you for your successes with words.

While we may celebrate Words Matter Week only one week a year, the importance of words affects our lives every day!

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.

Member Benefit: Discount on Nonfiction Authors Association Membership

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Member Benefit #38

Since 2010, the Nonfiction Authors Association and Writers Conference has transformed thousands of writers into successful authors. Whether you are thinking about writing a book or already have several titles to your credit, membership in the Nonfiction Authors Association can accelerate your success.

NAIWE members receive 30% off membership and conference registration!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Book Review: Psychosis Diagnosis

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2025 NAIWE Genre Fiction Winner

 

Author: Nikki Minty

Monroe Morgan has been waiting to turn eighteen and move out of his mother’s rundown shack. However, shortly before his move away from his drug-addicted and abusive, he meets Indi, a battered neighbor who is confined by the teachings of The Church of Salvation. As Monroe and Indi’s new friendship develop, Monroe’s life takes a turn for the worse, if that is even possible, when a confrontation with Indi’s father leads to Monroe’s arrest and confinement in a hospital for drug-induced psychosis.

Nikki Minty is a skilled writer, writing in the first person without the feeling of a lot of telling. However, what makes her skill stand out even more is the fact that she writes in the first person of multiple characters. Each chapter is so well developed, along with the narrator, that the reader can easily follow along and not forget who is leading the story.

To keep the writer engaged in the story, Nikki goes back and forth between two narrators for over 80 pages before introducing another first-person narrator. Each of these characters are very different, allowing the reader to easily distinguish them and keep up with the plot line.

Congratulations, Nikki Minty’s Psychosis Diagnosis for being a NAIWE 2025 Book Award winner!

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 5

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Writing Challenge Day 5

Words may contribute to our personal and business success. What meaning for a word would you use or create that would bring about a good outcome? Why?

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, NAIWE hosts a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2026 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge question you respond to, you will receive one entry into a drawing (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, a drawing will be held, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next NAIWE newsletter.

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 4

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Writing Challenge Day 4

Effort and achievement go hand in hand. Both produce results whether it be a step in the right direction or the final product. Share one of your most valued accomplishments and the route you took to get there.

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, NAIWE hosts a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2026 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge question you respond to, you will receive one entry into a drawing (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, a drawing will be held, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next NAIWE newsletter.

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 3

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Writing Challenge Day 3

Improvement rests on the individual, and the degree of improvement varies with the individual. How do you discover your niche and accelerate within it?

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, NAIWE hosts a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2026 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge question you respond to, you will receive one entry into a drawing (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, a drawing will be held, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next NAIWE newsletter.

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 2

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Writing Challenge Day 2

Many times with progress comes the feeling of relief. Write about a project where you personally experienced the alignment of progress and relief.

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, NAIWE hosts a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2026 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge question you respond to, you will receive one entry into a drawing (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, a drawing will be held, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next NAIWE newsletter.

Latest Posts

Member Benefit: Free Financial Consultations and Personalized Plan Reviews

April 10, 2026

Ruth Thaler-Carter, NAIWE's Networking Expert

April 3, 2026

Days to Celebrate in April

March 27, 2026

Achieving with Words

March 20, 2026

Member Benefit: Discount on Nonfiction Authors Association Membership

March 13, 2026

Book Review: Psychosis Diagnosis

March 9, 2026

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