"Words can change the way people think"

Author Anne Carse Nolting has received critical acclaim for her three books, including a Newberry Medal nomination and winning Mayhaven's Awards for Children's Fiction. But she cautions eager writers about the emphasis placed on such honors.

Writing, she said, isn't about winning awards. A perfect example is her grandmother's writings.

"My sister sent back a box of my grandmother's writings, and the stories she wrote -- which were never published -- mirrored my life and it blew me away," Nolting said.

"Awards are so arbitrary. My grandmother's writings had a profound impact on me, and that means more than if they were published or if they won a Nobel," she added.

At the core of writing is words, and Nolting said young writers should stop and think about the power words have on readers.

"When I'm doing workshops, I tell people that they have a responsibility with their words. Words can change the way people think. Martin Luther King. Thomas Paine. Their words had an incredible effect on the way people view the world," Nolting said. "When you write, you have to write with integrity, purpose, focus and a feeling for the community you are writing for. Words create lasting impressions."

Nolting said that while Alaska writers are at a disadvantage in terms of exposure to publishers, they do have a valuable resource -- each other.

"The writing community here is wonderful," Nolting said. "There is no feeling of competitiveness that you get down south. We all really support each other. There are really talented people here, but they aren't pushy."