Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion

How did you go with your AWW challenge this year? Have you completed it? If so, please let us know on our Challenge Completed page.

If not, there's still time. The challenge ends officially at midnight on December 31.

If you haven't already entered your review links to the challenge website, it's not too late to do that, either. Linking your reviews is an important part of the challenge as it helps to build our AWW database of books reviewed and support our project of overcoming gender bias. It's there to browse for books of interest, and with time it'll be a great resource for researchers. (It's archived by the National Library.)

I hope you'll join us again in 2017. You can sign up here.

Hey Lizzy, you're not closing 2016 until the end of December are you?

That's right, Brenda. We closed the sign-up page on Nov 30 and have now opened the 2017 sign-up form, but everyone has until midnight 31/12/2016 to get their 2016 reviews in. (I should edit my post to make it clear. Thanks for commenting!)

Oh that's good! Thanks for clarifying Lizzie! I'm still reading AWW and will be until the end. I almost filled in the completed form, but then thought I would leave it until I've read my last AWW :) Now I just have to remember! lol

I'll sign up for 2017 though :)

still need 2 more... forgot about the challenge for a bit... will have to read one after Christmas (I'm getting one as a present).

Brenda wrote: "Oh that's good! Thanks for clarifying Lizzie! I'm still reading AWW and will be until the end. I almost filled in the completed form, but then thought I would leave it until I've read my last AWW :..."

Glad you'll be with us again next year, Brenda! You're a legend.

Amy "the book-bat" wrote: "still need 2 more... forgot about the challenge for a bit... will have to read one after Christmas (I'm getting one as a present)."

It's easy to let it slide as the year progresses, isn't it, Amy? (I've been the same - not so much with the reading but definitely with reviewing.)

Hope you'll join again next year. I'm aiming to be more present in the group.

I'm afraid I won't be able to finish the challenge in time. Better luck next time I guess. And I didn't realise you had to link your reviews. Silly me :(

Sharon wrote: "I'm afraid I won't be able to finish the challenge in time. Better luck next time I guess. And I didn't realise you had to link your reviews. Silly me :("

Hi Sharon

You don't have to link your reviews, but it helps to build the AWW database which we use to write the monthly roundups on the AWW blog. Even if you've only read and not reviewed the books, it still counts as part of the challenge. Does this change your result?

Looking forward to what you plan for next year!

Lizzy

Hi Lizzy

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I will try and remember to link them next year seeing as it helps with the database. No it probably won't help with my result, but that's ok as I've enjoyed what I've read this year. Such wonderfully talented women authors :)

Lizzy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Oh that's good! Thanks for clarifying Lizzie! I'm still reading AWW and will be until the end. I almost filled in the completed form, but then thought I would leave it until I've rea..."

Thanks Lizzy - I wouldn't miss it for the world :)

I've got one more to go, and I'll be reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm in the middle of right now. This year was my first time doing the challenge and I've really enjoyed it.

Emily wrote: "I've got one more to go, and I'll be reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm in the middle of right now. This year was my first time doing the challenge and I've really enjoyed it."

That's great, Emily. I hope you'll join us again in 2017.

Emily wrote: "I've got one more to go, and I'll be reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm in the middle of right now. This year was my first time doing the challenge and I've really enjoyed it."

So pleased you enjoyed your first year with the AWW challenge Emily. Do you think it "made" you read more Aussie women writers?

I think so! Though there were some that I picked up randomly and realised later that they were AWWs, too. I added a couple of diversity caveats into my personal challenge, which means I had to hunt out ones to fill those, and I ended up enjoying all of the ones that I read for those reasons, which was really inspiring, too. Though the fact that I did have to hunt a bit for those just goes to show why we need the challenge in the first place, too.

You're right :) I know how much it's improved my reading of AWWs in the years the challenge has been going. It's also a lot of fun, which is great.

Phew! I decided I'd end my challenge now - not sure how much I'll get done by 31st December. I thought I hadn't met my goals but in the end I had exceeded them...nothing like the dizzy heights some of this group achieve but I can at least tick the box. Here's my challenge post http://luvviesmusings.blogspot.com.au...

Congrats Alexandra :) Don't forget to fill in the form and include your total! Hope you'll join in again next year :)

Dear Brenda - I have and I will :)

Excellent :)

Congrats Alexandra!

Thank you Brenda and Emily :)

Mine are in for 2016 and I'm signed up again for 2017! Love this challenge :))

I'm waiting until the complete end of the year Jools ;)

Brenda wrote: "I'm waiting until the complete end of the year Jools ;)"

Oh plenty of time for you to get several more books in Brenda ;) I wanted to clear the decks while I had a spare moment or I might miss the cut off.

I've made a note in my diary so I won't miss it ;)

Congratulations on finishing, Alexandra and Julie. Brenda, not long to go!

No, not long now :)

Don't forget those of you who haven't filled in your "completed form" yet - only a couple of days left to do so! The link is in the first post :)

I did mine on Christmas Day! Tells you how exciting my Christmas was this year.

Haha! Reading is pretty exciting ;) Good on you though.