Calling All Authors!
Want to lend your experience and expertise to help other older adults break into the literary world?
Senior Planet is seeking authors who have had their work published as an older adult to join our upcoming Author Panel event on April 20 at 1:30pm EST. You will have the opportunity to share your story and give advice on how other older adults can tap into their creativity, write their masterpiece and snag a publisher.
Writers of any genre are welcome! We are not accepting self-published applicants at this time.
Click here for event details and to apply!
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Comments
I am a panelist for the Author Panel event on April 20 at 1:30 pm EST. We will be taking questions on all things author and writing for seniors (not just publishing). All four panelists are seniors that wrote books and got them published (or self-published) after the age of 60. I myself am 70 and have had 7 books published. My latest is called Untethered Aging. Learn more about the panelists and writing here. https://seniorplanet.org/news/2021/04/15/expert-advice-how-to-beat-writers-block/ If you want to write a book, this event will be enlightening! Will
I am interested in mentoring caregivers of spouses with progressive dementias. Currently I facilitate a group for Younger Onset dementia with the Alzheimer’s Association and have personal experience as well. I also facilitate a recent dementia spouse caregivers group for grief and loss. Mentoring through writing is challenging to keep up with the many changes so use of the web and e-mail as well as by phone comes in handy. I find many who are at a loss as to what is available for them and often are so overwhelmed that often poor decisions are made out of exhaustion and desperation. There is a need for encouragement and support from those who have experienced the journey and respect that we all wear different shoes. I am a retired RN ready to help and looking for opportunities.
Hi Jane! Please reach out to membership@seniorplanet.org and we’ll see if we can work on something together. Thanks!
I’ve taken writing classes most of my adult life. The subject of writing is significant to me. Some of my replies to columnists have been published. One article I’m particularly proud of was a response to a feature in Country magazine. And yes, they can use that as a plug if they would like to.
Hello,
I am a self published author , first published in my 47th birthday. I would encourage you to include an expert who has had experience with the self publishing industry. While I had a good experience a dear friend was scammed out of thousands of dollars.
I caution would be authors to do their homework and know the pros and cons of their choices. There are some cases, such as publishing for family or posterity when a vanity publisher may be a good choice, but knowing your publishing goals is as important as knowing your reading audience.
Hi Andora! Thank you for your input and insight. We are pleased to see the clear interested in self publishing that the community is expressing! So while we will keep this event focused on finding a publisher, the team is excited to work on an event focused specifically on self publishing to follow.
Hi Andora, I am a self-published author also, and I feel I too have something to offer would be authors. My book, The Face in the Wave was rated in the top 10% of books in Kirkus Review, so I think it is wrong to assume that self-publishers do so because their work isn’t worth publishing. I hope Senior Planet changes this policy. Best, Joanne
I agree with you since self publishing dominates the industry today because it takes too long for traditional publishing.
Dear Andora: thanks for the information you give. You say that self publishing might be good for family or posterity. I find the idea of posterity very interesting. Could you elaborate on it. What do you mean by posterity? With thanks and best wishes. Rina
I might have sent this already by mistake !
I agree with you and feel self-published books and the experience would add to the knowledge that others need.
Typed in my iPhone. Please excuse typos♀️
Andora
Greetings,
And what a great idea!
I will review guidelines.
Does online publishing count?
Hi Maggie – Yes! Please include the name of the website where your work is published when you fill out the interest form.