The Older Author
Do you have what it takes to be successful?
There is no time like retirement or hitting fifty to
start a writing career. Your time is your own, your children are grown, and
your job doesn’t interfere with your creative thought process. You keep hearing
about people who are jumping into the self-publishing arena and are wondering:
Why not me?
It
pays to give it some thought before beginning a writing career. The first thing
you have to ask yourself is why you want to write? If the answer is for your
own pleasure, then get right at it, no need to plan. You might enjoy taking a
class in writing at a local college.
But
if your goal is to make money as a self-published author or have your writing
reach a large audience, there are a few things you will need to take stock of
first.
1.
You must
have basic computer skills. And be comfortable communicating online.
Familiarity and ability to use social network sites are a big advantage. If you
hate computers and all things digital, self-publishing is probably not for you.
If you are lacking in those skills and still want to write, take a class in
computer basics and one in networking.
2.
Own
your own computer. Using your husband’s, your children’s or one from
a local library just won’t work. If you cannot afford one, used computers are
available. Just don’t use one that is too old to be compatible with the things
you will need to do online.
3.
Time. If
your schedule is packed with things like traveling, golfing, taking care
grandkids, having company, and socializing with friends, you will have to
decide where writing will fit into your life. For some writers, an hour a day
is enough, and others spend eight hours a day writing and marketing. But you need to write
regularly. If your lifestyle won’t accommodate that, you may need to reset some
priorities in order to free up some time.
4.
A quiet
workspace. There are writers who claim to be able to work no matter
what the distraction. But most of us need a quiet spot for writing. If you
don’t live alone you will need a work area you can call your own.
5.
Be a
reader. If you aren’t a reader, writing will not come easily.
And it will be hard to decide just what genre you want to write in. Most
writers have been avid readers and write in the genre they enjoy the most.
Familiarity with the genre you will write in will help you be successful
because you will have an idea what those readers are looking for.
6.
Be a
goal setter. A writing career is a huge endeavor. Make a list of the
things you need to do in order to get started and follow through, beginning
with the basics. Establishing daily and weekly goals force you to keep moving forward.
7.
Have
determination. Without this, you cannot be successful. If you think you
can just slap your book on Amazon.com and be “discovered,” think again. The
chances of that happening are about as likely as winning a multi-million-dollar
lottery. It requires a lot of hard work, both in honing your writing skills and
marketing your writing, in order to obtain an audience for your work.
Dear readers,
As more and more of us who are no longer twenty-one get
into writing, (along with everyone else!) it is important to recognize that the
competition for readers’ attention is fierce. If you feel you have what it
takes to write and self-publish or at least want to give it a try, it might
help to join a writers’ group or take a night class for people who want to
write. Either one will not just help improve your writing, but will give you a
lot of valuable input from other writers. Good luck!
Marla
