Are you too old to start writing a novel?
Do you have to start when you’re young? what about great writers when did they start?
There’s a silly idea the public has towards writing, a belief a writer has to be born an amazing writer and you have to start writing at a young age or don’t even bother trying.
We seem to believe if you haven’t published a book by the time you’re 30 you shouldn’t even start.
In this blog, we will ask are you too old to start writing a novel?…
ARE YOU TOO OLD TO START WRITING A NOVEL?
Table of Contents
Why do we feel this way? Where did this idea come from?
If you want to play guitar everyone will say you have to practice, practice, practice, if you want to play chess everyone says you have to learn and practice.
But when it comes to writing a novel everyone says forget it, you have to be born a greater writer and start young or don’t bother.
BELIEVING IT’S A YOUNG PERSON’S GAME
Countless 50-year-olds and older want to write but they don’t try, believing it’s a young person’s game and they’re “too old.”
It’s a silly idea, anyone can write no matter what your age. It’s simply a skill that takes time and practice to learn, but you can say that about anything. All great things take time to master.
But when it comes to writing everyone believes you have to be born with the skill.
IT TAKES PRACTICE
Look at people in the circus who juggle knives with their eyes closed do you believe they were born that way, or do you use commonsense and know they practiced. Of course, they did. They started off with tennis balls tossing them into the air and dropping them over and over.
But they kept on practicing until they could juggle countless tennis balls at once. Then they moved up to bowling pins. Worked on that for a long time. Then in time moved up to knives. But of course, they had to practice. But why don’t we feel the same way about writing?
Imagine if someone you know said they wanted to juggle knives. You would stop them and tell them they need to practice with tennis balls and work their way to knives over time.
But we should be saying the same thing to writers. That it takes time and practice. Not telling them you need to be born great or not even try.
EVERYONE GREAT HAD A TEACHER
Even Vincent van Gogh took lessons on painting. He didn’t wake up one day saying “I want to paint” and there you go he’s painting artwork that will one day sell in the millions.
It took him time to practice and master the art of painting. He had a teacher at one point telling him what to do. But sadly people believe trying to teach writing can’t happen.
There are countless classes that teach writing. But for some reason, someone tries writing a short story fails and gives up. As though they have to be perfect right away.
But if you wanted to juggle and tried juggling tennis balls and dropped a few wanting to quit everyone would tell you to keep practicing. Saying you cannot be perfect overnight. Sadly, we feel this way about juggling but not writing.
BUT HE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO BETTER
Even the great Pavarotti opera singer had a vocal coach with him throughout his singing career. You’d think someone like Pavarotti would never have to bother with a singing coach at a certain point.
But he always wanted to be better. But we expect a writer to be writing alone throughout their lives. Believing if you need a teacher you’re not that good.
When you look back at all the great writers you’d be amazed how many of them took lessons on writing. How many of them had their first submissions rejected for not being good enough.
How many of them had to work hard at being a great writer. The idea that great writers have no stress when writing is silly. All writers have to work hard and practice.
We are not born great at anything. Hard work and dedication makes our dreams a reality.
WE NEVER SEE THEM STRUGGLE
Ask any published author if writing comes easy for them and they’ll laugh. We never see their struggle, only see the end results. We never saw Eric Clapton practicing his guitar day after day throughout his teenage years. Believing he was born with the great ability.
But he will be the first to tell you it was hard work.
There is no set age when you must start writing. Sadly there have been countless great stories lost to the world because someone didn’t write it because they believed they were too old.
Never think this way. You can start at any time.
NEED TO BE BORN A GREAT WRITER?
Never quit because you believe you “need to be born a great writer”. Everyone benefits from learning. There are countless courses you can study that will help with your writing.
Yes, it’s true it seems to come easier to some than others. But it doesn’t mean you cannot learn with practice.
There are some published authors out there who were horrible writers at first. But they practice and studied and in time mastered the art of writing. They never gave up on themselves.
Even Stephen King’s first books “Rage” and “The Long Walk” were rejected for “not being good enough.” So he used that as motivation to write better. Hard to imagine Stephen King being rejected.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS BOOKS THAT WILL TEACH YOU
Now more than ever there are countless Internet sites on writing and YouTube classes that will teach you to write. There are night school classes you can attend that hone your craft.
Countless books in libraries that will teach you. All the helpful tips are out there. It’s not like decades ago where you had no one to teach you. Today help is everywhere.
But remember what Stephen King says about writing, you need to practice writing and read. You cannot expect to become great simply because you want to.
Every great writer starts off bad but becomes better over time. Reading other authors will teach you how to write, how to tell a story, how to build a character arc. No one can be great simply by wanting to, practice, practice and more practice.
DON’T LET SILLY IDEAS STOP YOU
So no matter what you’re age if you have a desire to write get writing. Don’t let the silly idea that you have to be young to be published. If you have an idea for a great novel don’t let anyone stop you.
Sit down and start writing. The last thing you want to do is on your last day on earth regret never have written your dream novel.
Age ain’t nothing but a number, if you feel young you are young no matter what age. If you feel old you will be old no matter what your age. If you have an idea for a novel get writing.
It’s been said the average age for getting published is 36. Well, if you’re older than that, it’s time for you to rock the boat. Besides your life experiences will only help you in your writing.
Something the youth cannot say.
WRITING YOUR NEW NOVEL
Remember Bram Stoker wrote “Dracula” at 50, he’s pretty famous. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the “Little House” series at 65. Anna Sewell wrote Black Beauty at 57, Raymond Chandler created the Philip Marlow series at 51. Richard Adams wrote “Watership Down” at 52, Karen Blixen wrote “Out of Africa” at 52, Mary Wesley wrote “Jumping the Queue” at 70, Lorna Page wrote “A Dangerous Weakness at age 93, Sarah Yerkes debut novel “Days of Blue and Flame” was published when she was 101.
No excuses … get writing
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