I'm too . . .

This last week I spent some time with a group of want-to-be-writers. And why were they want-to-be-writers and not writers? Good question!

The reasons were many. Some had felt a desire when they were younger, but somehow they had felt they hadn't lived long enough at that time to have something to say.

That didn't stop the six-year old from the UK, Christopher Beale, who had his 1,500-word, five chapter novel published. And he's not alone in being a young writer. There is Christopher Paolini, a bestselling novelist of a fantasy series who started the series when he was 15. And Flavia Bujor who wrote her first book at age 12, The Prophecy of the Stones. All three thought they had plenty to say and that age shouldn't be a factor.

In this group there were also, surprisingly enough, the people who felt they should have done it when they were younger, but now they were too old. Too old! Laura Ingalls Wilder author of Little House on the Prairie didn't start writing until she retired at age 65. Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes was 66. But the oldest first-time published author award goes to Bertha Wood who had her first book, Fresh Air and Fun: The Story of a Blackpool Holiday Camp published when she was 100 years old.

So it's really not age that keeps one from writing. It's fear. I don't want to downplay the fear, because it is a challenge to put yourself out there in written form for others to read, but everyone faces fear. Yep, each and everyone of us has a fear or had has a fear to overcome. And you know what, the best way to overcome that fear is by facing it head on and moving forward. So if you are someone who is too young or too old or just too afraid to write your story, now is the time to begin.

According to Julia Cameron: "The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner's humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step."

Writers on the Move will be there, holding your hand for each step. We've got you.

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D. Jean Quarles is a writer of Women's Fiction and a co-author of a Young Adult Science Fiction Series. Her latest book, House of Glass, Book 2 of The Exodus Series was written with coauthor, Austine Etcheverry.

D. Jean loves to tell stories of personal growth – where success has nothing to do with money or fame, but of living life to the fullest. She is also the author of the novels: Rocky's Mountains, Fire in the Hole, and Perception. The Mermaid, an award winning short story was published in the anthology, Tales from a Sweltering City.                                                                                            

She is a wife, mother, grandmother and business coach. In her free time . . . ha! ha! ha! Anyway, you can find more about D. Jean Quarles, her writing and her books at her website at www.djeanquarles.com                                      

You can also follower her at www.djeanquarles.blogspot.com or on Facebook.

It's Never Too Late! Beginning a Writing Career Later in Life

Julia Child wrote her first cookbook at age 50.

Selling 50 million copies around the world, Richard Adams published Watership Down in his early 50's.

Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 when she published her first "Little House" books.

After raising her family, Harriet Doerr finished her education, and at age 73, wrote Stones for Ibarra, reminiscent of her life in a Mexican mining town.

It's not time to wind down. It's time to get going! It's all about perspective. If you want to write, you will. You just need to know you can be successful, no matter your age.

Points to inspire:

• Experience. You've accumulated a life time of it. You have something to offer whether it is a self-help book, novel, or magazine articles. Struggles and obstacles combined with creativity can have amazing results. Charles Dickens' experiences working in a factory as a youth is portrayed throughout his writing.

       Do you love to travel? Write about it! Gardening? Write about it! Cooking? 

       Write about it!

• Education. Don't have it? Don't worry. It's not a necessity to have a college degree in order to be a successful author. Mark Twain, H. G. Wells, and Jack London did not have a college degree. Neither did Maya Angelou, Ray Bradbury, or Agatha Christie. Today, we are fortunate to have the internet. There are free and affordable online courses available to acquire writing skills and learn more about your niche. 

• Timing. Linda Welch had a character in her mind for years. It wasn't until she arrived in the mountains of Utah, years after leaving her homeland of England and acclimating to life in America, did her character find a story.

Photo credit: DavidTurnbull / Foter / CC BY

• Perspective. Do you believe in yourself? Will you follow your dreams?

Anita Bruzzese, a writer who specializes in taking control of your career says:

Most notable among the people I interviewed was their “can-do” attitude; they were willing to stretch outside their comfort zone, excited to explore new options and weren’t afraid to admit what they didn’t know. 

Don't hit a dead end because you think it's too late. Even if you don't have the support or encouragement from friends or family, go for it anyway. 

What are you waiting for? Get started today.

~~~

 After raising and homeschooling her 8 children and teaching art classes for 10 years, Kathy has found time to pursue freelance writing. She enjoys writing magazine articles and more recently had her story, "One of a Kind", published in The Kids' Ark. You can find her passion to bring encouragement and hope to people of all ages at When It Hurts - http://kathleenmoulton.com