I know you’ve got a book in you. How do I know this? Having published over 15 books myself, I’m a magnet for not only the subject matter of authorship, but hearing about my conversation partners’ aspirations along these lines. Here’s what I’ve learned. I’ve rarely met a women 50+ who didn’t have a great story to tell, or the urge to write it.
It is not surprising that VibrantNation.com itself is becoming a center for publishing-related content. Publishers like Hyperion Books, who recognize that women 50+ purchase more than their fair share of books, are attracted to the site as a way to reach the critical mass of female readers in the demographic who are congregating on our site.
What is ironic (and unfortunate) is that the percentage of titles that are actually published by women authors of the Boomer generation for women in their own cohort is shrinking–even proportionately to the downsizing of the recession-eroded title pool–overall. In other words, there are a whole bunch of outstanding women 50+ editors and agents who love the work we’re producing, who have published us consistently over the past two, three or even more decades and who recognize good, important manuscripts not only written for but by the demographic, itself. And still, they are increasingly challenged getting manuscripts by women 50+ into print.
The crux of the issue is that while Boomer women are the largest consumers of books, overall, their purchases are diffused across their broad array of interests, tastes and passions. (In case you doubt this, take a good look at the variety of subjects covered by VibrantNation.com on any given day.) There have only been a handful of books directed specifically at this market that have delivered the kind of mega- numbers that keeps the gears of the industry churning. In fact, to come up with a compelling list of examples, I’ve got to go back into history to dig up titles like Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book,
, and The Artist’s Way.
So why write a book? First of all, because art is about process–not result. Taking the time to put your thoughts, life story, imagined plot, recipes, whatever, in writing can be pleasurable, meaningful and an end in itself, even if nobody other than your inner circle of friends reads your work.
But here’s something else–something genuinely encouraging. Write something good, and you’ll get your shot. And you won’t be competing with just about any woman author now 50+ who has ever published a book. Why? The publishing industry loves discoveries. Many publishers are looking for the new 50+ woman writer who can unlock the key to mass purchases by the Boomer woman reader who will buy books on subjects specifically for/about her.
And the rest of us? We are in reprint-by-demand, self-publishing or that new afterlife holding the promise of immortality: ebooks. Some of us are with smaller and smaller publishers. And most of the author prodigies in our generational class–especially the ones who had a relatively big book at one time and/or who parlayed their first success into a big advance on a second, but whose numbers ultimately disappointed–got dropped entirely.
You are actually better off in this current marketplace never having published at all than having published previously and established a less than stellar “record” for your sales expectations.
So, what’s your book?
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Sounds very interesting.
Spike, you are awesome! Love your perspective, thanks for sharing.
What an interesting post! I am a not quite 50+ woman (I’m 46), but am preparing to self-publish my first book, Living Introverted: Learning to Embrace the Quiet Life Without Guilt.
I feel excited and energized about authoring an “in print” book, and whether it sells 10 copies or ten-thousand isn’t the point. The point is to have done it.
I also feel encouraged because I can self-publish. We’re no longer living in an age where we have to wait for an almighty publishing house to deem our work worthy.
Thanks for this post. I’m enjoying Vibrant Nation greatly.
Bluemitten,
You are exactly right and I want to encourage you to self-publish. When I do book events, I keep the same thought, I will move forward whether one or one hundred people show up.
onesheila
Wonderful! It’s certainly to the point for many of us who are still (or at last) seeking balance in our lives!
I’m about 40,000 words into a novel I’ve been working here and there on for years. I’d love to finish it eventually, but because I’m a magazine writer/editor by day it seems as though writing is the last thing I want to do when I get home from work. Plus, my protagonist is in limbo–she’s at a fork in the road and I can’t quite decide which path I want her to take. Maybe I need to come here more often and try to get inspired. By the way, I’m 50, so I guess I better get busy.
Another baby step is to start a blog and start daily writing your ideas. At the end of a few months or a year, your book will be well underway.You can make it into an e-book and it will only be a very small cost!
