If there is an age limit, I’m glad no one told Herman Wouk, who wrote his last book at age 100. That said, I attended a conference this weekend where the median age looked to be well past 60. Many participants wondered if they were too old to get published. I don’t know the answer, other than I was past sixty when I got serious about getting a book published.
I worked on the same book for five years before I submitted it to an agent, who took me on. By the last of October, when I was sixty-seven, I had signed a contract with a major publisher in the Christian market, and five days past my 69th birthday, my first book was released. The last time I checked, it had 8,600 4+ starred reviews (out of 5 stars), and I’m working on the edits of book #20. I’m the first to say, “Go for it!”
However…understand that if you want a successful career, there will be sacrifices. Some years I wrote 2 books a year, which is a lot for a slow writer–I can’t turn a 100,000-word book out in six weeks. Some writers can, so I don’t knock it, I’m just not one of them. For me that meant writing 6-8 hours a day, five days a week, sometimes 7 days a week. I’m no spring chicken, so it was hard work.
All writing is hard work. Own it. Know what you’re getting in when you sign that contract, or decide to publish Indy, which is a whole different ballgame from traditional publishing. If you publish Indy, you will be responsible for your deadlines, covers, marketing, and everything in between. It is not for the faint of heart. In reality, writing is not for the faint of heart, either. Like I said, it is hard; otherwise, everyone would be completing a book–a lot of people start writing but never finish.
I can’t tell you if you have what it takes to start a book and finish it–only you know that, but if that’s what you want to do, my advice is to go for it. You won’t know until you try, just make sure you count the cost. The hours sitting in front of a computer, pounding out the scenes in your head, the rejections that are sure to come if you’re submitting to agents or editors, the missed lunches with friends….but the joy of seeing the movie playing in your head appear on the page is amazing.
So, my advice, and this is what I told the attendees of the conference — if you want to write that book, there is nothing stopping you but yourself. TKZers, any additional advice?
Your mention that recent conference attendees appeared to be over 60 — I would say I’ve found that to be the case in visual art too. If you were to attend a local art league meeting, you would see mostly over 60’s. I think that’s because life is so hectic all the time you don’t have time for those pursuits until you’re at/near retirement. Although when I was growing up, I always thought that the older you get, the more your life would slow down but thus far I’ve not found that to be the case, although I’m not yet retired.
But it all leads back to your point – if we want to write that book, we’ve got to make it happen. Though I have dozens of book ideas I want to write, I’ve finished 1, first drafted 2, and have bits and pieces of probably a half dozen others. But I’ll be content if I finish my two favorite historical fiction series projects, which would be about 10 books.
Writing discipline is an on-going process, and I’m still in training. 😎