by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: October 06, 2007

Why you're never too old to write

Writing at any age is a form of therapeutic exercise of the mind, and with the age of technology opens up all kinds of possibilities to even those in their twilight years that never thought that their time would come to write and be read.

There aren't age limitations, although with age come all the health limitations that make life more difficult. Handicapped since midlife, I am more productive now than I have ever been because the will to write overcomes barriers, and technology helps people like me to grow old with the capability of sharing a lifetime's experience with others.

Taking a look at the aspects of writing that may deter some elderly people from the written word, it is clear that those barriers which existed many years ago no longer exist, and that those older members of society with more experience of life have a voice to be heard, and can use all the acquired knowledge and compassion, sadness, hope, dreams and ambitions in this day and age better than ever before.

*Lack of confidence
*Lack of good sight
*Lack of hand movement

These can deter the older writer, though should never make them believe they are too old to write.

All handicap of age and confidence are just barriers that get in the way, and having lived a life of many years, the hurdles that have presented themselves through loss, menopause, childbirth and the rearing of a family and appearance of grandchildren really are harder than taking a pen to paper and painting a picture with words.

Confidence is a factor though one that can easily be overcome in a writing community where caring feedback will help the elderly writer to develop and grow in strength. For those not yet ready to blossom, perhaps the buds of their writing skills can be found with a correspondence course that helps them to gain respect for their own abilities, and would make a wonderful present for the elderly closet writer that wants to enjoy the pleasure of words.

The health factors can be overcome with technology. Vision on computers can be adjusted to allow for those of poor sight. It's amazing the clarity with which a simple screen can be seen even with bad vision by a combination of technical help and the use of glasses. For those that cannot use their hands because they are crippled with arthritis, there are voice recognition packages that allow the user to speak into the computer, while the computer types the words.

The older writer has much to offer the world. It is only by remembering yesterday that we go forward into a new tomorrow with clarity and understanding and no-one alive is too old to write their thoughts, a diary, a poem or a piece of literature, because with age comes a greater understanding of what life offers, and the older writers experience helps all those that have yet to reach their twilight years, filling the world with hope for the future, and painting a picture of their world for others to read and appreciate.

"Detail makes the difference between boring and terrific writing. It's the difference between a pencil sketch and a lush oil painting. As a writer, words are your paint. Use all the colors." Quote from Rhys Alexander.

At an older age, the pallet is richer in all the shades that make up the spectrum of life. That is why a human being is never too old to write.

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