Late Bloomer: On Writing Later in Life

By Naomi Wakan

In this lively, perceptive, and encouraging book, Naomi Beth Wakan shares he experience as an older writer, from dealing with ageism to working around a sometimes erratic memory, providing valuable insights to other older writers. Along the way she collects the experiences of twelve other writers, profiling them and their achievements. In addition to Wakan's own writing, Late Bloomer contains twelve short interviews, examples of the interviewee's writing, and a reference section. This is a wonderful book, written for an older audience that has often been neglected in this genre.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189498711X
• ISBN13: 9781894987110
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Wolsak and Wynn
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

It's Never too Late to Become a Writer!

Naomi Beth Wakan says she really found her voice when she was in her 60s and 70s. That makes her the ideal author of a book geared to seniors looking to express themselves by writing. The question she asks in her introduction is an enticing one: "Why not start writing now for the joy it?" Wakan quotes many late bloomers and the reasons they began to write late in life. Leanne McIntosh for instance, a British Columbia poet, wanted "to share her being and to share her talent." Rather than procrastinate with fears and worries, Wakan suggests making a list called "Reasons to Write." At the top of the list you could put "sheer joy of expressing myself." That's how she feels about writing. It's that enthusiasm as well as her practical suggestions, humor and insight that make this book a pleasure to read. "Pursuing a dream keeps you young," Brenda Rickman said. I think that's good advice! Rickman was a retired Tennessee school librarian when she wrote her first novel, The Illuminator, translated into ten languages. Being older offers a sense of urgency, Rickman thinks. One of her suggestions is to submit smaller pieces so there are little successes on the way to getter a larger work completed. That's something I have found useful as well. Wakan writes from her own experience as well as from her research. She begins with the place in which to write, a writing space to call your own. Many late bloomers would be happy to read Wakan's lively description of her own writing life as she shares the practicalities and the joys. I always find I have a companion at my side when I read a book about writing. Wakan must feel that way, too: she enjoys reading books about writing even though she has written over 30 books! You don't need a "Wow! Experience" to write, Wakan advises. She shares her own list of subjects she could write about. I'm sure it will inspire and motivate readers to create a list of their own that will lead to their own personal essays. Essays and poetry are Wakan's forms, but she also describes novels and memoirs. A "poem-memoir" written in the third person is Wakan's approach to memoir. I found this to be such a good idea as it can stand on its own or reveal the many stories from life we have to tell. Wakan even covers writer's block, with excellent suggestions from a seasoned writer--herself! The book itself offers support and encouragement, but Wakan also suggests attending workshops for specific learnings, a jump start, and for the bonding that takes place among attendees. Support can also be found in a writers' group, where you may leave feeling "elated and strengthened in the worth of your own writing." Wakan helpfully mentions non-literary support as well. She and her husband Elias split chores down the middle so they support one another's creativity--in her case writing and, in his, sculpting. A chapter on "What to do when the work is finished" has useful suggestions regarding proof reading, submitting work and receiving reje