Finding Remote Writing Jobs as a Retiree
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks". Good thing we aren't old—nor dogs. We're just seasoned, experienced senior citizens that know we'll always have something to offer this world.
And we won't let this fast-paced world slow us down.
What to Expect
Work-from-home remote writing has a nice ring to it—often times, too nice. Work-from-home writing scams have been around for years, but lately, the Federal Trade Commission has seen the number of complaints nearly double.
Two ominous red flags:
1) Jobs touted via email that promise to pay more than you ever imagined;
2) Firms that charge you a fee to obtain more information about a job.
"Payment for the privilege of working is rarely acceptable, in our view," says Christine Durst, an internet fraud and safety expert and cofounder of RatRaceRebellion.com, a website that screens job leads on home-based jobs.
That said, there are legitimate work-from-home writing jobs in many industries, but you'll need to do a little legwork to avoid the scams. Otherwise, there's nothing to be afraid of as a senior citizen. Just be vigilant.
Can A Senior Citizen Make It as a Remote Writer?
Aside from watching out for scams, of course we can! It's fairly easy to enter into the world of remote writing alongside our youthful millennial friends.
And you don't have to "lie" about your age on that job application either—because most freelance writing applications never ask about your age.
They're more concerned about your:
Years of experience (the more, the better);
Your niche or area of expertise.
Plus, many companies will never ask to see your face because it's a remote position (work-from-home).
You don't have to be a professional scribe to find work in this arena. You do need a clear grasp of sentence and paragraph construction, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Jobs run the gamut from copy editing and proofreading to résumé writing and technical editing. If you have expertise in a particular field or genre, that's all the better for opening doors for your success.
Where Can "Old Folks" (Like Me) Go to Find Remote Writing Gigs?
Senior citizens can check out job search tools on websites designed with us in mind, such as AARP.
RemoteWriterJobs.com, JournalismJobs.com, Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, and many other platforms have been a blessing to me when I first started out on this road as a retired school teacher—offering a range of postings for part-time writing and editing jobs.
"You're a retired science teacher, Horris. Writer about what you know and do best—science and history," Le Williams explained to me during a mentorship program through RemoteWriters.Work. Remote Writer Jobs offered the best support to me
"Open your opportunities by writing résumés and portfolios for other teachers and science professionals. Don't limit new beginnings with old ideas," she further encouraged.
And she's right...and that's what I did in a matter of two weeks.
You, too, can set up your own online shop to provide résumé- and essay-tuning services. Many of my projects, clients, and assignments favored my seasoned experience and rarely discriminated against my age. It actually worked in my favor and may work for you too.
The options can be endless.
For more general writing gigs, you might reach out to local associations and organizations, community newsletters, and other regional publications. Ask if they need an extra hand on an assignment basis for online and print articles, brochures, and press releases.
Seniors Need Rest—and That Extra Cash
Life stops for noone. Medicare and that 401K may not be what you had planned 25 years ago.
That's the beauty of scheduling your own hours—if you're fortunate enough to get that type of contract.
Freelance writers and editors typically set their own schedules based on deadlines.
Pay for senior-aged writers and editors varies widely, depending on type of writing, location, and experience. According to the BLS, the median hourly wage is $29.24. Few jobs are billed by the hour, though, and instead freelancers are often paid by project, word count, or even number of visitors to an online article.
Remember, no formal training is required. Employers often look for expertise in a variety of fields, from health care to taxes to résumé writing.
Ready to Apply for Those "Experienced Writer" Jobs?
The main focus: having the right writing samples or portfolio—and confidence!
You can speed up this little task by writing as a guest writer for different business websites or accepting a lower pay for temporary writing gigs. Once you have some samples and writing experience under your belt, it will be a bit easier to nab those higher paying work-from-home writing gigs and long-term remote writing jobs.
Keep a Positive Outlook and Go For It
In conclusion, stay away from scams and build up high-quality writing samples for your self. There's no age limit to your success—whether you're seemingly too young or too old.
As my writing mentor told me recently, "You're not 'returning to the workforce'. You're returning all the knowledge and experience your life has given you".
And that's an amazing attitude to own, fellow seniors.
Horris is a retired Academic & Golf Instructor, proud grandfather, and impactful Guest Writer for RemoteWriterJobs.com.
Would you like to join Horris and many other retirees/seniors on a new journey in remote writing services?
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