Write Your Way Through "Retirement"!
“Seasoned Citizens” Flexibility and Income of Business Freelancing
By Peter Bowerman

Dr. Bill Duhey of San Diego retired from the steel industry at 57, worked as a consultant till last year, when at 76, he became a commercial freelancer. “I have three clients who give me all the work I can handle,” he says, “but I’m looking for more work.”

Downsizing & Outsourcing
For the last decade, downsizing and outsourcing have sculpted the corporate American landscape. Many businesses – large and small – rely heavily on freelancers to write their marketing materials – brochures, ads, newsletters, direct mail, web content and much more, and for hourly rates of $50-125+. And the “mature” crowd is taking notice. The combination of healthy income potential, ability to draw on vast career experience, and “on-my-own-terms” lifestyle flexibility makes it an appealing draw for those either nearing or smack dab in the midst of “retirement.”

Scott Koegler of North Carolina spent 15 years in technical management, burned out, and at 56, now writes for both computer mags and more lucrative commercial clients: “One job keeps me busy more than 3 days a week and makes my life a dream.”

Is There That Much Work?
Oh, yes. In addition to what we see as consumers (B2C – business-to-consumer), there are two other huge arenas: B2B (business-to-business) – all the materials created by businesses to market to other businesses; and “internal communications” – many of the same type projects, but which exist solely within a corporation and for their eyes only.

Writing Ability?
While no one’s going to pay you $60-80+ an hour if you’re lousy, fields such as healthcare, financial services, high-tech, and many others have steady needs for clear, concise copywriting that doesn’t have to be a work of art. Study your junk mail and ask yourself, “Could I write that?”

What About a Portfolio?
Start with any projects you may have done in a past or current job. Do some pro bono work for a charity. Team up with a graphic designer starting out as well and “create” a portfolio. The best part? All this can be done while you’re employed elsewhere.

Sally Rushmore, 55, of Indianapolis, turned to flexible commercial freelancing to be with her “working-out-of-town-all-week” husband. She explains, “I get to travel, have two cities from which to draw clients, and earn money to keep the kids in college.”

Today’s seniors thirst for more – more work adventure, more quality of life, more excitement. Looking for a flexible, lucrative next chapter of your life? As you read this, thousands of writers are landing countless, high-paying writing jobs. Why not you?

Peter Bowerman, a commercial freelancer, business coach and speaker in Atlanta, is the author of the newly updated edition of The Well-Fed Writer (the 2000 original industry "standard" on lucrative "commercial freelancing" was an award-winning Book-of-the-Month Club title; visit www.wellfedwriter.com for a free report and the "Attn: 55+" link there for an in-depth article on the above subject). He also chronicled his self-publishing success (52,000 copies of his first two WFW titles in print and a full-time living for seven-plus years) in his award-winning 2007 title The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living (www.wellfedsp.com).

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