Retired Senior Finds New Career As A Novelist

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Bob White retired in 1999, but his professional life was far from over. Focusing on his creative side, the ordained minister chose to begin a new career as a novelist. He is a true example that jobs for seniors can be fulfilling and aspirational.

“When I got into retirement, I thought about all the things that I’d like to do that I haven’t been able to do and pursued them,” the New York resident said. One of those things was “to learn how to write fiction.”

From there, White sought out a creative writing course at his local university rather than seeking more traditional retirement jobs. He received positive feedback from his teacher and, without a clear plan, decided to write a book. Eventually, White found a printer through a friend and self-published his work. “Before long, I found that people were recognizing who I was and were asking me, ‘When is your next book coming out?’”

The retired pastor bases his novels on historic fact, as well as his own personal experiences. White was in the Air Force, enjoyed a career as a meteorologist and traveled the world twice. He and his wife were also an ice skating duo for over 30 years. Needless to say, there’s a lot of inspiration to draw from.

When it comes to retirement jobs, White’s advice to other seniors is simple: remain active. “As we age, our brain requires activity,” he explained. “There’s the challenge, the creative challenge, of doing something different, and I would encourage everybody to think along those lines as they approach retirement and not just turn the crank and do what they’ve always done. Every day is a special day for me, and every day is a day that I’m grateful to be here.”