Is there a "right" age to write?

Hey!

It can be difficult trying to get into writing when all the sources point towards unemployment and the fact that “most” authors spend at least ten to fifteen years trying to get published before any success. Is there a truth to this? Do you have to be older to be considered a worthwhile writer?

People break it down to the old statement: “Write what you know.” And of course, a twenty-something-year-old isn’t going to have the same experiences as someone in their forties. But is this the sole reason for not being able to get published? Can editors and publishers tell when your writing isn’t genuine and from a place of memory that you have yourself?

Does this then mean that you have to make new memories to be able to be a good writer? I partly believe this is true, but it isn’t the entire solution. But as writers, we want to improve our chances of success, so we try to make things as refined as possible. Is there a way to be consistent in our writing habits, but also in our attempts to make those new experiences that help add that sense of understanding to our writing?

I started writing in middle school – having written a short story of around 5k words which wasn’t my best work. However, it made me want to continue writing and improve.

📚What reading showed me

I used to read a lot and the first thing I discovered is that writers are talented people, and I want to understand how they do it. From reading books (mostly fantasy in my case) I saw a power I wanted access to. I wanted to learn how they did it so I could do it myself; to make people feel a certain way, to entertain, and to have something I can call my own.

There is a side of writing that can come across as quite negative but has an underlying message. Some people say that you have to be older to be a good writer. What they most likely mean is that you have to have more experience under your belt so you have something to write from. If you don’t know how to drive, it can seem quite obvious through your writing when you try to describe a character doing it.

However, not all things can be experienced. Take my obsession with Fantasy as an example. Whilst we can piece together things from history that help us describe certain types of armour, clothing and food, a lot is made up by us the author. But emotions are experiences in themselves though. Those, if we have felt them, can be drawn on to create a compelling character.

So, if new experiences are good for your writing, how can you utilise them? It can all come from a shift in your mindset. I know it can come across like a motivational speaker, but just throw yourself into something new. If you have never done it – try it. Making memories, trying new activities, making a fool of yourself. This all leads to experiences that can be tapped into.

Live your life to the fullest. Not just for the sake of your writing, but for you as a person. If you make an effort to try what’s new, you can better describe it when it comes around in your next novel or writing project. Be the test dummy so that your writing can benefit. Throw yourself into life, and keep writing.

That’s all from me today,
Fin 😊