My partner and I did it, and now we even sell it on line!
I think that your comment is a very nice thing to add; what if someone wants to publish a book to get justice. Thanks for your encouraging words to a vast public. I hope somebody does get justice; sounds good and exciting…
When I started my teaching career some 10+ years ago I started a diary to my first grandchild. I write about every day life in the rural Eskimo villages that I have lived in. When I leave the bush I’ll finish the book and give it to her, hopefully by the time she graduates from high school in a few short years.
I think we all have stories inside us at this booming vibrant stage of our lives. When I launched Empty Nest Support Services six years ago, the gift of having more free time since my daughter was 3000 miles away at college, was that I re-discovered my dormant inner writer. Frankly, she had been seeding since third grade. I write daily for my readers as well as other websites. I too am editing my manuscript . A whole creative world has opened for me at this cycle of life..UCLA writing workshops, NYWriter’s Institute, IWWG( International Women’s Writing Guild) and more. I am very grateful that I sat myself down and showed up in front of a blank page that now is filling. Natalie Caine M.A., Founder Empty Nest Support Services . Journaling has been a comfort, surprise and a laugh when I go back and read my entries. Thank goodness I still hide it under my bed. What a great idea that you posted this question. Thank you.
Natalie,
I also find that writing my monthly newsletter helps me to develop stories for my next book. I am writing everywhere and glad to see I am not alone.
You’re welcome! I’m loving hearing about everybody’s books and books-in-progress!
I’m in the middle of a really fun/funny/insightful book on internet dating with a great title, which i’ll keep under wraps for the moment. It’s a manual for boomer cyber daters! I have a brief questionnaire which men have been really great about responding to. It would be good to get more responses from women….or is it just men who have the funny insights? If a publisher doesn’t pick it up we are prepared to self – publish, so I’m writing away….and of course my blog, because blogging is a gas! write on girls. gail maria
Gail,
My motto is “never let a publisher stop you.” Sounds like a fun book.
I’ve written one already, and published at the age of 53. “Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir.” I’m now working on a novel at the request of my agent, who thinks I have a career. I’m a late bloomer! My novel will look at family betrayal, in particular a grandmother/mother/daughter triangle. I’ve also always wanted to write an advice book called “Heather’s Homilies and Helpful Household Hints!” The most important thing I have to share with would-be women writers over 50 is to join to the International Women’s Writing Guild (www.iwwg.com) and bring your story to our summer conference at Skidmore College in June. I’ll look for you there!
Slightly 50+ its amazing that I find such writing potential within myself. A little skittish about moving forward, but silently excited each time I provide an impromptu snipid to a stranger, watch them attentively listen and invariably comment upon how close to their own personally lives the work resembles, I am encouraged to continue. I have reached some 140 pages without so much as an ounce of hesitation, accomplishing some 15 pages per two and a half hour time span, and wondering just where all of this is coming from. Not only the characters, but how alive they become on the pages. My support factors are virtually null and direction is ambiguous at best, but my fluid movement within this work is amazing to me. I feel so at home writing. It is my intentions to finish, but some support (even encouragement) would be nice sometimes. There are times when I doubt myself as far as the success of this work is concerned and it stymies my efforts a bit, causing me to stop writing altogether. I have learned these days to make an appointment with my self – the suggestion of a co-worker – and to accomplish at least 10 additional pages per week. This method calms me a bit as well as lay wait any apprehensions I might have. All-in-all, I think the work is good, but I’ll never know until I actually finish. Any suggestions?
Dear Freedom: A page a day = 365 pages = a book. Just remember when you are writing that no one is booing or hissing from the margins. Tell your inner editor to go take a hike and read the chapter on “Shitty First Drafts” in “Bird by Bird” by Annie Lamott. The next thing to do is rework your definition of success, which begs the question who are you writing for? Your first draft should be just for yourself, and finishing it makes you a success. There are many other steps to success during the process of writing something that eventually goes public, and you can be a success with every step of the process you complete, one step at a time.
