Noticing Newbies: August 19, 2015 Issue [#7162] |
Noticing Newbies
This week: Better Late Than Never Edited by: JACE More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
Hi, I'm JACE .
Welcome to this issue of the Noticing Newbies newsletter. Join me as I take you into some nooks and crannies of Writing.Com that you may not have found time to check out yet.
Don't forget to toss me a note about what you liked or didn't like in my column, or about a topic you'd like to see discussed. This newsletter is about and for you. And for you seasoned members, I hope you'll find something you can take from my ramblings.
Your Noticing Newbies Newsletter full-time Editors:
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Better Late Than Never
Hi and hello. This month I took time to seek out some of our older Newbies (that's older in age ) and asked them why they joined Writing.Com over another writing site and how (or if) Writing.Com has helped them on their writing journey. I had responses from a number of folks, including my guests Coral Boucher and Dismas .
Meet Coral Boucher : She joined Writing.Com on 13 June 2015. She's 72 years young and currently living in a aged care facility, which affords her lots of time to write. Publishing two books within 12 months beginning at age 68 took its toll.She had almost finished a third book when her doctor told her to give up writing as the stresses from meeting deadlines and publisher requirements were having a detrimental effect on her quality of life.
Coral waited until later in life to pursue her writing dreams because she lived on a farm and raised three children, as well as having numerous other jobs over the years. She never forgot though and stored those experiences or when the time was right.
Finding WDC and interacting with the members has been a source of great enjoyment for her. She intends to enter more contests and looks forward to poking into the many nooks and crannies WDC has to offer. Now, if she can just get her doctors to stop changing her medications constantly, she'll be able to concentrate on her passion for writing.
Meet Dismas : Dismas is a name from from his Franciscan days. He's 70 now, joining Writing.Com on 18 July 2015. He finished college (in 2009) on the 44-year plan. [How many of us have stretched a 2- or 4-year degree into ten or more years?] He decided to start writing in order to avoid the retirement rigors of rocking on the porch or waiting for life to just pass by. He's officially a writer now. (He has to say that, or no one would know.)
He plans to use Writing.Com to help him on a number of projects. In his words:
1. I'm planning to write a long letter to all my progeny telling the story of my life and the things I've seen; and maybe about different people they will have heard of but don't know much about. Just existing without kicking the bucket gives a certain amount of stuff to write about.
2. I hope to publish both a short and a long book--each about mentoring in a prison setting. The short one will be little more than a pamphlet to help new people know what to do in this setting, and the long book will expand upon the pamphlet.
3. I hope to have time to write a commentary about the letters of Paul to the Thessalonians. It is just an interest of mine, which I'd like to explore in more depth. I'd also like to use a similar model to work through Micah and perhaps other books as well.
4. Geometry is a part of life for me--has been since high school. My dad was a surveyor (Civil Engineer) and I worked for him and for Engineers for the past 50 or so years. I do drafting. I'd like to put together a book that applies good drafting practices (like French's book about drafting) but telling CAD people how to solve problems graphically that engineers do mathematically.
5. Fiction is also an interest, and Poetry too. But I don't have that planned yet.
Thank you to my guests this month. I hope my readers take a moment to welcome these new members--send a cNote, do a review, or just drop a quick note. Next month we'll visit with some more Newbies. Till then, Write On! |
Check out these Newbies (I've selected folks who have filled out their Biography or something in their Bio-Block). Take a moment to review something in their Port ... or just say hi.
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And from the mailbox about my last Noticing Newbies newsletter, "Never Too Late" .
From mares4: Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Since I was a young teenager, I have written for my own pleasure, with goal, a desire to write books that others might appreciate. I had worked as a newspaper reporter and a senior's magazine for a short time. My favorite work was writing opinion columns. However, I have always wanted to write books, to be a storyteller. I've spent years studying English and creative writing, and even had several books in the works. That is until I became ill for a time. Then everything stopped. Now, I am 58-years-old, and find myself back at the keyboard, but still, I've hesitated. My Gent has encouraged me and noted that I had been procrastinating on my goal. He posed a question to me that has struck deep into my soul. "If you don't write now, then when?" I recently read that being older can be an advantage, as life's experiences provide a multitude of solid writing material. While I have been timid, even questioning why anyone would want to read my words, I do know one thing is certain, and that is the joy I receive when I write, like an addiction, it is indeed a part of my very being. I believe my time has come. Thank you for helping me to make the commitment and just do it!
I agree with you. And glad to help ... though I think your Gent did most of the prodding.
From DeKalb Daddy : Jace, Thank you for reminding that life isn't over at sixty. I reach that dubious age next month. Often I feel that my best years are behind me and I dwell on the reality that I have many more years behind me than in front. You caused me to stop and think this morning....and smile. Jim
Thanks for your kind words, Jim. I'm glad that mine came across positive for you.
From DeKalb Daddy : I am 73 and have plans to become a great writer :) I started writing seriously when I was about 65. I am currently working on about 8 children's stories, five adult stories, a memoir and a how to book with a friend - a women's guide to property rehabbing and management.
You certainly have a lot of your plate. Prioritize .. and then git 'em done. Best of luck to you.
From Elfin Dragon-finally published : Hi, I love the fact you're looking for "older" newbies. Me? well I'm still only 45 soon to be 46 and I've only just been here for over a year. I keep the newsletter going because I'm always learning something and glad for it. I'm not sure how many "older" newbies there are. But I do know that ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy is over 65 and is usually willing to help. She may know someone you can talk to. I hope this helps.
From GaelicQueen : I like that you are reaching out to the ahem, older newbies. I'm a young retiree (60), have been a member of WdC since April of 2012, and still feel like a newbie. I've discovered several helpful articles on writing and reviewing and made many friends and fans on this website.
Hmm, with the continued changes the The StoryMaster brings to the table, I think we all feel like newbies at times. Let me know some of those helpful articles and I'll share them.
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