A blog for Writers

Women and Adversity:

Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas 

Thus far in my new blog: Women and Adversity, I have featured New York Times bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby (www.kimroby.com)  and literary Agent at P.S. Literary Agency Carly Watters (http://carlywatters.com/blog. I am contacting women authors, agents and editors to learn what they had to overcome to be successful in this competitive publishing world. I believe their words will be inspirational for those aiming to get their stories and books in print. 

 With this post Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, short story writer, historian and winner of multiple awards including the 2013 National Federation of Press Women Communicator of Achievement award, explains the biggest obstacle in her writing career. Marianne served as president of Illinois Woman’s Press Association and secretary on the National Federation of Press Women executive board. A woman’s advocate, Marianne’s most recent “Leadership, 1937-2013, The First Forty Presidents of the National Federation of Press Women” chronicles that institution’s leaders.

 I asked her what the biggest obstacle was that she faced when she first began writing.

Marianne: The biggest obstacle I faced when I first began writing was self doubts. That little voice would pop up every so often inside my mind. I wanted to write. I knew I had stories to tell. But were they good enough? Who would want to read them? I began to gain confidence from mentors. They were frank. They reminded me to believe in the work I was doing, to trust myself to keep on writing and get the words on the page. The more I focused on my words on the page and less on the little voice inside my head I learned to push that negative voice away. Trust in the work. Trust in yourself to tell your stories.

 I also asked what obstacle/s she faces now as a writer.
Marianne: Time. My husband underwent brain surgery in April 2013. Between caring for him and my elderly parents, who are also going through their own personal health concerns, it feels as though I never seem to have enough time. Early on, when my husband was first recovering at home I would use those periods he was resting or sleeping to pull together my research and writing for my latest book,  “Leadership 1937-2013, the First Forty Presidents of the National Federation of Press Women,” that was published in 2013. I had been researching the National Federation of Press Women for some time prior to learning about the cancer that struck my husband. In those quiet hours inside our home I pulled together my research and wrote about the women who had been the organization’s presidents. As I learned about their own personal struggles and obstacles as they led the NFPW, it encouraged me to get the book finished. Learning about these women gave me a certain strength of my own. These women are inspiring: each one different but with similar goals. I’m proud to have completed the book and that it was published during such a turbulent year in my personal life. 

Ways to reach Marianne, a Chicago resident, are www.mariannewolf.com and mwolfastro@aol.com.