Last week I posted a brief editorial about mature writers still being relevant. If you are breathing, you are still able to write. Amazingly, writers came out of the woodwork thanking me for addressing that fact and respecting the senior writer.

Some of them were close to giving up. Some were still going strong and even helping others. Some were in the middle and my editorial was the shot in the arm they needed.

“Thanks for your reference to us ‘mature’ writers. I’m 83 and finishing the edits on my fourth novel. The first three, a thriller and two suspense novels, and a collection of short stories have been traditionally published. Novel #5 is beginning to take shape. Cheers, James Osborne“

“Wow! I know you did not know that message was intended for me! I’ve always wanted to be a freelance writer. I was beginning to get discouraged because I don’t understand the technology, or the social media ways people connect. I’m also bewildered about the best way to get published. I’ve done a lot of private writing (journaling, essays, notes), and I would really like to write for compensation. I’m 74 and I often have doubts about being an author. Thank you for your timely reminder that I’m not too late to the party. With deep gratitude, Jim Brown”

“I won’t admit defeat, even with some health issues that keep trying to tell me “it’s over.” I think those obstacles are one reason I am so excited about my recent book.” ~Carolyn Howard-Johnson, https://howtodoitfrugally.com/

“My mother wrote regularly, both as her town’s newspaper correspondent and for her local writing group,​​​​​​​ until her last year of life, eight months after the world was put on hold with the pandemic when she died at 96. And my friend Abbetina, age 98, is at work on her second memoir, her first one about her Italian immigrant father being published when she was 89. So many seniors don’t realize that the experience of their long lives crystalizes in written work, or perhaps more accurately, serves as a focusing lens on the moments of their lives. My friends here in a group called The Room to Write have had wonderful response from local seniors in writing workshops. Those who protest that they don’t have anything to write about or that whatever they write will be ‘wrong’ are the ones who produce the most profound vignettes.” ~Sally Chetwynd, https://www.brasscastlearts.com

Sally’s reference to mature writers being ripe for good stories is unequivocally, honestly stated. My advice to the older writer out there when pitching story, magazine feature, or manuscript is this:

1) Never mention your age. It only enables someone to judge.
2) Never date your publication experience. You published in a certain publication, period.
3) Never talk in terms that can enable someone to subtract back into your decade.
4) Simply present your best work, your best pitch, and a bio that holds pertinent experience with as little reference to dates as possible. Don’t say you’ve been writing for a magazine since 1982. Say you’ve published X number of times with a particular publication.

Some people, including editors, publishers, and agents, do not realize how ageist they are, and seeing dates instinctively makes them judge. Just do not give them the opportunity. Instead, give them the opportunity to see your wonderful writing voice first.