If you are 60 years or older, this is the story you have been living and need to write.
I’ll go first and tell you my story and you go next — step into the Inkspired Community and show us what you have and what you are still becoming.
It happened 25 years ago when I was at the animal hospital and holding my dog for a routine wellness exam while the veterinarian talked. We discovered we were born the same year, the beginning of the Baby Boom, and he said, “The world was never ready for us. Some of our mothers had to give birth in hallways because there were not enough hospital rooms available. When we went to school, they had to build a tiny city of temporary buildings around the main school building for the Boomer overflow. The same thing happened when the time came to go to college and then find jobs in the world of work.”
He paused and we looked at each other when he continued, ”It’s going to happen again as we age and need health care. They won’t be ready for us. It’s going to happen again as we get to 60 and older because we never followed the path of everyone else. Medicare is on track to collapse soon after we reach 65 because they are not ready for us. We’ll live longer and be healthier than our parents and the world will not be ready for that, either.”
For anything you choose to do in your life, you must start with “Why this and why now?”
Do you see why Maryan Pelland and I are bound and determined to make Inkspired Community and Substack the first place you go every day and where it all—finally, “snaps into place” for you? Do you see that this is the tribe, the environment, the kindred souls, and the path to readers that you hoped someone would figure out—because you are ready for it?
Here’s Me
I’m Georgia Patrick, 79, and delighted to get the call from Maryan Pelland to join her as co-pilot for a community and Substack whose time has come. Inkspired has been bubbling up for 60 years and we hit the boilover point in 2025. That’s why it takes two and here’s what you’re going to love about me. I am a journalist, pathfinder, thought leader, and guide for Gifted Professionals and Communicators with a specialty in working with adults over 40 to amplify their minds, stories, and value in a crowded digital economy. I’ve done deep dives for 40 years into the knowledge and practices of more than 600 professions and one of them is the young and rapidly growing field of Brand Community Professionals.
It takes more than a good writer who knows marketing to build the community you can’t find anywhere else as a writer 60 years or older. I know, firsthand, that healing, connection, comfort, and belonging can all happen online, despite a popular conception of online connection as inferior to offline relationships. Newsletter functions and brand community functions are not the same, but some people don’t know better. You’ll feel the difference as a member and participant in Inkspired.
Here’s You
You are among the more than 40,000 writers over 60 on Substack, perhaps Medium too.
You have lived experiences that you can turn into stories and wisdom. Current trends tell you the age of the influencer is fading and the readers want authentic, intelligent, sometimes entertaining stories.
You have a writing craft and technique that started way before the Internet and you have natural advantages when it comes to learning more about writing plus using technology. You’ve always understood that technology emerges to serve you and amplify your writing and purpose in life. You are not afraid of artificial intelligence because you know what your gifts are and what makes you unique.
You understand the power and value of community. You have been active in crowds and growing businesses your whole life. You’ve been in a lot of leadership roles and volunteer opportunities. You’ve turned much of that high activity and overcommitted calendar to younger people while you clear the day for your writing.
You understand money and you still appreciate getting paid for your writing. You want the support of critique partners or beta readers in this stage of life. You noticed way too many online who say they can help you write, but they don’t have the age or the vibe that gives you confidence they “get” you. You figured out that MaryAn Pelland is the real deal and she has the depth and intensely practical instructions for generating income from all types of writing.
You want your stories to connect with multiple generations. You appreciate the stories of late-blooming authors who found success. You know the value of mentoring and listening to a college student over coffee for 30 minutes without interrupting them. Amazing, aren’t they?
You have always been good at learning. You still love libraries and books. You go at your own pace when it comes to learning another technology and then another. Eventually, you will master everything about Substack but don’t push. At the same time, you feel the clock ticking, and that’s why you want to be in the middle of Inkspired Community—where we help you break everything down to the tiny steps that you know you can do—absolutely, and not fail. You need others, very much like you, who have already mastered systems, frameworks, strategies, and shortcuts through the clutter of information you don’t need.
Here’s Us Together
Subscribe to Inkspired Community. Membership is FREE.
Send this article with your note to writers you want to join you in this space, custom-designed just for you. (This is a creative original Substack. Not off the rack.)
Put Inkspired in your bookmarks and come back every day, to play, write, learn, and share your joy and enthusiasm with one more person. We are not asking for irritating, mass-blast marketing; instead, if you find 5 minutes each day to invite one more person, that will give us organic growth. At the same time you get to surround yourself with people you want to learn something from and they want your thoughts and wisdom. Invite as many as would be interested in your writing, your life, and this community. A short post several times a week on your LinkedIn account does wonders for your visibility among all who are Inkspired.
Direct some writing this way. Use the form at the bottom of this article or send a direct message. DMs are available in the Chat tab on Substack.
From a profile: Click the arrow icon to open a DM window
From the Chat tab: Click the compose icon and search for someone by name/handle
From a note/post: Use the share icon and select "Send as message"
Here’s the Starting Points for Topics
Our mission is to give ourselves plenty of inspiration, motivation, and tools to keep moving and growing. Here are some ideas for posts we can write and share.
Writing Craft and Techniques
Technology and Tools
Community and Support
Publishing and Monetization
Health and Wellness for Writers
Inspiration and Motivation
Personal Stories and Networking
BTW--if you want to join us, we don't check ID at the door. Sneak in, no one will ask your age.
If we all wrote the same things, the world would be less interesting. But I promise you--with some thought and adaptation, these strategies can work for you or any writer.