Occasionally I bump into people in their 60’s and 70’s who tell me they always wanted to be a poet or a novelist. I just can’t help it. I almost always ask, “What’s holding you back?” And I want to add, “You’re still alive, aren’t you?” I don’t, but I want to.
The excuses vary, but when I hear, “I’m just too old,” I think of Albert Schweitzer who said, “The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives.”
(I know. Schweitzer didn’t have the benefit of our gender awareness, so feel free to substitute “person” for “man” and “a person” for “he.” I’ll let you work it out.)
The point is: It’s never too late to chase the dream of being a writer.
Write on! Write on, McDuff!
So true – I’m 43 and still working on trying to make a substantial income as a writer. My goal is to eventually give up my day job and write full time. The only time you’re too old to chase a dream is when you’re 6 feet under…
Good for you! I believe you will succeed. I love people who actually chase their dreams. What I don’t understand are people who quit before they even try.
Thanks for the note,
Rod
“What’s holding you back?”
Well.. the truth is that even in my “heyday”, I was lucky to be able to string a couple of verses and a chorus together on a good day and have them make any sense. But I love to read great crime fiction!
Well…writer’s seem to need readers. So, thank you!
Rod