Karen Nelson with book, "The Sunken Town."

After finding her voice through fiction, Karen Nelson helps others tell their stories, too

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For as long as she can remember, Karen Nelson has been a writer.

“It’s the way I process the world,” she said. “Even as a kid, I was always scribbling stories. Writing and reading have been lifelong passions for me.”

Although Karen spent most of her professional career working in nonprofit organizations, it wasn’t until after she turned 50 that she finally published her first novel, “The Sunken Town.” It is a hauntingly emotional story about a woman’s search for identity and the complicated threads of family, loss and love.

Beyond finishing her decades-old manuscript, Karen also found a deeper calling during this phase of life. Today, she helps people over 50 to find their voices and share stories of their own.

Through her literary nonprofit, Writing By Writers, Karen now supports new and aspiring authors, many of whom are exploring creative work for the first time later in life.

The workshops, manuscript programs, and retreats her organization offers have become a lifeline for people looking to turn personal reflection into published stories.

Finding her own path to publication

Although Karen had always written fiction, she never felt an urgency to publish. That changed when the COVID pandemic hit. The sudden stillness and isolation reignited her drive to finish a novel she had started years before – one she had quietly tucked away in a drawer.

“I had this 300-page book about a character named Lindsay, who was adopted and inherits her birth mother’s home,” she explained. “It was fine, but I realized it was more of a writing exercise. It helped me understand my process, but I knew I could do better.”

Years later, she began writing a new story set in Maine, intending to craft a moody, academic tale. But something unexpected happened.

“What came out was the story of Claire, Lindsay’s birth mother,” Karen said. “That’s when I realized I had actually written the prequel to the original book. I ended up pulling the best parts of both and stitching them together.”

The result was “The Sunken Town,” a dual-narrative novel that explores identity through the experiences of both Lindsay and Claire.

The story resonated with Karen personally, not just because she is adopted herself, but because it helped her examine her relationship with her own parents from the perspective of a more mature woman.

“You can’t write this kind of emotional truth in your twenties,” she said. “As I got older, I began to see my parents as real people. Their decisions made more sense. That clarity helped me write a much more nuanced book.”

Karen chose to publish with Sibylline Press, a small, traditional publisher that focuses on the work of women over 50. The partnership was a perfect fit.

“I loved everything they stood for. They’re committed to amplifying the voices of older women, which is something I care deeply about,” she explained. “For me, having a traditional press behind the book gave me validation. It wasn’t just my friends or family saying the story was good – this was an industry professional who believed in it.”

Creating community for writers over 50

Karen’s journey through publishing didn’t happen in isolation. Throughout the process, she leaned heavily on a tight-knit community of writers, many of whom she met through her nonprofit.

“Writing is a solitary thing,” she said. “You spend a lot of time alone, inside your head. Having a support group is so important, not just for emotional encouragement, but for craft development.”

Karen emphasized that having peers at similar stages in their writing journey makes a big difference, especially for older writers.

“When you’re new to writing, you need someone who can help you learn the craft, such as how to build characters, create tension and use dialogue effectively,” she explained. “But as you progress, you also need someone who understands the internal struggles of writers, like imposter syndrome, creative blocks or just questioning whether what you’re writing even matters.”

Through Writing By Writers, Karen and her co-founder, acclaimed author Pam Houston, offer workshops that range from short online craft classes to immersive in-person retreats and a two-year manuscript development program. Many participants are over 50 and finally carving out the time to pursue lifelong dreams.

“Our goal is for every writer who comes through our program to leave with at least one trusted reader,” Karen explained. “That is someone you can send your work to and say, ‘Be honest –does this hold together?’ That kind of relationship is invaluable.”

Fueling passion in the second half of life

Before launching Writing By Writers, Karen had a long and successful career working in nonprofit development for causes like cancer research, environmental advocacy and women’s health.

Her transition into literary nonprofit work was both a leap of faith and a natural extension of her skill set.

“I’ve always believed in doing work that I care about,” Karen said. “But after losing my mother-in-law way too young, my husband and I had one of those heart-to-heart talks about what really matters. I realized it was time to put my passion first.”

That realization led her to take Writing By Writers from a side project to a full-time mission.

“We’re not just teaching people how to write. We’re building a community,” Karen said. “We’re creating a platform for people whose voices might otherwise go unheard. That includes older authors, indigenous writers and people from all walks of life who have something important to say.”

Writing By Writers offers fellowships to participants based on writing talent, not financial ability, and maintains an intentional commitment to inclusivity. Karen believes the stories we tell – and the diversity of those stories – matter now, more than ever.

“In a world that’s increasingly polarized, storytelling can be a bridge,” she said. “It helps us find common ground, to see the humanity in each other. The more voices we elevate, the more empathy we create.”

Encouraging others to start

Karen is quick to acknowledge that many people over 50 still carry doubt about whether it’s “too late” to start writing. But she passionately disagrees.

“I can’t tell you how many women I’ve met who started writing in their 60s or 70s and are now publishing books,” she said. “There’s no expiration date on creativity. If anything, life experience gives your stories more depth.”

She encourages older adults to take a class, join a writing group, or just start by putting words on a page.

“Maybe you took a pottery class and hated it. That’s great! Now you know,” she said. “The point is to try things. You don’t have to get it right the first time. You just have to start.”

Karen also believes encouraging others is one of the most rewarding aspects of her current work.

“When someone finally realizes their story matters, and that their voice is valid, that’s powerful,” she said. “Helping people get to that point is one of the greatest joys of my life.”

Writing forward

Karen’s story is a testament to the creative power that emerges when passion, experience and purpose converge. Whether she’s walking her Labrador on the beaches of California or telling a room full of aspiring writers that their voices matter, she is living proof that the second half of life can be the most fulfilling chapter yet.

“I don’t have any big regrets,” Karen reflected. “Every job I’ve had, every detour I’ve taken, led me here. And I still feel like I have a lot more to write.”

For more information

People can connect with Karen through several venues, including:

Karen’s books, including “Sunken Town,” can be found on Amazon and in other bookstores.

If you purchase a copy of Karen’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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