Member Spotlight: Ann Douglas

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? I believe that writers can change the world. We have the power to tell stories and to share ideas in a way that can fuel social change. It’s both an extraordinary privilege and a daunting responsibility.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I give myself permission not to write. I remind myself that thinking is an important part of writing. When I feel like the ideas are starting to flow, I tell myself I’m just making notes: I’m not actually writing. And then suddenly I *am* writing.

What is your favorite time to write? First thing in the morning, after I’ve had my first cup of tea and before I go for my middle-of-the-day walk. It’s when I feel most relaxed and most alert — a great combination for writing.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? Writers need to be in community with other writers

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? There are endless opportunities to learn and grow as a writer. Thanks to the increased availability of online workshops and seminars, I’m able to study with some of the best writing teachers in the world — and I can do so right from the comfort of my own home. I feel so lucky.

Ann Douglas’s Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women is out March 28.