I have to confess this would have been a comment on the excellent Strictly Writing’s latest post, but while coming over here to sign in, I lost what I’d written on the comments page ( don’t you just hate that?) and so it’s going here instead.
The post discusses the difficulties of getting published for particular age groups, and the consensus is that it is generally harder to sell yourself if you’re an older writer. It’s sad that I even know of established writers who have to ‘pose’ as belonging to a younger age group in order to cut ice with publishers and their marketing machines. Still, the optimist in me can’t help feeling the grey market is gaining power, and at least there is a definable body of contemporary fiction which doesn’t shy away from middle aged heroes or heroines; I’m thinking A Spot of Bother, Reading in Bed, and Miss Garnett’s Angel, just off the top of my head. Here’s hoping the day will come when mature writers are equally welcome, and ‘fresh talent’ doesn’t have to be ‘young talent.’
Meanwhile I commend Strictly Writing to you all (a blog produced by a team – sounds like heaven to me!) and have added it to my links.
Ali Bacon, Author 