I’m 75 years old and still writing at least five book reviews for publication per month, something I’ve been doing for more than 20 years. I have no intention of slowing down or quitting any time soon. Writing is one of the things that gives meaning to my life. https://bookmarks.reviews/reviewer/harvey-freedenberg/.
I read your Everything Essay, titled “When I’m 64.” It triggered memories, observations, and I’d like to believe, a little bit of creativity.
The memory, of course, is the very pleasant Beatles’ song, When I’m 64. It was on the 1967 Sgt. Pepper's album. Given that you were about three at the time, I imagine you were already scribbling notes to yourself for future potential essays. On weekends, I was likely at The Fillmore, Avalon Ballroom, Longshoreman’s Hall, or the Berkeley Community Theater. I mention this because it highlights that you and I are on opposite sides of a very fixed but arbitrary societal age line, 65.
On your side is the self-orienting perspective of looking forward in time to “when I get there" or “when I reach retirement age." It is so embedded in our thinking that we continually take it for granted.
From my side of the line, it’s a case of looking back and wondering, "Why the big deal?” Or, more to the point, so what?
I, too, read Jane’s Electric Speed Essay… and I believe she and Keith missed a couple of key age-related qualities that positively impact creativity beyond that arbitrary age line. Qualities such as accumulated wisdom and perspective, and as you clearly demonstrated in your essay, that in approaching and then stepping over the age 65 line, we start taking more stock of our lives than previously. What does it all mean? Who am I? How did I end up here? Where do I want to go? What do I want? Do I want to make my mark on something, and if so, what? And answers come back like the walk with a friend is, indeed, more important than a few more words.
Perhaps in the rawest scientific sense creativity begins to diminish in the mid-sixties, but the creativity that still exists can be sparked and molded by the earned wisdom, appreciation of multiple perspectives, and a deeper search for meaning. Together, they are akin to a turbo-boost.
At any rate, I crack seventy-nine in about five weeks and feel more creative than I did in mid-life. And I’ll bet well past 65; you will too.
Hi Andrea, I published my debut, Paper Bags (Woodhall Press) at 77. Currently I’m getting ready to query a speculative nonfiction collection of prose & poetry. At first I balked at thoughts of hitting the streets at 81 but… keeping on, what else ya gonna do?
Hi Trish. cheers to Paper Bags--and great press. Great title, and read book concept--can't wait to read it. speculative nonfiction...I keep hearing more about this subgenre, interesting. I've read one book with spec nonfiction by Laraine Herring.
I wrote nothing for the first six decades of my life. Then, I dabbled in writing in my sixties — it was not impressive! Now in my seventies, I am starting to take the craft seriously and apply myself. My hope is to hit my stride by the time I am eighty. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Andrea. You still have so much to offer.
Hi Andrea. Love this and yes, my plan is to increase production, somehow, especially once I hit my next Big Birthday. In the meantime, I have gone back over the correspondence pertaining to our little collaboration and can report that the editors hope to have a published version ready to release by NonfictioNOW 2027 in Dublin, Ireland! Which I am planning to attend (and I hope you are too.)
Peta I'm so excited, Dublin! Yes, I'll be there. For the Nonfiction folks out there, NonfictionNow is a great conference held every other year. Next happens June 12-14, 2027 in Dublin.
Thanks for this! I, too, was struck by what Jane F shared and started digging around for more info about the productivity and creativity link, because I've often wondered about intentionally slowing down as a writer vs speeding up. ("Making peace with pace" is a topic on my newsletter to-do list.) You've reminded me about the importance of multi-age collaboration and about looking at our lives as they already are to see what we're doing right!
