Are You Too Old to Start Your Writing Career?
Me, right after the launch party for my first romance, Just Friends.
The other day, I saw a tweet where some ignoramus told an aspiring author she’s too old to start writing. I’m sorry, but that’s just plain stupid.
I sold my first work of fiction at the somewhat ripe age of 46. For me, it’s seemed like perfect timing. And plenty of authors have started their careers later in life.
Charles Bukowski published a couple short stories and some poetry when he was younger, but didn’t sell his first novel until he was 49. Laura Ingalls Wilders started writing at age 44, and published Little House on the Prairie when she was 64. William S. Burroughs first book came out when he was 40, and Naked Lunch six years later.
In our youth-obsessed society people seem to forget that you can be a terrific writer at any age. In fact, I believe chances are you’ll be a better writer if/when you’re older. And not just because you’ve had more years to practice and polish your craft.
Why it’s okay, or even better, to start writing later in life.
Comedian, actor, and Saturday Night Live cast member Leslie Jones was on The Tonight Show recently. She told a story of getting the chance to open for Jamie Foxx when she was 19, and bombing. After the show, she cornered Jamie and asked him what she needed to do to be like him.
His response was (and I’m paraphrasing here), “Your problem is, you’re too young, so you don’t have any material. You don’t have any stories. Go live life. Go have good jobs and bad jobs. Have crazy roommates, get your heart broken, break someone else’s heart. Then you’ll be ready.”
Yes. YAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!
Most people need some life under their belts to have rich, touching, funny, surprising stories to tell. Some of us get that life sooner than others, for sure. And some authors are just gifted with the ability to tell a great story at a young age. I’m not one of them.
The urge to write fiction didn’t even strike me until a few years ago. Until then, all my writing was non-fiction–magazine articles, nature essays, marketing copy and press releases. When I started writing romance, finally, FINALLY, my long list of crazy jobs, fantastic and screwed up relationships, and amazing adventures made total sense.
Agree or disagree—is there such a thing as too old to start writing fiction? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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So excited to be presenting at this awesome local conference!Award-winning outdoor romance author Stacy Gold would rather be in the middle of nowhere than almost anywhere else. She’s run more than 50 rivers in three countries, been heli-dropped into remote ski huts, worked as a ranger for the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, and spent years as a commercial river guide and whitewater kayak instructor. A reformed copywriter and marketing strategist, her last “real job” was Communications Director for a state-wide mountain biking non-profit. When she’s not busy playing in the mountains with her husband and happy dogs, Ms. Gold writes about independent, badass women finding love and adventure in the great outdoors. Her latest release, Wild at Heart, was a 2022 Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize finalist.![]()
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#IamRMFW #COGold #writersconference #writingcommunity Stacy Gold
Donna Simonetta
22nd September 2017
Since writing is my 3rd career, and I was in my late 40s when I started writing and in my 50s when my first book was published–I would have to say NO! What infuriating advice!
stacyg6
26th September 2017
It IS infuriating. Why does anyone feel the need to even say this sort of thing to another person? Thanks for chiming in Donna!