| ugh my comments in this article are primarily | | | | retirees who are constantly looking for something |
| directed toward senior citizens sixty-five and | | | | to do: even if you’re able to keep |
| above, they could also apply to virtually anyone | | | | yourself fairly busy, why not at least consider |
| over fifty-five who is retired or semi-retired and | | | | sharing some of the knowledge you’ve |
| has a lot of extra time on their hands. | | | | accumulated throughout your lifetime with others? |
| The music business began to dry up for me when | | | | Whether it be of a personal or business nature or |
| I was in my mid-fifties and over ten years away | | | | a combination of both, everybody’s life |
| from full retirement age. Fortunately, my business | | | | experiences are unique. Perhaps you have an idea |
| included a couple of music publishing companies | | | | for a work of fiction or just want to publish a |
| from which I continue to earn a good living to this | | | | book that features your all-time favorite recipes. |
| day without having to put in long hours. | | | | Or, maybe you would simply like to write your |
| Once it became abundantly clear that my music | | | | memoirs. Several years ago, my sister and I |
| career was behind me, I was faced with a new | | | | encouraged our mother to do just that. Her life |
| challenge: what am I going to do with all this free | | | | was filled with many interesting experiences, and |
| time? Well, I considered starting another business | | | | we begged her to write it from her perspective. |
| and actually looked into a few | | | | What better way to preserve your life story for |
| possibilities…but nothing seemed to interest | | | | your children, grandchildren, and all future |
| me. So, in my spare time (and believe me, there | | | | generations. Unfortunately, she never got around |
| was plenty of it), I became a pretty doggone | | | | to it. And when she left us three years ago, she |
| good gardener and eventually dubbed myself | | | | took with her all of those unique experiences. |
| “Chauncey” (you know, like in the | | | | While I can think of many legitimate reasons for |
| movie “Being There”). However, | | | | retirees to write, I cannot think of any reasons |
| my yard isn’t that big and gardening | | | | NOT to write. And it doesn’t necessarily |
| wasn’t something I could do every day of | | | | have to involve money; in other words, |
| the week. | | | | don’t worry about selling it. The process |
| Having been a recreational poker player for | | | | alone will give you great satisfaction and a sense |
| several year, I soon discovered online poker. If | | | | of accomplishment. Remember, like virtually |
| you’ve ever played online poker, you | | | | everything else, the more you do it, the better |
| know how addictive it can be. I must point out, | | | | you will become. |
| however, that I wasn’t playing for real | | | | So, how does one get started, you ask. Well, if |
| money. In no time at all, I racked up over 200K | | | | you don’t already have one, I would |
| worthless credits. Even though I was having a | | | | recommend getting a computer and becoming |
| moderate amount of fun, I was never tempted | | | | familiar with a good word processing program. I |
| to plop down the entrance fee and play in the | | | | use Word 07 and love its features. And then you |
| World Series of Poker, nor was I interested in | | | | need to do a ton of research on two things: |
| going out on the Worldwide Poker Tour. What I | | | | writing in general and the subject on which you |
| realized was that I needed something more | | | | have chosen to write. Here’s a good tip: |
| productive to do with my time. | | | | the internet has all the resources you will ever |
| And then last year, at the age of sixty, I | | | | need (just Google it, already). Of course, |
| discovered the joy of writing. It all started with an | | | | you’ll also find some terrific books about |
| article I wrote and had published in the San Diego | | | | writing in your local bookstore. |
| Union-Tribune. I then began writing my first novel, | | | | My older brother -- a retiree who was |
| Pinch Hitter, which was just recently published. | | | | undoubtedly inspired by my book -- recently |
| I’m now working on my second book, | | | | mentioned that he had a great idea for a novel. |
| which I hope to publish in early 2009. Whether or | | | | Being that he has a tendency to get bored easily, |
| not I’m any good at it is a matter of | | | | I encouraged him to at least start the process by |
| opinion. However, while maintaining the discipline of | | | | putting his idea down on paper. He hasn’t |
| writing every day, I stay out of trouble and keep | | | | taken that first step yet, but I’ll continue |
| my mind sharp. | | | | to encourage him as I do everyone with the time |
| So, here’s what I want to say to the | | | | and the willingness to try their hand at writing. |