Like many writers, I’m contemplating what to do next with my writing.  I have earned a little money through freelance writing, but these days, writing is a hobby or a preoccupation.  While other 70-year-olds are doing “crafts” or bird watching, I feel drawn to the screen with ideas for stories I want to write.

                I already have a few short stories written.  If I write a few more, I could put them together in a book and self-publish.  But before I do that, I could send them to literary magazines.  Getting chosen for publication gives you credibility!  

However, I’ve read that these magazines are surviving on a shoe-string. Many of them ask you to pay to submit your work.  Why should a writer send $25 or more to a magazine to have a story considered for publication?  If the magazine chooses not to publish the work, the writer may have contributed to the existence of the publication—such a noble cause!  But what’s in it for us?  Silence and waiting. You learn nothing about the quality of your work, nor have you gotten readers.

The traditional approach to publishing is for the writer to bow before the gatekeepers to see if they approve of your work.  Freelance writing has you researching to find what they want, then trying to full-fill their wishes in hopes of getting paid. In today’s world of the internet, you can go DIRECTLY to the READER.

At the age of 70, I’m not willing to wait for approval.  I want to do something with my work. That’s where Authorsden.com can be fun and useful.  But Authorsden.com is not just for old folks with time on their hands.   Young people need to consider that getting your work out there is how the public sees your talent.  Authorsden.com can be useful for writers of all ages. That’s why I keep my Authorsden.com account and frequently post my stories. I refuse to give up on being a persuasive voice in the world. I still want to share my experience and opinions.