Call for numbers!

Only two weeks left!  Time has flown by.  With fall weather just around the corner-- along with Nanowrimo, ANWA CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, and all sorts of holiday craziness-- now is the perfect time to squeeze in some writing.

And when your mind needs a break from writing, curl up with this week's giveaway: 

MASTER OF EMOTION BY DEANN HUFF

Report your numbers here on the blog by Thursday and get automatically entered to win!

HAPPY WRITING!

And the winner is...

Congratulations Kari Pike!

Emial me your address at anwaevents at gmail dot com and I'll get that book sent out to you.

For the rest of us, here's some inspiration from our current President, Peggy Urry:

My grandpa had a saying that went something like this, "We do what we want and make excuses for the rest."

What is it YOU want with your writing? Are you achieving it or making excuses (also known as Resistance)? We all face Resistance in some form or another. The great thing about 100 words a day is that once you commit, it's doable. I love this challenge, even though some days Resistance wrangles me to the ground. If you're struggling, re-commit and remember what a wise Abraham Lincoln said: "You cannot fail if you resolutely determine you will not."

Call for numbers!

Hey all,
It's time for the official call for numbers.  There's only three weeks left, you can do it!  This week, we'll be giving away a SIGNED book by our wonderful past-president and Conference co-Chair, Janette Rallison:

Post your numbers on the blog (not on fb) and you'll be automatically entered into this week's drawing.  Winner will be announced Thursday!

Good luck and happy writing!!!

Second Time's A Charm!

This lucky winner was drawn randomly two weeks in a row!  

Congratulations Erin Mindes for winning our ANWA t-shirt.  

I will send you some color and size options via email and then get it (and your book from last week) in the mail to you!  

For the rest of us who don't have a contest fairy, here's an inspired message from our President Elect, Cindy Williams.

When your character stops talking to you or seems flat, or bored, try this. Interview him/her.  Ask them what their favorite color, food, game, show, thing to do, purpose in life, goals, friends, friends, enemies, likes, dislikes, parents, pet peeves, what warms their hearts, what they want to get out of "their story".  Get them to come alive and start talking to you again. This may all end out backstory, and never used, but it will get you into their heads and help your writing and your character come to life.

I often have my character write me a letter. Really. They tell me a lot about themselves. It is an amazing process. Sometimes I don't like the things they have to tell me, but it always helps me understand them and their motivation much better. It also helps me get over a writers block.

Interview your character or, have them write a letter to you. Either way, you will write a well rounded character that makes more sense to you and your readers.

Cindy R. Williams.

www.cindyRwilliams.com

Call for numbers!

Hey everyone.  This week's post is short and sweet. Summer is coming to an end and this contest only has a few more weeks.  Let's finish strong ladies!

This week's giveaway is for an ANWA shirt (because we LOVE swag!)

So post your numbers on this blog and get automatically entered into the giveaway.  Winner will be announced Thursday.

HAPPY WRITING!

Congrats to the winner!

Congratulations Erin Mindes! 

You've won Heather's book!  Email me your shipping address at anwaevents at gmail dot com and I'll get it sent out to you.

For the rest of us, here is a little inspiration from our newest ANWA Board member, Susan Haws:

Guilty Pleasure

I am working at my local library. I call it my guilty pleasure job. (I get to be with books. How could it not be a pleasure? And I get paid, thus the guilt.)

I enjoy seeing circulating books. Read, read, add to reading list, you get the idea. I often say and think even more frequently “So many good books so little time.” But activity I see is as important as the books themselves. People, of all walks of life, reading books. People showing board books to babies, children choosing picture books themselves and older kids and teens looking for their favorite authors. I can count on the dinosaur, drawing, and animal books needing straightening and it makes me smile.

So much competes for our time today and according to RobertBrewer.org “25% of people over age 16 have not read a book in the last year.” “Reading frequency declines after age eight.” There are a great many more book facts at the site worth pondering. I know I am preaching reading and writing to the experts.

 My time at the library has shown me that despite the responsibilities and the variety of entertainment there is still a thirst for knowledge and story. Children and adults and seniors all wear the same look when the book they wanted has all its copies checked out. They all wear the same happy face when they talk about a story they adore.  You are the creators of those stories and that joy. Keep working at it.  

Susan G. Haws

CALL FOR NUMBERS!

Hey all!  We're over half-way through summer and if you're like me, you're starting to look towards fall, school, and (here in Phoenix) the glorious day when the temperature dips down below 100 degrees.

By now, you should have at least 6500 words written.  Can you believe that?  For some of us that's HUGE-- especially in the midst of having kids at home, vacations, kids, summer movies, kids, outdoor weather, kids...

To reward you for all that work, this week we're giving away Heather B. Moore's book:

Post your numbers here on the blog (not on FB) by midnight Wednesday night (PST) and automatically be enrolled in this week's giveaway!

Good luck and happy writing!!!

Congrats to the Winner!!!

Congratulations Jennifer Griffith!  

I will email you instructions on how to download Peggy's book.

For the rest of us, here's a little inspiration from the author- and ANWA President- Peggy Urry:

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings." (Apr 1996)

I love that an apostle of the Lord encourages us to be creative. It is inherent to our nature to create and allowing ourselves time to be creative brings joy to our souls. Elder Scott goes on to say, "Being creative will help you enjoy life. It engenders a spirit of gratitude. It develops latent talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act, and to find purpose in life. It dispels loneliness and heartache. It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm, and zest for life."

Do something creative today (write your 100 words!) and savor the joy.