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.
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