“Not all flowers bloom in April, darling. Relax and take your time.” ~K.Tolnoe
I know what many of you, writers, might be thinking: It’s hard enough to find time to write creatively, but now I need to also chase that dream and try to publish my works?
My short response to that: Yes. But here are the details to why you should consider pushing through with that dream.
For Elizabeth Ayres, founder of The Center for Creative Writing, a US organization helping talents become stronger writers, one question keeps coming up among those who take their online writing classes and their creative writing retreats. They are determined to learn how to write but they are never too sure if they should take it to the next level. They often ask: Is it too late for them?
Tackling this subject, which has perplexed many intimidated novices, in her socmed channel, she shared an article she had read a few years ago in the LA Times. The article said, “We’re accustomed to thinking of creative genius as being the domain of flashy youngsters like Pablo Picasso of F. Scott Fitzgerald. They made dramatic inspired discoveries based on important new ideas. But there’s another path to artistic success that does not rely on sudden flashes of insight. It’s rooted instead on the trial and error accumulation of knowledge that ultimately leads to manifestation of wisdom and judgement.”
These trailblazers created their own paths and remained patient until it was their time to shine. I can only imagine how scary it must have been for them because they could not see what was ahead. Yet these innovators bloomed anyway regardless of age – innovators like painter Jackson Pollock in his 30s, novelist Virginia Woolf in her 40s, another novelist Bram Stoker in his 50s, painter Paul Cezanne in his 60s, director Clint Eastwood in his 70s, sculptor Louise Bourgeois in her 80s, even architect Frank Lloyd Wright in his 90s.
Quick fact: The Guinness World Records lists Bertha Wood (UK) as the oldest female author to have first book published. Wood, who was born on 20 June 2005, had her first book Fresh Air and Fun: The Story of a Blackpool Holiday Camp published on her 100th birthday in June 2005. She began writing her book, which is based on her memoirs, at the age of 90. The record for the oldest male author is held by Jim Downing (USA) who was 102 years and 176 days when the final draft of his book The Other Side of Infamy was accepted for publication on 15 February 2016. Downing was born on 20 June 1905.
“So if you’re thinking it’s too late to become the writer you dream you can be, ask yourself what if Clint Eastwood had stopped directing at age 52? After the critical failure of the movie Firefox, what if he’d never made Million Dollar Baby or Letters from Iwo Jima in his 70s? And what if Mark Twain had given up in his 40s and never written Huckleberry Finn at age 50,” Ayres said in her vlog.
Coach, writer and author of non-fiction Dale Darley also shared her two cents through a 2018 vlog. “The thing is: Inspiration comes from anywhere and you can be any age to start writing. My mom’s 80. She’s on her second children’s book. She has never ever stopped. She absolutely adores writing.”
Her mother’s writing journey started taking shape many years ago when Darley bought her a journal, a pen and a book on how to write a novel. Writing away like mad demon since then, Darley’s mother was on her seventh book at the time of her vlog.
“Who you are, where you are, how old you are, whatever you think stands in your way, please do write your book. Get it out there. Get it out of your heart and soul and get it published. Have some fun doing it,” the British author went on, encouraging her audience.
In 1943, legendary dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, who choreographed until her death at age 96, wrote to fellow innovator Agnes de Mille. Graham touched on a very important point – that our voice, our talents are unique and that nobody else could ever have what we have. I also think the lines captured the essence of creativity perfectly. It is what keeps the human spirit going. Here’s an excerpt of that letter:
There is a vitality,
a life force,
a quickening
that is translated through you into action,
and because there is only one of you in all time,
this expression is unique.
And If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.
So keep going; there is no reason to feel stuck. Don’t let your stories, poems, articles, books or plays be lost just because you’re worried you are too old to write. No matter the age, take that creative side and develop it. It is never too late to reclaim your inner strength.