by Linda O Johnston
Do writers ever retire?
Oh, I know what retirement is. I used to be an attorney and practiced law for quite a few years. Most of that time, I was an in-house real estate attorney for Union Oil Company of California, but eventually Unocal wound down, selling off its assets. When I left, I continued to practice real estate law, primarily assisting other attorneys, but I never took on another actual job. And eventually, I allowed my law license to become officially inactive. Retirement of sorts.
I was writing all that time, and even before that. I started my first story as a kid and kept on going. Now, I’m no longer a kid, and I’m a retired attorney. But will I ever retire from writing?
Oh, I’ve slowed down some, but I still have a couple of deadlines to meet. And when I think about stopping, I remind myself that I’ve already been researching a new idea for quite a while and that keeps going. I kind of know where I’m going with it. And yes, it will require—what else?—more writing.
So, retirement? I doubt that will ever be on my schedule. I might get even slower, perhaps. Spend more time researching than writing. But there’s always a computer around, as well as my ideas.
How about you, other writers reading this? Are you slowing down? Will you ever retire?
The Writers in Residence 
Retirement isn’t on my schedule either. I try to get a book out every year but this year the two books I have been working on are still a little over half finished. Life keeps getting in the way. I keep rethinking the story about Santa’s elf who becomes a private detective and helps some kids in a small town. I might have him work on several cases since the one I have him working on isn’t that long. The other book is another collection of short stories from bits and pieces of ideas I have had for years lingering in a file or two. All writers have those brief ideas jotted down and stuffed in a folder. I’m turning them into short stories. Some are very short. But I keep writing because I love putting words on paper.
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Sounds like you’re keeping on writing in an enjoyable way, Gayle. Never give up!
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I will keep writing as long as my body and mind will allow. Now that I’ve concluded my historical fiction saga, what I’ll write remains to be seen – perhaps a coda to the series, or a spinoff. A travel memoir, or stories for my great-granddaughter. It may or may not be for publication, but for me writing keeps my mind in shape like exercise does for my body.
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I suspect that your mind is in good shape, Miko, and that you’ll figure out what’s next, or several additional writings, fairly soon!
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My writing output has slowed, but I still enjoy coming up with ideas and plot twists. My non-writing life has speeded up. Retirement is not in sight.
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Congrats about both your writing and non-writing lives, Maggie. I hope both keep going well till you’re ready to retire, and I suspect your writing will continue anyway.
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I could never think of ‘retiring’ from writing; it is something I need and want to do. It makes me happy – and I have so many stories to write.
But ‘retire’ from all the crazy hard work I put into saving the Woman’s Club of Hollywood? Absolutely! I have put in more than enough time to that! It is time to slow down in that respect, so that I am only using my time to write.
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I admire you for working so hard to save the Woman’s Club of Hollywood, Rosemary. That was so wonderful of you. I hope it’s doing well now.
And glad you’ll keep on writing all those stories you still have to write!
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