Middle Age and Self Published? Yes, I Did it; You Can Too!

 

Image by Diana from Pixabay- Edited by Marilyn Glover with Canva 

A few years ago, I never dreamed that I'd become a middle-aged self-published writer, yet here I am. As I write, I am sitting here smiling because I finally got out of my own way and took the leap. At fifty-four, I can certainly say without a single doubt that it sure took me a long time to get here, but the point is that I did it, and so can you.

Have you ever dreamt of becoming a successful author?

I have, time and again, since childhood, when I first started writing short stories and poems. A joyful hobby from my youth; writing underneath our family's big old apple tree, I felt so alive, like I was part of a magical world.

Somehow, I let it all go-- not at once, but little by little as I transitioned from a young schoolgirl to the responsible adult who had more important things to tend to.

Adulthood to motherhood to, well, NOW. Time sure does fly right by when we are having fun, right? Sure, but I think it does in general.

I think this happens to many of us artists, the ones who let the "hobby" take a back seat as worldly demands step in and call our attention to earning a paycheck, raising children, and all the demands that entail. Truth be told, claiming that an art venture will definitely pan out into a solid career or stable source of income is quite risky--ridiculous, some would say.

So what happens? 

If the risk bears too much weight, many an artist will quietly create, envisioning the dream, but never really living it.

Time goes by. Sometimes years.

This happened to me. Then, after the kids were grown and moved out, I began seriously thinking back to my creative visions and told myself: You know what, I am going for it.

At forty-eight, I began writing online during the Pandemic, after major surgery and displacement from the workforce. Vocal Media was my first stop on this six-year writing journey, and with artistic reconnection came the longing for evolution. Yes, evolve the art and take it as far as I can possibly go.

And so, I indulged.

One year after signing up for Vocal Media, I added Medium to my writing agenda. Soon after, I became an editor for two Medium publications and discovered that poetry, spirituality, and real-life stories were my prime niches, with poetry being my first love of writing. From a hobby of my youth to a refined midlife skill, I soon realized that revisiting a pastime was much more than a simple, enjoyable extracurricular; it had real potential.

Amazon 

During the early stages of my online writing, I self-published three children's books with Amazon. Still a novice, I had absolutely zero clue about what the process entailed, but by the time book three was published, I'd become accustomed to KDP. Although I only sold a handful of copies to family and friends, I knew without a doubt that one day I would rise to the occasion and create a book that would yield results, meaning monetary rewards. 

For the time, however, praise from those closest to me was more than enough, especially hearing the laughter from my grandson each time I read to him one of my tales about a silly pair of black cats.

Back then, I was a marketing newbie, and to be honest, I wasn't interested in promoting and selling myself across social media.

I was simply happy that I'd accomplished a dream, and I wanted nothing more than to keep it alive.

Stepping up my game

Flash forward to the present, and at 54, I am finally a self-published poet. Recently, I released my debut Jungian-themed poetry collection- a 15-poem chapbook. Currently, this collection is available on Draft2Digital across multiple digital retailers, and the hardcover option is in the works.

While a few years wiser, I am relatively new to the self-publishing world, especially when factoring in marketing.

This time around, I am doing my own marketing. I am incorporating all I've learned over the past six years and learning new skills. I won't lie: self-marketing is a lot of work, but I am taking my time and enjoying the process. Personally, this feels like the right approach as opposed to enlisting the help of a professional.

I think I will appreciate this journey much more knowing I am full-on involved.

Although it's early on in the game, I am happy to report that nearly a hundred people have viewed my poetry chapbook. I refuse to look at sales reports at this time and keep my focus on the art. While money is an inspiration, getting my work out into the world beyond online writing platforms is the heart of my focus.

One thing at a time. 

My heart's joy is the writing, the creative process. I trust that all else will follow, and bogging my mind down with stats will only remove the core of my bliss. I told myself from the beginning that if/when writing becomes a chore instead of a creative adventure, it's time to hang up the pen and close the laptop.

Middle-aged writer, you

Are you in your 40s or 50s, or maybe beyond, and have you ever thought about self-publishing your writing? I say to go for it! 

Consider this: In 2025, an estimated 3.5 million new titles were self-published in the United States alone.

Sit with that for a moment.

Due to rapid growth, self-published books outrank traditional titles by more than 2 million- unheard of over a decade ago.

Beyond the money prospects, consider self-fulfillment, the creative adventure, and having complete control over your work. Imagine the therapeutic value and the idea of leaving a legacy for children, grandchildren, and beyond. Upscale your business without long-term delays.

Times have changed, and writers needn't rely on submitting transcripts or querying traditional publishing houses anymore. 

Whether one chooses Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, or another option, there are plenty of possibilities.

The important thing is that you'll never be too old to accomplish the dream; besides, with age comes wisdom from a lived and learned life. Within that life, many conversations, many words guided the way. Why not share those words with others? You never know who you might reach, whose heart you might touch exactly when it's needed.