I found myself writing a book at 81 years of age. Mind-boggling!
I sat down to finally write the book that had been sitting on a shelf in my mind for three decades. I knew I would write it, but the time wasn’t right. However, I was certain that I would know when it was the right time. Little did I realize it wouldn’t be until my eighth decade! Today, 81 is the new 61. Who needs sleep, anyway?
The Writing Journey Begins: The Initial Spark
I knew my book would be nonfiction, a subject close to my heart. It would not only allow me to share my lifetime of wisdom-gathering but also leave a footprint for future generations. It would be a mix of memoir and advice, imparting knowledge, laughter, pathos, heartbreak, and hope.
It just so happened that I was about to spend a second winter living alone with my dog when my sister offered me the invitation to come and stay with her, her hubby, and their cat for three to four months. When the dog was plunked down in the cat’s ‘castle,’ she declared war and became a wizard at hiding places.
Once ensconced in my room with bed, TV, fireplace, desk, and comfy easy chair, I began to write every morning for 3 to 4 hours. Thanks to being out of my daily element and into the haven provided by my sister, the book was completed within three months.
The Editing Gauntlet
If writing a book was like running a marathon, editing was like running it in flip-flops. Even with the assistance of a professional editor, we had to go through that book over and over again, making changes for spelling, cadence, punctuation, run-on sentences, word tense, and phrasing. It reminded me of my knitting days, if one stitch is out of place, the whole thing unravels.
The first draft is just the beginning and although arduous, the editing is educational and changes your book into your own piece of worded art.
Hazards of Technology
The Olympic race technology is running has me lagging far behind. I no sooner get a piece of it in the bag, when the bag ends up in the garbage and a new one replaces it! Not only do I have to learn something new again, but I have to try to forget what I previously learned!
Formats, fonts, digital platforms, upload, download, word processors; an entirely new language. When I was growing up, the most high-tech thing in our house was the toaster. I recall one time battling with stubborn margins on the PDF format (Pretty Dam Frustrating) when the entire manuscript rearranged itself into abstract art. Patience and my sense of humor saved the day.
The Publishing Process; A Comedy of Errors
There are plenty of self-publishing companies out there. I asked other authors (finding them in Facebook and Linked In writing groups) for their experience, and with good, old-fashioned pen and paper did a comparison of what these companies offered for what they charged and what I needed.
I’m now navigating the world of ISBN’s, print-on-demand, and whatever the heck “metadata” means. I’m now up to my eyebrows in book cover design and writing a ‘short’ bio. For an 81-year-old this is more challenging than writing the book. There is nothing ‘short’ about 81 years.
As for a photo on the back cover? I couldn’t decide between a photo from 1965 and one closer to the present day. I decided my 81-year-old mug shouldn’t be taking up the valuable space better used for a longer, “short” bio.
Marketing the Book: Not for Introverts
Writing and publishing the book was a piece of delightful chocolate cake compared to promoting myself. For me, this was the most difficult part of the entire process. It felt like bragging, and in my era, as a child, that was really bad manners. So, I made fits and starts with social media posts and tweets, wrote a blog, and put up a website, another huge learning curve necessitating the use of language that would fry your hair.
I cajoled my Sis and 2 best friends to be my supporters and reviewers of every chapter as I rolled them out. Unquestionably, it’s because of their love and constant cheerleading in the wings, that I was able to plow through the difficulties and party on with them at each successful completion.
The Rewards
If you, dear reader, happen to be in your senior years or you have a loved one who is, please encourage them to do whatever it is they say they wish they had done or would like to do “someday”. ie: sing, paint, play an instrument, practice photography or write a book. Being “put out to pasture” is boring! Besides, age is just a ridiculous number. As long as we are on this planet, we have a purpose to fulfill. Moreover, it’s a gym for the brain.
I strengthened my patience, flexibility, and ability to learn and that it was okay to hire an expert from whom I could learn to navigate the rough seas of book writing and publishing.
My greatest reward? I’ve left a legacy. Part of the footprint I will leave on this world. One day, perhaps a great, great grandchild will locate a book of yellowed pages, tucked away at the bottom of a packing box. She will open the stiff cover, inhale the fragrance of dusty, old paper, sit on the attic floor, and enter the life of her ancestor.
It was worth it all!
Lynn Moore is a British Columbia-based author and motivational speaker who has embraced life’s journey with purpose and passion. Her remarkable story spans decades, weaving together roles as an educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and adventurer. With a natural talent for writing and teaching, Lynn has brought her gifts to every chapter of her life. From a marriage that thrived for 50 years to launching and running three successful businesses, her entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds.
Lynn’s adventures took her across the globe, including teaching English to young Buddhist monks in Kathmandu, Nepal. At 72, her insatiable curiosity led her back to university to study Psychology, proving that age is no barrier to learning. Lynn’s life mission has always been to uplift, inspire, and empower others to pursue their highest potential. Her book, Born to Bounce Back: Regain your zest for life after it knocks you down, is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters Indigo.