Writers and other late bloomers
For all of you who think it might be too late to make a life as a writer (or as anything else you have your heart set on), let me direct your attention to this great article by Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker.
In particular, you’re going to want to read the opening story about a writer named Ben Fountain.
Seriously, you guys. Becoming a professional writer is more possible than you know. You just have to get over your fears and excuses and START RIGHT NOW. See my two earlier posts for more nagging and prodding on this subject.
Robin, this is great! Thanks for the nagging and prodding. Also, am I REALLY the first person to comment? Wow…is it legal for me to not be eight million light years behind on my blogs?
LOVED this article – thank you so much for sharing. I feel very much like a late-bloomer – actually, my writing hasn’t even ‘bloomed’ yet, so I guess I’m a potential late-bloomer, but this article gives me hope.
Welcome, Tinamarie! Glad you loved that article as much as I did!
Elizabeth, it’s all in the timing–late post on my part, early comment on yours. Congratulations on being first!
I am the quintessential late bloomer, even though I’m not a writer. It’s not so bad to be a late bloomer. You appreciate what you gain even more. Never give up on your dreams!
You don’t know how much I needed this today. Thanks, Robin. Happy Writing!
Thanks for the article link,Robin. It really helps a late bloomer like me feel more encouraged to take a chance there.
Katie Sis, Vivian, and Lady T, speaking as a fellow late bloomer, I’m glad we’re all blossoming at our own particular rates! There are no rules for this–we just need to be who we actually are and stop trying to be anyone else. Sounds so simple, but sometimes it takes SO long to figure that out.
Robin,
Thank you for the link on Ben Fountain. How many potential writers are wandering around thinking —how do I get started? This was a great slice of life that we don’t always read. Thanks, you are a good kid!! You are only 14—right?
MJG
MJG, the other thing I love about the Ben Fountain story is how supportive (including financially) his wife was. It really helps to have your partner believe in you! Certainly helped me.
And yes I’m 14-ish. Plus a few decades. Plus a lot of mistakes and misjudgments, and–
But it’s all fine now!
well the only thing stopping me from publishing is that i haven’t finished a book yet, and i dont know anyone who could publsih
but thanks for all the nagging and stuff like that, who knows maybe i will have a book on a shelf oneday soon, well as soon as i finish a story
Thank you, Robin. I needed that. It looks like I’m losing my job to budget cuts by July at the latest and the one thing that is keeping me sane in that knowledge is that perhaps it’s the kick in the pants I need to get writing. But when I see all these young whippersnapper writers I feel so old. Thanks for reminding me of a different perspective.
(my anti-spam word is connect. Exactly what I need to do right now as I’m feeling out of sorts and almost out of work.)
Thank you for the inspiration. This gives me hope.
Mother Reader…you may be right in thinking you are being ‘pushed’ in another direction. There are plenty of us ‘older writers’ out there. I STARTED writing when I retired at 60, and have two books out. Not ones that will make it to any charts, or even be well-known, but they are out there, and you can do it too. Everything happens for a reason.
Geat article, Robin. Very inspiring and affirming for me.
Judy, thanks for your input. It’s nice to hear from a successful late bloomer like you!
Jone, glad you like it. It really inspired me, too.
Mother Reader, so sorry to hear about the job situation–ugh. But listen to Judy. Everything really does happen for your benefit.
Carli, work at your own pace. There’s no hurry, no timeline–it’s just about showing up and doing your work and loving what you do. And someday you’ll have a finished book to show for it!
Just got around to reading this… great article Robin! Thanks!
sounds like a good article…I’ll have to check it out. Even if I am just born to appreciate the writing of others!
I see there have been no comments here since 2008! but here goes anyway – believing there is someone out there in the ether who will read this. I found the article encouraging as a late-bloomer. It took me over 10 years to write and illustrate my book ‘Angel-Kat’ (see http://www.angel-kat.com) and after a further year spent promoting the book (including a visit to the Bologna Book Fair 2011) and after giving away numerous business cards and talking to lots of people about the project, giving away 40 promotional copies of the book, and having just 200 hits on the website in 6 months not only have I not sold a single copy but more discouragingly not one of the people who visited the site have given me any feedback All this has led to my ‘dark period’ when I feel like giving up – that no-one understands or appreciates what I have written nor wants to read/buy it. It is so disheartening. However, unsolicited, this morning I got some positive feedback from an unrelated and unexpected source – a person I had sent my cv to for an unrelated job – who said she loved my website and wanted to buy a copy of the book – the first shaft of light or just a candle in the wind?. After reading this article I understand that maybe this is not the time to give up but rather to keep going with other stories (I have at least 7 on the backburner!) and to begin disciplining myself like Fountain just to write and draw for the sake of it and just abandon the idea that I will ever make any money out of writing/illustration. If there is anyone out there – please visit my site and give me some feedback – positive or negative. Thanks
Robyn, congratulations! All I can say is stick with it, stick with it, stick with it.