Awaken Your Writing Potential: A Guide for Women Over 40
Your Voice Deserves to Be Heard—Start Writing Today
There’s a unique power in storytelling—in sharing your story when you’re over 40. There’s so much more to write about. So much wisdom and so many challenges and triumphs to reflect on.
The beauty of writing is its ability to capture experiences and connect with others. It’s never too late.
It’s Never Too Late to Begin Your Writing Journey
This short guide will help you take those first steps and find your voice.
Step 1: Embrace your story
Take a moment to sit and reflect on your life so far. List your journeys, lessons you’ve learned, funny times, heartbreaking times. Write this list without stopping. Put everything down that you think of. Go back later and highlight or circle the ones that stand out – the ones that make you bubble with something.
You’ll judge – don’t.
You’ll predict what others will think – who cares?
You’ll tell yourself you can’t – you can.
This is your story. It matters – and it deserves to be heard.
Repeat this mantra often: I am worthy of being heard, my story matters.
Maya Angelou: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
Step 2: Find Your Writing Routine
There are three elements to a solid writing routine – time, space and consistency.
To become a writer, it’s important you start setting aside time to write – no matter how full your schedule is. Believe it or not, 10–15 minutes a day is enough to create a habit.
Allocate a space for writing.
Make it somewhere comfortable and pleasant. Alternatively, your special space might be a journal with a gorgeous cover.
Writing regularly is key. Whether this means daily, every second day or even just once a week – set aside that time and stick to it.
Try this mantra: With every word, I trust the story will unfold.
Awaken the Author Within You
Step 3: Banish Self-Doubt and Perfectionism
There are three very important things you must force yourself to do here if you want to keep going:
Silence your inner critic – whatever it takes to get that menace to be quiet, do it. If you have to, summons your inner teenager and have your inner critic ‘speak to the hand’.
Embrace imperfection – tell yourself that your writing is like the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan over time
Surround yourself with support – join a writing group or work with a coach, avoid anybody that brings you down.
Ann Patchett: “Writing is a job, a talent, but it’s also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.”
Try this mantra: My voice is enough, just as it is.
Your story is worth sharing – so what are you waiting for? Start today with a sentence or a paragraph. Write from the heart. Put something on paper every day.
You’ve got this. I know you do.
Kellie Nissen is an author coach and publishing mentor and is the author of ‘What Cancer Said’ and ‘Tales from GoAnna’. As a YTG40+ group expert in her field, Kellie’s goal is to help women who want to write become women who write.
Kellie Nissen founded Just Right Words in 2019 and is an author coach and self-publication mentor who specialises in adult and children’s fiction and memoir.
She is the Group Expert for Book Publication and Author Support in Yeah the Girls 40+ Community. Every time Kellie writes, whether it’s a story or an article, she learns something new about herself.
