Title: Senior Writing: A Brief Guide for Seniors Who Want to Write

ISBN: 0741442965

About the author:  Marlys Marshall Styne, a retired college English teacher rediscovered the joys and benefits of writing at age 73, when she wrote her previous book, Reinventing Myself: Memoirs of a Retired Professor. That first book won a first-place award in the 2007 Illinois Woman's Press Association Communication Contest. Ms. Styne lives in Chicago, where she writes and promotes writing by, for, and about senior citizens. She writes two blogs. "Never too Late!" and "Write your Life!" and is a columnist and contributor for senior web sites. Her interests include reading, travel, opera, and theater, and she serves as a volunteer at the Chicago Cultural Center.

From the dust jacket: Senior Writing is a brief manual for senior citizens who need to record their valuable experiences and memories for themselves, their families, or posterity. It covers journaling and the benefits of personal writing to discover, to heal, and to reinvent. it offers short writing samples by the author based on some of her writing suggestions. Finally, it describes various methods of organizing, revising, editing, printing, self-publishing, and sharing life stories. This book is a non-technical writing guide for those who do not consider themselves writers, but are willing to try; it offers ideas, examples, and choices, but no rigid rules.   

Review: If you are thinking about writing but wondering whether you really want to begin then both of Marlys Styne's books are well worth reading. Both can be read in one sitting, but don't let that put you off. Reinventing Myself is the kind of book that captures the peak experiences in life that provide an impetus for writing regardless of whether you are writing for publication or for your own personal pleasure.  this is the kind of work that helps put one's life in perspective. She puts it this way, "Write because you've always wanted to write, or because you used to enjoy writing, or because you've always thought you can't or can or should write. Write because you've been told you have interesting stories to tell, or because you realize you do. Write because you are bored or sad or happy or disappointed. Write because you have a problem to solve. Write because you're unable or unwilling to do anything else at the moment, or simply because you want to. Write to find out who you are, regardless of your age or situation." 

Senior Writing is a non-technical guide to help you decide if you want to begin writing. It is a short, quick read, but full of sage advice predicated on a theme To discover, To Heal, To Reinvent, and To Share. Ironically short books are much harder to write than long ones and Senior Writing contains all of the elements you need to begin writing.

Title: How to Plan a Great Second Life

ISBN: 9780970862143

About the author:  Gordon Burgett has published 1700+ articles. This is his 23rd book. The others were about writing, niche publishing, speaking, and treasure hunting. Gordon just got old enough to write about retirement and second life planning. He also speaks nationwide about "How to Plan Your Own Super Second life." 

From the dust jacket: It's your Second Life...

• if you don't plan it, who will?

• if you don't do it now, when?

First, take stock of where you are today:

• your assets: money, skills, things, friends

• your health: now, genetic baggage, future

• your money: saved, saving, expected

• what you don't want to do or be later

The create your own Great Second Life!

• write a Dream List

• put the dreams to a commitment test

• prioritize and sort them by age

• coordinate them with your spouse/mate

• factor in your financial resources

• create a final action plan

Review:

Title: Sally: The Older Woman's Guide to Self-Improvement

ISBN:  9781934738597

About the author:  Judy Laddon is an award wining author, journalist and publisher who decided to write the story of the most intriguing woman she knows. She and two colleagues recently received a first-place award for investigative journalism from the national Society of Professional Journalists. Ladden has written several popular books about spiritual growth that have been translated into four languages. A Spokane, Washington resident, she is the former co-publisher and editor of Spokane Magazine and Camas Magazine. 

From the dust jacket: Oppressed by a bad marriage, the former art director of the Marshall Plan stumbled through decades of psychotherapy looking for herself. Like so many women, she longed for a creative outlet and a sense of accomplishment beyond her home and family. Finally, at age 73, she discovered the key. This true story inspires and encourages women to know that there is life after a failed marriage--and that it's possible to reinvent yourself at every stage of life.

Review: This is the kind of book that enables one to truly understand that every time a door closes another opens. It's precisely the kind of book to read if you are trying to put your own life in better perspective. Laddon is a gifted biographer.

Title: The Writer Within You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing in Your Retirement Years

ISBN: 9780979363603

About the author:  Charles Jacobs' varied career makes him the ideal person to help you understand the complexities of the publishing industry and the writing profession. A top executive on both magazines and newspapers, he retired to launch a freelance career as a novelist, nonfiction writer and writing coach. He has published more than 750 articles. See his resume on the web site www.retirement-writing.com.

From the dust jacket: Created to meet the expressed needs of Retirees, Seniors and older Baby Boomers who have long dreamed of writing. The Writer Within You guides readers step-by-step through the process of writing in the most popular genres chosen by wanna-be-authors.

• Learn the basics of crafting a novel, nonfiction, a memoir, articles, travel or business writing.

• Discover how to choose the best and most cost-effective methods of publishing and marketing what you write.

• This hinds-on, simplified guide leads you comfortably through the entire publishing process from initial planning to bookstore shelf.

• The next best thing to having a full-time personal consultant lead you by the hand. 

Review: The Writer Within You is a book for people serious about writing. Charles Jacobs provides a wealth of information regardless of whether you are interested in fiction or nonfiction, pleasure or profit. There are twenty five chapters and the resource list in the appendix alone is worth the price of the book.  Jacobs breaks down the publishing industry in common sense terms and provides the kind of advice that only someone with many years of experience can offer. There are several good guides available for aspiring writers and I recommend reading most of them if you are really serious about writing. But this book is a perfect one to start with. 

I know from firsthand experience what it's like to begin writing late in life. I began in my early forties and have always wished I had started much younger,  but it's never too late to begin and I wish I had had a guide like this in the beginning. Charles Jacobs has a web site with free materials at: http://www.retirement-writing.com/home.aspx 

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