Interview with Sheri McConnell, President of the National Assoc. of Women Writers

The NAWW is a great resource for women writers, so I am running this interview with Sheri. (I did not do the interview.)

INTERVIEW:
1. As one writer to another, give our readers some insight into the process YOU use to write. We often hear people say they’re thinking of writing a book and when pressed to tell why they’re only ‘thinking’ they say, “I’m not sure how to go about it.”


I have found that accountability is the key to my production. Plans are also crucial to my getting large projects completed on time. Planning helps me alleviate the overwhelmed feeling that we all experience. I personally do not get a lot of writing done if I wait for the muse. I also find that if you “have to” make money at something, you find a way to accomplish that goal one way or another. NAWW has created a coaching program for nonfiction book writers that offers this accountability plus a manual that walks them through the book proposal process. If anyone is interested, just email us at naww@onebox.com and we will send you a flyer about it.


2. Tell our readers about the publications you offer through membership in NAWW. We have several and refer to them all the time.


The NAWW creates a new printed book for its members every year. Then after they go out of print, they are available in our eBook Library. You can read more about each of the books here: http://www.naww.org/generic95.html We create each book based on the feedback during the year that we receive through e-mail and our continuous Web site survey: http://www.naww.org/consumersurvey.html


We also publish the weekly online newsletter that goes to over 11,000 women every week and we have a quarterly online member publication called THE NAWW WRITER'S GUIDE too.


3. Do you think women have any advantages or disadvantages as writers? Is our innate ‘intuition’ a help to us, or can it lead us astray when we’re composing a story?


All women have an intuitive feminine power. Most of time the disadvantage of being a women lies in our ability to harness our intuitiveness because of the lack of time. Women are the community and school volunteers and they are usually the main caregivers in their families too. I know that struggle personally--I have three girls under 10! I have learned how to prioritize, say no, and ask for help.

4. Tell us a little bit about YOU—when did you first realize that writing was what you wanted to do for a career? Is it your career?? What kinds of things do you write and what inspires you to write—people, books you’ve read, or other writers?

I have always loved books, research, and writing. My favorite subject was English and I made perfect grades in it often. I also love helping people and being an activist. My Bachelors is in Social Work and my Masters in Organization Management provided a wonderful mix of skills and knowledge that I use every single day. When I see something that is wrong, I get a burning feeling in my stomach until I express myself in some way (usually by writing) to try to change it. So I am inspired by strong, energetic, funny people! I write on self-help and business topics mostly because they help me follow through on my mission of helping women and girls "hold their space". Women can't hold their space if they can't feed themselves or their children.

5. When did you start the NAWW? How many members do you have?

I founded the NAWW in 2001. Our weekly eZine goes to over 11,000 women writers and our membership is around 2,700 now.


6. We would like to know more about your blog. As a communication tool, we think blogging surpasses even the telephone. Since starting your blog, have you noticed an increase in traffic to your website? Do you have guidelines or rules about posting?


We think so too! Ya know, it is a really efficient way for us to manage all the communication coming into NAWW. Because it is so easy to update, we can get information back out to our membership quickly. All NAWW members can post to our blog by sending the post to naww@onebox.com

7. How has the Internet changed writing and reading, in your opinion? Do you think e-books will ever replace real books?


No, I do not think eBooks will ever replace printed books. I sure am glad to have the technology available though. We offer so much to our members because we can take advantage of this low cost method of delivery. I think eProducts in general are the perfect tools for marketing. In fact, the NAWW just started a new division called the InfoMarket Network: www.naww.org/generic129.html where we teach individuals how to market in the Information Age.


8. We think writing requires discipline…do you agree? The standard advice is: write something every day. But, what if you have writer’s block??? How do YOU overcome that?

This goes back to my answer in number one. I create accountability through deadlines and relationships so that I do not have time for Writer’s Block. I found that this is the only way I would make “writing” a priority. This stresses women out sometimes—me included—but it works!

Sheri' has a Bachelors of Social Work and a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management. She is an InfoMarketing consultant who specializes in helping women market their businesses both online and offline. She has four published books titled, THE WOMAN'S BOOK OF POWERFUL QUOTATIONS, OVER 100 FAQs WOMEN ASKED ABOUT WRITING, WOMEN ON WRITING—FROM INSPIRATION TO PUBLICATION and FEMININE WRITES—WOMEN, WISDOM, & WRITING. Visit Sheri’ McConnell and thousands of other women writers at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN WRITERS Web site at www.NAWW.org)!