Andrea, at 75, I feel more energized than ever about my writing—in particular, my memoir-in-progress. Since the mid-90’s, long before I retired, I began sending out submissions (poetry then), and was surprised and delighted by my success. That has slowed somewhat (I now send flash non-fiction work) but I’m still at it. (:
I appreciate all of your essays, Andrea, but this one especially resonated. I didn't start publishing my writing until I retired from teaching writing at 58. This year I'm 60, and I'm busy promoting my second published memoir along with over 100 pieces in literary magazines. Recently, I'd been thinking I can't keep this pace, so maybe I should take a break. Then I read your essay. 😂 I do think there is wisdom in choosing balance, and I love the suggestion of collaborating with other writers as a means to remain productive and find community. I'm doing more of that this year and it's bringing lots of joy. Thanks for these timely words. I'm bookmarking this and will come back to it whenever I need a reminder to stay focused. I never want to lose the gift of expressing my creativity through words.
Hi Tracie. Wow you have ben productive! Thanks for this thoughtful reply. Re the collaborative writing--that's a great topic for a Brevity Blog essay--who you collaborate with, how that works, what it brings to the work and the writer. We published list of other topics on writing that we'd love to see contributors write about. With 100 pieces out in lit mags, maybe one of the topics from our Editors' Wish List might resonate with you--and any writer reading this. Learn more here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/our-editors-wish-list-2026/ And thanks again Tracie!
Hi Steve. Thanks for your insights. Interesting that an age (65 is somewhat arbitrary) can serve as a before and after, like a ridgeline. You've definitely got a en essay in the works. And ye sit's so much about attitude--I know there are some good studies on attitude and aging--more to come. Thx again.
Hi Harvey. Thanks for sharing. And wow, five reviews a month--reading five books a month is an accomplishment in itself. Loved how to the point your insights are in your book reviews--a digestible paragraph that gives me just what I need to now about how to move forward (or not) with the book. Folks, note that Harvey's book reviews are linked below--it's part of a regular vertical (column) in Lit Hub. Super!
I’m 75 years old and still writing at least five book reviews for publication per month, something I’ve been doing for more than 20 years. I have no intention of slowing down or quitting any time soon. Writing is one of the things that gives meaning to my life. https://bookmarks.reviews/reviewer/harvey-freedenberg/.
Hi, Andrea…
I read your Everything Essay, titled “When I’m 64.” It triggered memories, observations, and I’d like to believe, a little bit of creativity.
The memory, of course, is the very pleasant Beatles’ song, When I’m 64. It was on the 1967 Sgt. Pepper's album. Given that you were about three at the time, I imagine you were already scribbling notes to yourself for future potential essays. On weekends, I was likely at The Fillmore, Avalon Ballroom, Longshoreman’s Hall, or the Berkeley Community Theater. I mention this because it highlights that you and I are on opposite sides of a very fixed but arbitrary societal age line, 65.
On your side is the self-orienting perspective of looking forward in time to “when I get there" or “when I reach retirement age." It is so embedded in our thinking that we continually take it for granted.
From my side of the line, it’s a case of looking back and wondering, "Why the big deal?” Or, more to the point, so what?
I, too, read Jane’s Electric Speed Essay… and I believe she and Keith missed a couple of key age-related qualities that positively impact creativity beyond that arbitrary age line. Qualities such as accumulated wisdom and perspective, and as you clearly demonstrated in your essay, that in approaching and then stepping over the age 65 line, we start taking more stock of our lives than previously. What does it all mean? Who am I? How did I end up here? Where do I want to go? What do I want? Do I want to make my mark on something, and if so, what? And answers come back like the walk with a friend is, indeed, more important than a few more words.
Perhaps in the rawest scientific sense creativity begins to diminish in the mid-sixties, but the creativity that still exists can be sparked and molded by the earned wisdom, appreciation of multiple perspectives, and a deeper search for meaning. Together, they are akin to a turbo-boost.
At any rate, I crack seventy-nine in about five weeks and feel more creative than I did in mid-life. And I’ll bet well past 65; you will too.
Have a Happy Birthday,
Steve Mathias
Hi Andrea, I published my debut, Paper Bags (Woodhall Press) at 77. Currently I’m getting ready to query a speculative nonfiction collection of prose & poetry. At first I balked at thoughts of hitting the streets at 81 but… keeping on, what else ya gonna do?
