The benefits of writing a nonfiction book are often described in economic terms. Writing a book is usually viewed as a serious business marketing tool. Write a nonfiction book to boost your visibility, position you as an expert, and attract new markets & sales.
However, there is another reason to write a book….and this reason doesn’t involve money. From this perspective, writing a book in retirement is seen as an investment in good health and continuing life with healthy cognitive and memory skills.
In today’s world of concern about the rising rates of visibility of Alzheimer and other types of memory limitations, writing a book has proven its ability to keep your brain occupied instead of allowing it to be passively occupied by days spent watching television reruns of Ellen DeGeneres.
The following points detail the 7 benefits writing a book can offer you at any age, but, especially In your journey past your 65th birthday.
- No age limits to writing. Once you commit to writing as a source of post-retirement pleasure, you’re likely to be pleased to find that a lot of the technology can be carried over from your years preparing proposals, recommendations, and evaluating reports. You can start at any point, or continue as far as you want.
- Focus on your message, not your book marketing. Many sales-based authors are disillusioned to find that content marketing and social media marketing require constant attention. But, when you’re writing for the pleasure of a topic, you can cut back your marketing tasks and are liberated from the time-trap of constant marketing.
- No experience necessary. There are no barriers to sharing your message in a self-published book. Indeed, the spread of computer home computers probably is already in your home office. Your book can be judged by the clarity of its message, free from being judged by editors, sales managers, and risk-adverse bookstore buyers you’ll probably never meet. Writing is perhaps the classic example of “learning on the job” or “learning by doing.”.
- “Message-central authors are masters of their time. If you’re passionate about their topic, you can place more emphasis on your time between book promotion and writing. But later you can focus on your message, not your book marketing. Self-published authors often will find out for yourself.
- Little, or no, cost of entry.
Today, the majority of over-65 households are likely to own a personal computer, often an easily transportable portable. They may have already mastered the word processing software to write a book. They are likely to enjoy the support of friends.
- Flexible time requirements. The ability to continue writing your book while being available to deliver meals, distribute medicine, and offer solace when appropriate cannot be overlooked is one of the biggest advantages of writing a book to your own schedule.
Retired caretaking might play a bigger role in your publishing life. (Ideally, prepare a book outlining the obstacles you encountered and how you overcame it.)
As convalesce continues, you might be surprised to find that the individual you’re serving may ask to participate in the book as an editor or other task.
- Social benefits. One of the important advantages of becoming familiar with the tools and techniques of self-publishing is that, after you have achieved a certain proficiency, you will be asked by members in your writing group if you could help them set up their own Kindle book sales file set up for trouble-free file uploading to Amazon. So, what might have started as casual conversations during, or after book cub members, you have the ability to offer personalized assistance to those who are convinced that you are the right individual to trust.
- Family heritage book
What should your book be about? One answer is to create a legacy project to share with current and future family members. A published book can be a family gift that can be passed down from generation to generation. Whether your self-published book addresses a current social topic, or a celebration of one, or more, of your family’s children or a serious look at a family crisis that was avoided, you are “writing for the ages,” leaving your thoughts alive for future generations to profit from.
If you’re building a new house, writing a daily journal will be a welcome family heritage document.
Suggestions for newly minted writers
Walk before you run. Before embarking on a narrow, research-required book like “The Role Played by Colonial Roadside Taverns in Maryland where News about the British Army where British troop movements could be shared,” start with a narrower, easier to achieve topic, i.e. “A Year in the Trenches: Financing, Designing, and (finally) Watching your New Dream Home Take Shape.”
You even publish your first book as an Amazon Kindle book, designed to be read online or downloaded to the Amazon Kindle or iPad readers. Kindle. Remember: you can always add information and examples to your book—however, when revising your first version, you should update the ISBN tracking numbers for the book.
Don’t buy every book about writing, editing, and self-publishing! Choose one or two of the most respected books in your field and “mine them” for all the information that they contain.
Become known as an excellent book marketer rather than a skilled storyteller.
If you want to segue your first book into an informal book helping other new authors self-publish their own books, focus on mastering tasks that other new authors may need to master, such as promoting your book to uploading files, writing and critiquing book proposals, and commenting on the design of the book cover and inside pages.
Best wishes on your transition to a self-employed Over 65 Self-Published publishing expert!
Author Bio:
Let Roger C. Parker help you create a content-driven nonfiction book that will set you and your ideas apart. Roger’s first book, Looking Good in Print, played an important role in the popularity of desktop publishing and the creation of new careers for individuals throughout the world. His later books, include Desktop Publishing and Design for Dummies and the original Microsoft Office 97 for Windows 7 for Dummies. Call 603-866-6046 or email for an experienced, fresh perspective. I’ll also send you a PDF of sample left-hand and right-hand pages.
