Sharing Your Wisdom as an Elder and a Writer
Plus how, why and where to share it
"When you think you are too old to do something new remember you will never be younger than you are right now." - James Clear.
If you’re over 50, 60, 70, or even 90, it’s not too late to be a writer. The wisdom of the elders has always been a precious resource, and some would argue we’re more in need of it than ever these days.
Coincidentally, many retirees are more in need of a supplemental income than ever, too. So if you are heading into your Third Act, now might be the perfect time to consider spreading the wisdom around, and getting paid for doing it.
Older writers have much to offer in the way of experience, perspective, and resilience. They’ve faced life’s problems and found solutions. They’ve survived, and maybe thrived, and almost certainly – at times – floundered a little too.
Some of the writers I love most on my main reading and writing platform, Medium, are wise retirees diving into a second (or in some cases third or fourth) career. If you’re a new-but-older writer check out the Medium publication Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age for some great examples of the elders of the tribe passing their stories on. And consider submitting a piece of your own to them.
Or check out the many publications out there aimed at older readers. Could you offer them some of your writing? Many of them pay a decent amount for well-researched, carefully crafted pieces from older writers. Take a look at this list of publications aimed at older readers for inspiration.
You won’t be alone. A recent global survey found that freelancers of 50+ comprised 31% of the total survey population, with around 30% of Gen X and 20% of Baby Boomers now freelancing part- or full-time.
If you’re a brand new (but older) writer, Freelance University even has a specific course aimed at those coming to the profession at 50+. They run a subscription site where you can access multiple high-quality, self-paced, online courses for a set monthly fee. Find the details here.
The world is in need of the wisdom of the elders. Maybe it’s time to start sharing yours.
Some thoughts from others I’ve been enjoying this week
The quick guide to writing a concise story about your life that blows your reader's minds by
Why This Story Went Viral [Storytelling Deep Dive] by
Anyone Can Make Money Writing (How To Stop Being A Penniless Writer) by
What else I’ve been up to this week
Reading: Transform Your Medium Stories: A Complete Guide to Turning Your Online Content into Money-Making Books by
(free on Kindle Unlimited)Listening to: This Walk & Talk with Greg McKeown — How to Find Your Purpose and Master Essentialism
Enjoying: Windswept walks on the beach
Not enjoying: The US election results (I don’t live in the US, but I have this thing called empathy and there are a lot of feelings being processed right now)
Making: A Resources for Freelance Writers page on Benable
This week’s Medium posts
It’s been a slow week on Medium, so here are a couple from the archives. One short and one long. (Friend links, as always, so you can read for free if you’re not a member.)
That’s all for this week. If you’re reading this online and you’re not subscribed yet, feel free to subscribe to get future posts straight to your inbox.
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I loved this read. It is truly never too late to start writing. An important reminder also of the role as elders that older people can be to their wider community - I feel like this notion of an elder so often is forgotten in modern society.
It’s funny, I was just thinking yesterday about how good a storyteller my gran was and that it was a shame that she (or I) didn’t write her stories to keep them alive.