Hi Trish. cheers to Paper Bags--and great press. Great title, and read book concept--can't wait to read it. speculative nonfiction...I keep hearing more about this subgenre, interesting. I've read one book with spec nonfiction by Laraine Herring.
I wrote nothing for the first six decades of my life. Then, I dabbled in writing in my sixties — it was not impressive! Now in my seventies, I am starting to take the craft seriously and apply myself. My hope is to hit my stride by the time I am eighty. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Andrea. You still have so much to offer.
As do you :-) Thanks, Jim
Hi Andrea. Love this and yes, my plan is to increase production, somehow, especially once I hit my next Big Birthday. In the meantime, I have gone back over the correspondence pertaining to our little collaboration and can report that the editors hope to have a published version ready to release by NonfictioNOW 2027 in Dublin, Ireland! Which I am planning to attend (and I hope you are too.)
Peta I'm so excited, Dublin! Yes, I'll be there. For the Nonfiction folks out there, NonfictionNow is a great conference held every other year. Next happens June 12-14, 2027 in Dublin.
I love this, Andrea! Happy early birthday! You are a creative inspiration!
I’ve never been more productive in my life 60-71 and still going. I often write 4 hours a day.
Thanks for this! I, too, was struck by what Jane F shared and started digging around for more info about the productivity and creativity link, because I've often wondered about intentionally slowing down as a writer vs speeding up. ("Making peace with pace" is a topic on my newsletter to-do list.) You've reminded me about the importance of multi-age collaboration and about looking at our lives as they already are to see what we're doing right!
I look forward to the among pease with pace post v much! Thanks, Andromeda
Andrea, at 75, I feel more energized than ever about my writing—in particular, my memoir-in-progress. Since the mid-90’s, long before I retired, I began sending out submissions (poetry then), and was surprised and delighted by my success. That has slowed somewhat (I now send flash non-fiction work) but I’m still at it. (:
Hi Stephanie--thanks for sharing and so good to hear about your energy. Best of luck with the memoir--good to go at the pace that works best for you.
This is great!, "The gift of being a writer is being able to continue to do what I love as my career and my work evolve into my avocation over time."
I appreciate all of your essays, Andrea, but this one especially resonated. I didn't start publishing my writing until I retired from teaching writing at 58. This year I'm 60, and I'm busy promoting my second published memoir along with over 100 pieces in literary magazines. Recently, I'd been thinking I can't keep this pace, so maybe I should take a break. Then I read your essay. 😂 I do think there is wisdom in choosing balance, and I love the suggestion of collaborating with other writers as a means to remain productive and find community. I'm doing more of that this year and it's bringing lots of joy. Thanks for these timely words. I'm bookmarking this and will come back to it whenever I need a reminder to stay focused. I never want to lose the gift of expressing my creativity through words.
Hi Tracie. Wow you have ben productive! Thanks for this thoughtful reply. Re the collaborative writing--that's a great topic for a Brevity Blog essay--who you collaborate with, how that works, what it brings to the work and the writer. We published list of other topics on writing that we'd love to see contributors write about. With 100 pieces out in lit mags, maybe one of the topics from our Editors' Wish List might resonate with you--and any writer reading this. Learn more here: https://brevity.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/our-editors-wish-list-2026/ And thanks again Tracie!
Yes, writing another piece for the blog is on my to-do list. Thank you for the nudge!
Hi Steve. Thanks for your insights. Interesting that an age (65 is somewhat arbitrary) can serve as a before and after, like a ridgeline. You've definitely got a en essay in the works. And ye sit's so much about attitude--I know there are some good studies on attitude and aging--more to come. Thx again.
Thanks M!
yes cheers to the seventh decade, and the eight :-)
Hi Harvey. Thanks for sharing. And wow, five reviews a month--reading five books a month is an accomplishment in itself. Loved how to the point your insights are in your book reviews--a digestible paragraph that gives me just what I need to now about how to move forward (or not) with the book. Folks, note that Harvey's book reviews are linked below--it's part of a regular vertical (column) in Lit Hub. Super!
Thanks AB. yes we are evolving :-)