Thank you, Heather, I needed that.
Believe it or not, we began doing interviews for our book in 2000. Our focus on the sandwich generation went through as many transitions as we did. After a lot of generous feedback and more rejection letters than we care to remember, we signed with an agent several months ago. While waiting patiently to be discovered, we developed a website, newsletter, blog and articles for Internet distribution. Staying active online kept our disappointment in check and helped build a platform for when our book finally makes its’ debut.
I have the idea for a book but need help organizing the research and finding an editor publisher. It is everyone’s favorite subject SEX. Trying to show attitude changes since Kinsey report of the fiftiesSome of your comments have been very helpful. Thanks
This is great! What a wonderful way to listen to what has been said. Oh you thought I made a typo, no, I meant listen. Have you ever read about someone and learned from what you have read? Sometimes in our busy lives, we try to listen but other outside factors interfere with our listening. So when we are asked about something we cannot reply. However, in reading about someone or something, we get the chance to go back to the complete thought of the subject. So if the phone rings, the baby wakes up for his or her changing or bottle or to play we can put aside the subject and later return to it. Life if full of interuptions, some good, some not so inviting. Reading and writing gives us all a way to “listen” and contemplate and process what’s happening. Writing helps us get our thoughts out on paper, Lord knows we all have had times where we just want to speak out, and some of us may speak without thinking it all over. Writing it down may organizes our thoughts, get out our steam and still be able to give our opinions without get too carried away with our emotions in our writing. Drama, is reality for some of us, many in fact, not only that, we can share our life experiences and the wisdom we have all learned about something or someone. In sharing we make others validated, comfortable, we reassure them that their thoughts, beliefs, behaviors can be normal. It helps us all, and certainly we do have lots of wisdom to share, being the matured woman doesn’t have to mean we are old and our experiencse are not valuable. Kudos to you for writing and sharing your experiences and wisdom for us all to benefit in some way. P.S. I WROTE something ealier in response to this artilcle and I am not sure it went through, so if this seems repeatative, its just me making sure the thoughts are shared to those who want to read it.
This idea helps me to continue with my thought to write a book for our children and other relatives. The inspiration is a wish of one of my aunts told me last year. She wants to write her memories about our family, she remember details unkown by us related to our grandparents and others. I’ll write during this year with her help and my other two aunts that are still alive. I think it will be a treasure for all of us, have it and read it to our grandchildren and, so on.
Good luck to all of you with your writings!!!
What a wonderful way to connect with with other story spinners. I’m 58 and my published book is four and a half years old. I’m now seeking an agent for two novels. In the meantime, please let me tell you about Spicy Spinsters.
Spicy Spinsters: Stories of Seasoned Bachelorettes is a collection of fictional, short stories about women between 38 and 65 years of age who have never married. Each tale begins with a spice relating to the character’s personality or situation. These twenty-one stories are sometimes insightful, sometimes funny and sometimes a little sad. They represent unmarried feminists who helped change the role of women in the Western Hemisphere as well as those who continue adjusting to independence thrust upon them. The women in Spicy Spinsters: Stories of Seasoned Bachelorettes emerge from various economic, ethnic and moral backgrounds. Each is an honest representation of life without Prince Charming. From the atypical virgin, to the high-priced call girl, from the office clerk to the hospital oncologist, these women make up America’s growing number of spinsters. With few exceptions, the spices known today were used early in human history. The discovery of many spices predates the earliest civilizations, when primitive people were attracted to the aromatic flavorings and effects produced by essential oils found in various plants. The great value put on these plants began before 2000 BC. From the thirteenth century to the fifteenth century, gold seeking expeditions gained financial backing from the spice trade. Spices became so popular, society introduced a second meaning for the word. We also use it to mean “pizazz.” Like treasured seasonings, single, middle age women fulfill much of society’s fundamental need for stimulation by providing life with spice. Today’s spinsters are restorative to many and have elusive qualities, similar to an aphrodisiac. Jewel Hopson has chosen a spice for herself which none of her characters have. Which spice are you? Jewel Hopson has appeared three times on KDKA TV in Pittsburgh, PA and on WQED TV, Pittsburgh’s PBS affiliate to talk about this book. Pittsburgh has a viewing audience of 2.4 million people. Jewel also discussed Spicy Spinsters: Stories of Seasoned Bachelorettes on WKYT TV in Lexington KY. Lexington’s viewing audience is 467,000. Order Spicy Spinsters: Stories of Seasoned Bachlorettes from any bookstore in the world. The ISBN number is 1-4137-1684-9.
