Discover Colleen’s Inspiring Journey from Ghostwriting to Empowering Women
💙Dear Wonderful Writers and Friends,
Thank you for being by my side this past year. 🌿 Storm Boris left its mark across Europe, and Romania is bracing for intense rains and strong winds. We’ve been warned about a possible storm named Ashley, but for now, the forecast calls for heavy downpours. Expect a photo report from my balcony, rain and all.
Before the weather takes center stage, I’m excited to share a special interview with you today! I believe it will resonate deeply, and I hope you’ll read it to the end. As always, if you’d prefer not to be tagged in future articles, just let me know — I completely understand.
Sending you all warm hugs and best wishes! Stay dry and safe! 🌧️
Julia
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Intro
I’m Colleen, known at Medium as Over-50 Empress. An Over-50 Empress is self-aware, fearless, kind to herself, unbothered by others’ opinions, and goes after what she wants. So straighten your crown!
1. That Special Moment
One fine day, you found Medium. How did it happen exactly?
C: I hated being a ghostwriter after 17 years of it. However, writing is all I want to do, and I want to make money doing it.
I made a Wikipedia page for a customer. The client sent me a link to a story on Medium that I could use on the page. I thought, What is this Medium? Can I write there? Can I make money there?
I did some study and found out about Medium’s Partner Program. I became a Medium Partner on May 24, 2024, and soon after became a Friend of Medium.
2. Art Is Work
What does your work as a writer consist of? What are the biggest challenges of the present?
At Medium, my profile is Over 50 Empress. (https://medium.com/@Over50Empress) I write about engaging topics, with many articles for women over 50.
I also started two personal publications:
Thrift Tips: A publication that provides specific ways to save money. (https://medium.com/thrift-tips)
Atomic Posts: A publication that covers a wide range of subjects in just 150 words for those who prefer shorter pieces. (https://medium.com/atomic-posts)
Honestly, writing at Medium is an enjoyable experience with little stress. It does take work to make money there, and you need to know how to do so, but it’s not complicated — it’s fun!
3. The Scent of Creation
Describe a scent that immediately transports you to a moment of inspiration or creativity. What emotions does it evoke, and how does it influence your creative process?
The scent of coffee — hands down! I have two cups of black coffee every morning. It wakes me up and gets my creative juices flowing.
4. Ink and Intimacy
If your writing style were a tactile experience, what texture would it be? How does the act of putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard make you feel on a deeply personal level?
It would be silk — soft and smooth but strong. As I’ve aged, I’ve become happier and kinder but also solid in my opinions and convictions.
I write at Medium five days a week with weekends off. Getting my thoughts out of my head and onto the screen is a powerful experience that makes me feel fulfilled and proud.
5. The Harmony of Silence
Think about a moment when silence spoke louder than words in your creative journey. What were the circumstances, and how did it shape your understanding of your craft?
This is a difficult question because silence is a big part of my life. My husband and I chose locations to live the remainder of our lives that are quiet and surrounded by nature. So, silence plays a large part every day in my writing journey.
6. The Palette of Dreams
Imagine your creative mind as a painter’s palette. What colors dominate your artistic spectrum, and how do they represent the different facets of your imagination?
I live in Florida in the winter and in Honey Harbour in Canada in the summer. Because I live amongst nature, I enjoy the color green, which represents the trees; yellow, which means the sunshine; and blue, which represents the water. These are what I gaze at as I write. These colors help to fuel my article ideas.
7. Echoes of Childhood Whispers
Recall a childhood memory that resonates with you as a writer. How do the echoes of your early experiences manifest in your work today?
I spent much of my childhood and even into my early adulthood daydreaming. I would create entire scenarios in my head for hours and hours. I look at it as part of my creative spirit. It’s always been a part of me.
8. The Dance of Words
If your writing style were a dance, what would be the rhythm and tempo? How does the cadence of your sentences mirror the beating of your creative heart?
If my writing were a dance, it would be hip-hop — beautiful but determined and strong.
9. Admiration Exercises
Which writers do you admire? What are your favorite books?
There are too many authors to name them all, but some that come to mind are Truman Capote, Augusten Burroughs, Alice Munro, Sarah Levy, and Ann Rule.
There are also too many books for me to list them all, but some of my favorites concerning the authors I listed above:
Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
Augusten Burroughs: Dry
Alice Munro: — Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
Sarah Levy: Drinking Games
Ann Rule: — Small Sacrifices
10. An Indiscreet Question
With which influential author or inspirational figure from life, past or present, would you most like to share a cup of tea and a captivating conversation?
The endurance athlete David Goggins has written two books. I greatly admire Goggins and would love to share a cup of coffee (not tea) with him. I wrote a Medium article on Goggins:
11. A Story in Ten Words
Her paddleboard fall mortified her, but she climbed back on.
12. A Favorite Fragment from Your Works
During the earlier part of my life, I worked jobs I hated. I knew the only thing I wanted to do was write — nothing else. In 2007, that dream became a reality. I quit working as a secretary for a computer firm and became a full-time ghostwriter. This means I’ve written thousands of online articles that do not have my name. It’s hard work, and the industry has changed a lot (not always for the better), but not having a boss and working the hours I choose has been life-changing.
13. Contact Information
How can you be contacted?
You can contact me at Over50Empress@gmail.com
14. Blog/Author Page/Social Media Profile
Where can we read your stories?
My articles can be found on my Medium page: https://medium.com/@Over50Empress
15. What exactly would you like to convey to a fellow writer/editor/screenwriter/film producer?
Present your writings in a few words.
My name is Colleen. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, dancer, yogi, swimmer, traveler, full-time freelance writer, and creator of Thrift Tips and Atomic Posts. I want myself and every other over-50 woman to be the best versions of ourselves!
16. Embers of Endings
Envision the conclusion of a significant project. How do you feel as you pen the final words or brush the last strokes? What is the emotional resonance of completion, and how does it influence your anticipation for the next artistic endeavor?
I feel great after I published one of my articles. But I don’t dwell on that; I will move on to the next one!
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Julia Kalman 