Meet founder and CEO of WOW! Women On Writing

We recently had a chance to chat with Angela Mackintosh, founder and CEO of WOW! Women On Writing. For our readers who are not familiar with Angela and WOW! Women On Writing, read on to learn more about this inspiring business woman and her website for writers.

Angela Mackintosh is founder and CEO of WOW! Women On Writing: http://wow-womenonwriting.com

MWLM: Welcome to MWLM Angela and thanks for chatting with us about WOW! We see that you are an artist and a writer - how do these play off of each other in your world? Does one feed the other, so to speak?

Angela: How funny you should ask because I was just thinking about this the other day! Actually, they are quite the opposite. When I’m using my artist’s brain I find it very hard to write, and conversely. But in some ways they mesh creatively—for instance, when I’m thinking of a new theme for our issues I consider both aspects—the concept and play on words, and how it will translate into an image and color scheme. I suppose it’s the very starting point of every issue, so in that sense they do feed off of one another.

MWLM: On your website, WOW! Women On Writing there is a wealth of information and seasoned writers to help other writers get where they want to go. How did you make these connections?

Angela: Honestly Samantha, it’s like taking a crash course in writing! I’ve learned so much from these fabulous women writers, editors, agents and publishers. When WOW! started, I was just learning about the writer’s journey, so I figured I might as well learn from women who’ve had success in the publishing world. Basically, I didn’t know any better! I made a wish list of women who inspired me to write and then contacted them. I was surprised when they said yes! I’ve been honored to meet some of my mentors: Amy Tan, Ann Moore, Nan Talese, and Sandra Dijkstra. Even if the interview is conducted by email, I like to follow up with a phone call to thank them and chat, which is always fun. Sometimes being green has its advantages.

MWLM: We LOVE your concept – filling the gap between writing websites and women’s magazines. Tell us how that concept was conceived!

Angela: Thank you and I love the concept of MWLM as well! I’ve worked in the graphic design industry for over ten years, creating artwork for print magazines. When I started focusing on my writing I noticed that most of the writing sites were fairly drab, in my humble opinion, and some were actually eyesores! So I thought, why not combine a magazine like O: The Oprah Magazine with the hard content of a writing website? With a name like “WOW!” you’ve already got a lot to live up to! I wanted to create that response in readers, and put the fun, excitement, and encouragement back into writing. Which is what you ladies do on your site as well, and I love that. As you know, published men writers still outnumber women writers, which is why we need communities like ours to provide homes and support for women writers and moms.

MWLM: What is next on the horizon for you and WOW?

Angela: We have a lot of exciting things in store for this coming year—we’re launching classes and workshops, a forum, new media such as video, and will probably add another contest. This season we have an essay contest sponsored by the Globe Pequot Press’ skirt! books ( http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php ), but we’ve always run flash fiction contests, so it would be nice to offer writers both.

MWLM: Sometimes ideas stream into writer’s heads quicker than they can write them down. What do you do when you get a great idea, whether you’re in line at the coffee shop or stuck in traffic on the I-5?

Angela: Spill my coffee, then either reach for the mp3 recorder I always carry with me in case of an interview, or pick up my cell and call my answering machine at home and leave a message, or grab a pen from my purse and jot notes down on the nearest napkin, receipt, or notepad. And sometimes when I don’t want to look goofy speaking into a recorder at Starbucks, I rely on my memory. But in the end, I end up using a lot of spray and wash on my coffee-stained clothes!

Thank you so much Angela for taking the time to chat with us and all the best to you and WOW! Women On Writing.

Samantha & MWLM Team

Comments

[Tali Tal]

This is so inspiring. Made my day.

Tali

[Annette]

Angela is a creative genius. I aspire to be as prolific as she is. WOW! definitely fills a need for women writers. I learn so much from every issue. And as a mom-writer with plenty to say, I'm glad I discovered MWLM! I'll have to poke around and check it out. =)

I don't know about coffee stains, but here is a stain removing product I love: De-Solv-it. I've gotten stains out of a man's white business shirt from a blue ink pen leak. And stains out of a load of jeans that had melted red lipstick (yes, the whole tube) that went through an entire dryer cycle before I found the baked in mess.

[Chynna]

What a GREAT interview, Angela. I am so proud to be part of this team of women writers. Thanks for keepin' me around. ;oD

BTW: With three kids under 5, I can definately vouch for the Spray N' Wash stick. ;oD

Chynna

[Debbie]

I'm so excited to be new to the WOW! journey! Angela, what you have created a safe community for women to see that we can and SHOULD get our pens moving. We have something to say and we may as well put it out there. :)

[Angela]

Thanks Ladies for posting the interview!

For WOW!'s interview with Paula Schmitt, by editor Sue Donckels, please visit: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/2007/09/spotlight-on-paula-schmitt-mom-writers.html

Hugs,

Angela

[Sue]

We're all looking toward the horizon, Angela. (And we'll bring along some Spray n' Wash, Tide to Go, and a Clorox stick for you) LOL.