I had an interesting conversation lately. It started with an observation by a friend about science fiction authors (well known ones) coming to the end of their careers. I wasn’t aware that writers were even capable of retiring unless they were dead. They write until they croak. In some cases someone will take over and continue writing for them.
Needless to say, that didn’t sit that well with me. I’m a Golden Girl.
This led to another conversation about age and publishing. I was told, by a person who dabbled at writing, that publishing a book was a young person’s game, especially fiction. Apparently there are some that believe that if you’ve crossed the big 5-0, then the books you write are memoirs or historical topics.
They didn't think they could craft a book that would appeal to younger readers. Or they didn’t think they could write characters younger than they were. Or they thought the environments they would write in would be too dated. Or they weren’t computer savvy enough to write an eBook. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Now on the other end of the spectrum are those that think they’re not old enough to write a book. They believe they don’t have enough experience. Or they haven’t been around long enough to be taken seriously.
I did a little research. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein completed that manuscript before she was 21. Stephen King is currently 73 and he has a book set to come out in 2021.
What this tells me, is that age doesn’t matter. This is just a reason that some use not to get that book
out. Another thing they allow to hold them back. I heard someone say that out there somewhere is a reader with a hole in their soul that is the shape of your book.
You have that story inside you. Write it. Someone will love it as much as you do.
Don’t let ageism stop you.
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