ANWA was created out of the founder's search for a compatible group where she could find help with her writing. She attended many other writing organizations, both large and small. Some of her experiences were comfortable, but she soon outgrew the other members' abilities to teach her. In several instances, the topics and tone of work shared offended her religious values and world view. A couple of encounters were just plain bizarre!

A few years passed before Marsha realized that what she was looking for didn't exist. During this time, she collected the names of five other LDS women who were interested in writing. She spent hours on the phone, talking to them individually about writing. One day, she felt inspired that they needed to meet together. They gathered in a small conference room in the basement of the old Gilbert Public Library, six strangers. When they left two hours later, they were sisters. Of those charter members, three are still active in what eventually became ANWA: Marsha Ward, Sarah Hinze, and Peggy Shumway.

ANWA is exclusively for LDS women writers. Experience has shown that men and those not of the LDS faith do not integrate well into our membership. We've tried it. It doesn't work. Not for them. Not for us. Don't ask to change our core structure and purpose as a safe haven where LDS women writers can grow.

* LDS refers to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Why are you called Night Writers?

The name American Night Writers Association has a two-fold meaning. The first reflects the typical situation of the LDS woman who yearns to write: she is a daughter, student, wife, mother, career woman, or caretaker before she is a writer. In most cases, the only time left to write is at night. The second meaning derives from the fact that sometimes the words to write come in promptings from the Holy Spirit during the night.

What do you offer to your members?

• Nurturing support for writing aspirations
• A faith-based view of the world and our responsibilities as writers
• A monthly newsletter, Of Good Report
• Access to ANWA's e-mail critique and social lists
• Contact with other LDS women writers
• Monthly chapter meetings in person or online
• Marketing, publicity, and networking opportunities and contacts
• Contests and writing challenges
• Collaborators for projects
• An annual writing conference to which the general public is invited

More Information

To view and print out a brochure about ANWA, click here.

You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to read the brochure. If you don't have the free software, click on the button below.

Where are your Chapters located?

ANWA has several chapters meeting in the metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area (including daytime chapters); and in other communities in Arizona, Lower Alabama, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington State. For information about current or prospective ANWA chapters, or about forming a new one, click here

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ANWA's Official Song

Master Songwriter Joan Sowards wrote "Write Here, Write Now" for one of our ANWA Writers' Conferences, and it has become our official song. Click here for options to download your choice of 2 MP3 files of the song or to print it out. The printable file is in .pdf format, and you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to do so. If you don't have the free software, click on the button.

What about a Men's Chapter?

ANWA was designed with the LDS woman writer in mind. Over the years, we have received pleas for and questions about the availability of an ANWA chapter for LDS men writers. We have tried—unsuccessfully—to help men form their own writing group. Since administering ANWA is a huge task, we've had to drop the effort.

Recently, the issue surfaced again. With the advent of websites, e-mail, and group lists and newsletters, we think the problem is solved. We invite men to find a comfortable place through a web search for LDS or LDS fiction or LDS writers or something similar. Yahoo!Groups has several LDS-oriented writing clubs in their listings.

Here's another suggestion: Latter-day Authors They have lots of articles on writing instruction on different styles, and a forum for interaction with other writers of like minds. Check them out.

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