Writing isn’t just about being sat in front of a screen all day tapping out words on a keyboard. Enrolling on a course or joining a local writing group will help you to feel part of a wider community. You can also go to talks by writers, attend one of the many literary festivals or visit literary locations.
A large part of writing is researching. You can do this at your local library, by talking to experts and interviewing people. This applies just as much to writing fiction as non-fiction. Whatever you write you need to get the details correct. Yes, a lot of research can be done online but you can’t beat an actual visit to a location you’re writing about to get the details just right.
It’s great fun telling people you’re a writer at parties or gatherings. But you will get quizzed on what you’ve written, or are writing about, so make sure you’re actually writing. People who swan around pretending to be ‘writing a novel, darling,’ just look a bit sad.
Over the years you’ll have gained a lot of knowledge and experience that can be passed on. Just because the world is changing at a rapid pace doesn’t mean that your knowledge isn’t relevant or saleable.
Writing your memoirs or family history is a very personal project but a worthwhile one. Future generations will be fascinated by your personal account of living in our times. And if done well they can be a very useful record for social historians.
Some people have gone a step further and managed to write best sellers based on life experiences – James Herriot, Bill Bryson, Peter Mayle, Jane Goodall and Joy Adamson to name a few. If you’ve done something unusual or can look at everyday life in a quirky or humorous way then you could give this type of writing a go. It needn’t be a book. A blog is a great way to start and also a great way to judge if you’re getting the tone right.
So there you have just six benefits of taking up writing in retirement. If you’d like to learn to write then check out The Writers Bureau writing courses. There is a whole range to choose from so you’re bound to find one that suits your interests.
And if you think that you're too old to start writing think again. Click here to find out who started successful writing careers later on in life.
Found these tips useful? Then sign up to receive more writing tips and course offers.
"I have seen my writing journey as an adventure: What can I write? What am I best at? What new aspects of writing can I discover and contribute towards? I have welcomed the wide range of modules covering different types of writing, challenging me to try new aspects in style and content, pushing me gently outside my comfort zone with encouragement. "I signed up for the course in December 2020 as a Christmas present to myself and I started the first module in January 2021. I have had eight pieces published: three paid earning £1080 and a star letter where I won a £250 hotel voucher." Annemarie Munro - Writers Bureau Student of the Year 2022 |
The WRITERS BUREAU
Privacy Policy
10th August 2018
BACKGROUND:
The Writers Bureau understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used and shared online. We respect and value the privacy of everyone who visits this website, www.writersbureau.com ("Our Site") and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a manner that is consistent with Our obligations and your rights under the law.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully and ensure that you understand it. Your acceptance of Our Privacy Policy is deemed to occur upon clicking `Accept Cookies` on our Cookie Policy Popup and You will be required to read and accept this Privacy Policy when signing up for an Account. If you do not accept and agree with this Privacy Policy, you must stop using Our Site immediately.
"Account" |
means an account required to access and/or use certain areas and features of Our Site; |
"Cookie" |
means a small text file placed on your computer or device by Our Site when you visit certain parts of Our Site and/or when you use certain features of Our Site. Details of the Cookies used by Our Site are set out in section 13, below; |
"Cookie Law" |
means the relevant parts of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003; |
"Personal Data" |
means any and all data that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified from that data. In this case, it means personal data that you give to Us via Our Site. This definition shall, where applicable, incorporate the definitions provided in the EU Regulation 2016/679 – the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"); and |
"We/Us/Our" |
means The Writers Bureau is a division of Systematic Training and Trading Ltd (STT), a limited company registered in England under company number 256396, whose registered address is 8-10 Dutton Street, Manchester, M3 1LE., and whose main trading address is as above. |
Name of Cookie |
Purpose |
Strictly Necessary |
__utmb |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__utmt_~1 |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__utmt |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__utmc |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__utma |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__utmz |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
__PHPSESSID |
Analytics Cookie |
Yes |
Name of Cookie |
First / Third Party |
Provider |
Purpose |
_ga |
Third Party |
Google Analytics |
Analytics Cookie |
_gac_UA- 3238985-6 |
Third Party |
Google Analytics |
Analytics Cookie |