Many writers start writing at a young age, but not every writer does. Some may start in college. Others may start after they’ve settled down with a family. Still, there are many writers who start later in life, during their retirement. Whatever age you get bitten by the writing bug is when you are meant to start writing. It doesn’t matter if you are a child, an adult, a parent with a job, or retired. When you get the writing spark (a spark for a story) let it burn and write.
There is no age limit to being a writer or for when someone can start writing.
My mom started writing before she married my father, but she put it aside as she had children, as many mothers do. Then, when I was about five years old (the youngest child in the family), she started to write children’s stories. She picked up writing on and off as she did all the duties of a stay-at-home mom and continued when she had part-time jobs. She wrote adult stories as well, set during the pioneer times. Finally, when we were teenagers and able to take care of ourselves, she got back in to writing full force.
No matter your age or responsibilities, writing will always find you.
There is no age limit to publishing, either. My mom published her first children’s books after her full retirement. She couldn’t be happier, and it fills me with joy to see her dream coming true.
I know many writers who started later in life, and I think it is wonderful. One person told me that when she was young, someone told her she would be a writer, but she decided she wouldn’t write until her body went. In other words, when she wasn’t able to physically work anymore. So, she’s writing now, but she added these words, “Except, it’s too late.”
No, it is never too late to start something.
It is never too late to begin a new dream or to pick one up you’ve pushed to the side. It is never too late to do something for yourself.
It is never too late to write or be an artist.
Grandma Moses started to paint in earnest at the age of 78, and she rose to great success. Laura Ingalls Wilder started writing at forty, but she was in her sixties when Little House in the Big Woods was published. Frank McCourt published Angela’s Ashes when he was 66. Millard Kaufman, co-creator of Mr. Magoo, began writing Bowl of Cherries at the age of 86, but it wasn’t published until he was 90. And James A. Michner wrote 40 books after the age of 40.
Whatever age you start writing or publishing doesn’t matter as long as you are doing it and living your dream. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old to write or publish.
BONUS A TO Z
THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN
Y - YOU
Jamie (jannghi.blogspot.com):
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
I love that your mum kept getting back to writing, it feels like there was a constant pull between them, like a life-long love affair.
ReplyDelete“In youth we learn; in age we understand.”/a>
It was a life-long love affair for sure. :)
DeleteI love writing, but I have another passion in embroidery. Day-job only gives me time for one passion at the moment, so I married writing. But embroidery, well, that is a total hot hunk of a pool boy and I'm likely to run off with it on retirement if my eyes and fingers still work.
ReplyDelete"hot hunk of a pool boy" *snort* I love that description of a hobby/passion you can't do right now.
DeleteAge is only a number :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for Y:
My Languishing TBR: Y
Yodelling Dwarfs
Exactly.
DeleteI think writing older has many benefits. We have more experience to bring to the page. My writing is dormant for the moment, but it'll come back, eventually, I think.
ReplyDeleteI hope it does, Liz.
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