Hi, Robin Goodfellow here! Just self-published a book of ninety little chapters called OPEN YOUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. What a super subject for a blog you’ve got going here! I mean, where else but in the cornrows of sentences can a person best sit and think? The process of writing and reading is nothing short of magical: talking silently to another person…and that person reading back silently, deeply. To an onlooker, it looks as though the author and reader have never met, but have they ever! Like many of you, I’m a baby boomer, and though my book is meant to be meat for anyone, boomers will particularly enjoy it because, yup, they’ll recognize the snippets from real life. Cultural figures, grandchildren, natural facts…all strands from which to weave the message of the essay! And the reason behind the whole of the book? To motivate, entertain, and support anyone who wants to better their life. It’s an at-your-side kind of book. Would love to have you check out a sample chapter and the author interview on my Web site…and dive, too, into the bonus resource page of content-rich sites. (Hey, I’m going to go add this one to it right now!) The warmest of wishes, gals. Keep writing, thinking, and creating your best life. http://bigbigwindow.com
p.s. Woops, hard to correct a blog entry! While cornrows are beautiful, you don’t really want to sit and think in them, right? I meant “corn rows.” And I meant to add the triple w to my Web site address… http://www.bigbigwindow.com. Mario Puzo (think THE GODFATHER) said, “I don’t write. I rewrite.” Growing up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, he doubtless learned the value of second chances and continued effort. Though he died a few months before the turn of the millennium and the new flood of blogging, bet he would have empathized with the need to grab a blog and tweak it a bit…
I wrote a 400 page novel and self published. It’s on Amazon.com (Black Hole) and I’ve been leaving copies in airports, malls. etc. It would make a great escapist Lifetime movie. The odd thing is, I started writing it in June of 2007, finished it last June and in the meantime got divorced, went into an emotional tailspin, and things I wrote in the book actually happened in my life. Whew! Those who have read it loved it, and after hearing how hard it is to get a publisher to read it, I went another route. It is very “cool” to have a tangible book!
HELLO—brand new to this site and this is my first blog–Absolutely every woman has a story—the trick is to get it out, down on paper and read by the masses!! As a breast cancer survivor, with a daughter who is also a breast cancer survivor—my thoughts have been (not new-by the way!) to put together a book titled, ” WHAT DID YOU DO -TO MAKE IT THRU….? I have a loose list of people to contact and have just not made the first step….any thoughts–anyone?
I have already written the book For Kids 59.99& Over. About getting older feeling good and being joyful. Getting older is reality but getting old does not have to be…Carol Stanley
I too am writing a memoir and it is so encouraging to find others doing the same (although I am over 60) – what a fun adventure to begetting older!
My memoir (and first book) “Off Kilter,” was published last year when I was 61. I found a small publisher who is also an ‘older woman’ and she’s been a great advocate for my book. I second Heather’s suggestion to join IWWG, and also recommend Story Circle Network, storycircle.org, “for women with stories to tell.”
This is great motivation. I have had two books published on my cancer journey. But, now that I’m 10 years post-cancer, I want to write an altogether different book. I have had one 80% done for a long time and just haven’t had the motivation to put the finishing touches on it. Thanks for giving me a kick!
