About Annie Fox & her Blog
Annie is a winner of Top 25 Book Author Moms - 2012
What tips would you give a mom who wants to write a book?
Writing a book is a huge undertaking. (Gotta be honest!) Being a mom, especially when you're kids are young is an even bigger one. If you've got a book inside you, treat the inspiration with respect and set aside no less than 1 hour, to yourself, to write. If you don't have at least one hour a day of quiet, uninterrupted time (that includes the self-discipline to stay off the internet!) then this may not be the time for you to tackle a book. When you're kids are more independent it will still be hard to write, but if you have the drive and the determination, then you can make it happen with fewer other demands pulling you in the opposite direction.
How do you balance writing and motherhood?
I began writing professionally when my daughter was 6 and my son was 6 months old. It was a real challenge! And if my husband wasn't totally supportive of my writing, it wouldn't have been something I could have managed very well at that time. Now my kids are all grown up and it not a balancing act between writing and motherhood any longer. But it's still a challenge to stay focused on the task at hand. So many distractions! When I'm seriously into a project I turn off the internet. Seriously! An hour of no digital distractions can, surprisingly, allow you to accomplish. The time at serious concentration adds up!
Where do you find writing inspiration?
Most of my inspiration comes from the emails I get daily from tweens, teens and parents from around the world. They turn to me for advice about all kinds of challenges of growing up and parenting in the 21st Century. They describe their situations and their feelings and their confusion. I am inspired by the challenges of people growing up and guiding tweens/teens. I am also inspired to do whatever I can, with my writing, to help them navigate these churning, unpredictable waters. My writing for kids, teens and parents, whether fiction or non-fiction it's all about helping kids make choices that reflect who they really are.
What are your favorite Blog Posts?
Annie's Answers
Can you recommend a great toy that costs less than $10? Please share a link to a photo.
I define a great "toy" (the only kind worth giving) as anything that engages a child's imagination, heart, mind and spirit. That said, the best toy you can give your child is a library card! With it, your daughter/son will travel on countless adventures of discovery. It is the key to their future and it's FREE! (What a deal!)
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How do you stay connected to your grown children?
Parents of grown children (and older teens who are well on their way) need to love with an "open hand." This shows your adult kids that you respect that they've got a life of their own. And isn't that what you always wanted for them? Isn't that why you spent all those years teaching them about responsibility and accountability and being a person of good character? Of course it was! Now they are taking all those lesson you provided and they are honoring you with the choices they make out in the world. When they reach out to you, via phone, email, text... always respond with genuine enthusiasm that you are happy to hear from them and eager to listen and share. Lay a guilt trip on them for not connecting "more often" and they will not appreciate it. Makes sense, right?
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