As the last of the Baby Boomers celebrate their 50th birthdays in 2014, they’re redefining what it means to reach this milestone. Years ago, turning 50 might have signaled a time to consider retirement while sitting by the fireplace in a rocking chair. Nowadays, guys and gals age 50+ are choosing to remain on the job and enjoy activities like hiking, gourmet cooking, travel, and—of course—writing!
Remember: No matter how old you are, you’re still a work in progress. If you’ve been writing stories, essays, or poetry—keep writing! The best is yet to come.
If you’re worried that it’s too late to start…well, to paraphrase the words of a famous advice columnist… “how old will you be if you don’t do it?”
This is a great time for you to be writing. With years of memorable experiences, you definitely have stories to tell. You can write because you want to leave a legacy for future generations, or you can write to give voice to your inner muse. Who knows…maybe the author of the next great novel that everyone will be talking about—is you!
And if you need a little inspiration, take the advice of these writers, who are (or were) still writing to great acclaim well into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s:
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So true. I am 60 today and I feel, only now, that the lessons of my life are finally in alignment with the words I need to use to describe them. It’s a fine time to begin……
Thank you for this article of encouragement. I’ll be turning 50 in December, and currently stand at a career crossroads as a result of a layoff in 2009. Though unsettling, it’s also afforded me the opportunity to reconsider Writing as the occupation I (subconsciously knew all along but avoided) was meant to persue.
I published my first novel this year 4 weeks before my 75th birthday. My advice? Start now.