Mariah Burton Nelson: Frances Willard Society

Author/Writer/Speechwriter

Creative, Compelling Communication

Frances Willard Society

Mariah Burton Nelson had no role models or mentors when she started writing about women in sports in 1980. Eighteen years later (December 1998), she created the Frances Willard Society to provide women's sports writers of all ability levels (and both genders) with support, mentoring, role models. (She has since expanded her focus to include Leadership Lessons from the Playing Fields, and An Athletic Approach to Work, and other topics.)

The FWS was founded in honor of Frances Willard, a suffragist and the first woman to write a nonfiction book about her sports experience: A Wheel Within a Wheel: A Woman's Quest for Freedom, 1895. (She named her bike Gladys.)

Quotes from Frances Willard's A Wheel Within a Wheel:

"I finally concluded that all failure was from a wobbling will rather than a wobbling wheel."
"The best gains that we make come to us after an interval of rest which follows strenuous endeavor."
"We saw with satisfaction the great advantage in good fellowship and mutual understanding between men and women who take the road together, sharing its hardships and rejoicing in the poetry of motion... We discoursed on the advantage to masculine character of comradeship with women who were as skilled and ingenious in the manipulation of the swift steed as they themselves. We contended that whatever diminishes the sense of superiority in men makes them more manly, brotherly, and pleasant to have about."
"Two things must occupy your thinking powers to the exclusion of every other thing: first, the goal; and second, the momentum requisite to reach it. Do not look down like an imbecile upon the steering-wheel in front of you... It is the curse of life that nearly everyone looks down. But the microscope will never set you free; you must glue your eyes to the telescope for ever and a day. Look up and off and on and out... so shall you win, and that right speedily."
"That which caused the many failures I had in learning the bicycle had caused me failures in life; namely, a certain fearful looking for judgment; a too vivid realization of the uncertainty of everything about me; an underlying doubt - at once, however (and this is all that saved me), matched and overcome by the determination not to give in to it."

The FWS currently has more than 130 members.

Members share leads, ask about publishing opportunities, offer advice on writing and editing, and discuss current events and controversies related to women and sports.

From an FWS member: "I wanted to let you know that I'm starting my own mediation business and you're at least partly to blame :) Since I joined FWS almost four years ago, I have been very grateful for the level of support I have received from you and others on the list. I've been fortunate to have some great mentors in other areas of my life
(sports, writing), but not as much in mediation. What has always grounded, yet inspired me, though, was the message that you have presented in your speeches, books, and open communication through FWS. I doubt that you could ever realize the extent to which your message (of mentorship but also healthy competition) has had a positive affect on me. To give you some idea, I first read your book "The Stronger Women Get the More Men Love Football" when I graduated as an undergrad in 1996, and I have been attempting to emulate you ever since." -- Peace, Laura L. Noah

More about the creation of the Frances Willard Society

To qualify for membership: You must write or plan to write about women and sports: fiction or nonfiction, for academic or general audiences. You must agree to abide by our simple code of conduct: Professional respect at all times. If you qualify, you may join free of charge by sending a blank email to FWS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com After you're signed up (you'll receive a confirmation message and info about how to unsubscribe easily), please introduce yourself to the group and contribute to our conversation! -- MBN

To contact Mariah, call 703/276-8323 or write to her at Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com

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