Hi, Lois Chisholm here. Just published my first…HORSEHEAD. I started 20 yrs. ago, but did not have the funds to publish. Now, I have 9 more books that just seemed to flow from my brain. Hopefully, they will be in print soon. At 64, I can remember many things our kids can only read about in the library or see on film. In addition, my dad was a great story teller. So, I include these unique things in each book. Those who have read my book tell me it sounds like real life. That was my goal. And, yes, I still have more stories to tell. When I tell others that the title of one is THE LIZARD ON MY WINDOWSILL, they giggle and look at me funny. Thanks for encouraging us ‘old’ folks to be productive and entertaining.
Hi,
Jan Cullinane here, author of The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale). The book is in its second edition. For me, success came from writing about something I had a very strong interest in doing – both for myself and for my readers. I knew I’d be leaving my primary career, and wanted to learn about ALL the aspects of retirement – best places to relocate, health, working after leaving a primary career, psychology, money and taxes, etc. – my goal was to create a book that has everything in one place. The best resource (remember that my book is nonfiction, so you’d be writing a book proposal): The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published by Bykofsky and Sander. It covers everything! (It’s good for fiction as well.)
Good luck to all,
Jan
Two points:
1. Publishing a book establishes you as an expert in your field. I know it’s not logical, because if you’re writing about a subject already you ARE an expert, not becoming one, but this is the reality. So if you are seeking to establish your credentials, a book is an excellent way to do that.
2. I am encouraged by this article. Given the decline of the print industry and their apparent lack of how to deal with the changes that online publication have wrought, I had assumed that, in an already over-crowded arena, I would be a tiny voice that no one would want to hear. Learning that editors are searching for women over 50 gives me hope. I have three novels “in mothballs” on my hard drive. Perhaps it’s time to give them a re-look, dust them off, air them out, and “get ‘er done.”
Since one of them is a Boomer reunion mystery, I’m thinking that’s the one to pick first. Otherwise, knowing my ADD brain, I’d end up trying to work on all three at once and ultimately accomplish nothing. *sigh* I wonder if anyone else can relate…
great article and it is exciting to see so many women who are writing their books – myself included.
One thing I am avoiding is a lot of talk about aging. I find that depressing and my comedic look at my life and the lives of others stays away from that one subject – aging.
We don’t tell 5 years old that they are aging – so I stay on the positive.
Best of luck to all ! Our voices need to be out there!
I’ve had two titles published at tiny web venues that have since closed! The first was the story of marrying across the tracks into pure madness–being battered and having a friend of this insane husband try manfully to rescue me. This was an e-book written under a pseudonym with the names and locations changed to protect the guilty! It garnered me $9.90 from a publisher who closed with an army of authors and editors in hot pursuit of funds owed.
My second was a Christian romance about a young widow who has become disenchanted with journalism as a profession and visits her beloved mother-in-law (now there’s a change) at Christmas. Her husband has left her a mysterious legacy that can only be collected in person. A series of fires in the bucolic setting of rural West Virginia brings out the sleuth in this disenchanted reporter.
That one made no money at all and the publisher closed her site when she adopted twins. This was printed in limited quantities and I still mourn the demise of this small Christian enterprise because they published lovely stuff!
Judy,
There is a dark side to this industry. Your books sound very interesting so don’t give up. Are you aware of Book Expo America? Thousands of publishers, authors, literary agents, printers….. coming up in New York at the end of the May.
Hi Carol and all!
This is a very timely article for me. I have written and self-published an inspirational book with focus on women over forty entitled, “All About the Vets, A Sharing of Life Experiences for Women of Honor” (Vets). The book has wonderful stories about beautiful women who have endured through change, challenge and adversity to succeed in spite of age. When surveying women who have read the book, they often respond that they most appreciate that Vets speaks to them and they can identify with the stories, situations, issues and concerns that are presented in a positive way. Seasoned women are excited that someone took the time to speak to their needs.
I agree that we should pick up the pen and have a strong voice about women who are the predominate age curve today.