At the age of seventy-something I find I am more in vogue as a writer than ever in my life. The writer’s path is not always easy, but now,  I am multi-published: novels, short-stories, plays, essays, poetry, music and more. I say this to inspire or invigorate any wistful aging writer to believe it’s never too late to expect success.

Here’s what is true: You have to pursue writing if your reality is to channel the universe, circling life, love, the dark depths, and everyone and everything. I traveled the writing path for a very long time before my efforts were recognized. I was in my late-fifties before anything I’d created became a published work. Since then, I’ve had novels, short stories, essays, poetry, and plays published. My dramas and musicals have been productions. There seems to be no end to my creative successes!

There’s another aspect I’d like to address to benefit senior women, or women of any age. Take care of your image and appearance. I maintain an exercise regime, I try to eat healthily, and I’m socially active: church; community; organizations. I pursue learning and knowledge, enjoyment. And of course, I’m involved with my husband and children and grandchildren. In other words remain active.

I’m a wife of fifty-seven years, mother of three, grandmother of eight and living more fully than in my earlier days. I just wanted to demonstrate to everyone that you can hold fast to your dreams and goals, it might take ‘a minute’, but they are attainable, believe me!

Here are some things that I have learned as I have walked my writer’s path:

• Writers must connect with publishers, editors and producers.

Make yourself aware of that process!

Only seek publishers looking for your genre. You want to avoid wasting your time and efforts, and setting yourself up for disappointment–rejection is your worst enemy! Also, as you pursue publishers, and the others, beware of the ones that mean you no good.

Submitting your work usually starts with a ‘synopsis,’ an introduction to your story, and you! Everything hinges on a ‘synopsis’ for it tells the editor what the story’s about in a brief presentation. If you’ve presented your story idea well enough to spark the publisher’s interest, you’ll receive an invitation to submit more…a couple of chapters, or the entire manuscript for review.

• Editing matters!

You’ll find that editing is a huge part of creating a story that sells, and it’s important to listen to editors for they make your manuscript more worthy. They provide a critical service since they know what readers want. Also, listen to editor’s guidance about style, grammar, using active voice, and other elements about which you might neglect. As a matter of fact, the procedure editors perform is ‘surgical’, as they get rid of what the manuscript can’t use, or does harm, and insert what’s needed. In the end they’ve made your manuscript more appealing to an audience of readers.

• Join a group.

Getting with other writers and with writing organizations can offer writers clarity and support. There’s a lot of truth in the old saying, “Two sets of eyes are better than one”… the interchange has benefits.

• Accept that rejection is a part of the process.

Rejection plays a heavy role in a writer’s life. Every submission has a high possibility to be turned down. Publishers, editors, producers and others have to decide whether a writer will produce a ‘seller’ or nor, a decision that carries a lot of weight. Personally, my ‘rejections’ could fill a dresser drawer, but I continue to submit!

• Marketing and Promotion are critical.

Lastly, but very importantly, once you’re published, it’s vital that you become heavily involved promoting and marketing. Your work is an isolated project when you’re ‘creating’ and becomes a ‘public’ endeavor after. Be prepared to seek out interviews, venues for readings and signings, public appearances of all sorts, libraries, universities, churches, magazines, social media, organizations…any possible means of access. Also, websites that advertise writers’ work can be a good source for broadening sales. I’d suggest you look for the ‘free’ ones. I discovered several ‘free’ sites online. You have to consider every opportunity if you’re going to have any success as a writer. They’re many outlets for your work available. It’s up to you to go after them.

Keep Writing, and Good Luck!!!