Same same. Am in my mid-50s, and there are two more novels that I want to get out into the world that haven’t been written yet. I will keep writing after that because I know there are other stories that will,rise up and will need to be written also, but man, the pinch of time really gets me sometimes.
Some people are wired to get things done. That was not me, until I found out what it felt like to have others 'eat my cooking', figuratively speaking. I am 67 years old. Who knows how much time I have left, but I am putting myself out there because it feels so good to share what is inside me.
I took a creative writing class n high school and another in college. I wanted to write but life, marriage, kids, and a job, first as an Air Force officer and later in industry took all of my time. In my forties I wanted to write novels but had no clue how. I took a writing class, read lots of writing craft books, went to other writing events and spent three years working on a novel. I wrote 30,000 words and didn’t have a clue as to how to finish the story. Life got in the way and I didn’t write again for another bunch of years. At age 55 I started writing again by joining a writers studio, went to conferences, and started another book. I’m 65 now and retired. I finally have the time to focus on writing now that I’ve completed three novels but haven’t published any of them.
A health scare last December was a wake up call to get moving and get something published. I now write a weekly Substack science fiction newsletter http://brucelanday.substack.com
I’m finalizing my author website and will be working with a hybrid publisher to get my novel out into the world late this year or early next year. I also hired a freelance editor to get my novel, Electromagnetic Assault, ready to publish.
Writing is a long journey and now that I’m older I’m feeling the pressure to get my work published. The good news is that I have the money to pay the upfront costs so I have control over the process. I also know enough now about what it takes to publish a quality book. I don’t expect to make any money. It’s the joy of writing and connecting with readers that drives me.
Thanks for sharing your journey and wisdom of hard lessons.
Love this. I got a boomerang as a gift when I was a child. I immediately thought I would be an expert with it moments before throwing it over the neighbours fence by accident. More informed with my lack of boomeranging excellence, I went into a vacant lot near my home and proceeded to throw the damn thing a 100 times until it finally started returning near me - if not into a catchable position. When my parents moved far later in my life I found the boomerang in the garage. And I went out - and threw it. As if the universe knew its part in the play - it came back to my hand first through. I think it helps when the people around us get our boomerangs back. Kids, friends, trauma, surprises, and the lot - can be wonderful ways to remember the other things we love or the roles we wish we could play forever.
Wildly inspiring origin story! I came to writing very late in life, although it had been my dream from age 8 on. I’m living that dream now, a half century later.
100%, especially to the decades of drizzling without serious commitment (though maybe it felt serious at the time, I can't remember). I'm 45, and last year the world I'd been dabbling in writing for the past twenty years refused to let me keep ignoring it. I hadn't thought about that being due to a sudden recognition of my own mortality, but now that you say it, I think you're spot on. Thank you. 💖
I understand your point as I have given myself to the current cause of Democracy.
At first I was scared because I visualize that I might put myself in harms way and die or worse become an invalid.Well that is true everyday I live because death is right around the corner and suffering.
I always remember my grandfather, who lived nextdoor, that he was willing to give his life for Democracy at the age of 19.
My grandfather was a medic in WWI in France and had to do horrific some things.
So what was I afraid of? Standing on a sidewalk holding a sign or knocking on door? No. I try to Work through the fear when it comes and remember MY BUMPY!
There's nothing like watching kids grow to teach how quickly youth leaves us. I'm in the same boat of reaching my 40s, realizing I'm mortal, and now trying to bring forward goals that were being saved for "some day." I'm doing it not just for myself and the reasons you've mentioned, but also because I believe this is the best way to teach my kids to not make the same mistake.
I'm about to hit sixty, Simon! Sixty! I thought I would have already written the Great American Novel by now and banked millions with my clever scribbles. Most of my life, creative writing has had to take a back seat to my vocation (I am a church pastor), but since '23, I've been pouring more hours into serialized novels (and not watching TV). A motivation has been how long my heart will continue to beat. My parents lived into their nineties, but I am not guaranteed even my next breath. So, the time is now to crank out what I've wanted to do my whole life: write. I hope people enjoy what I produce, but it's good for me just to put it out there.
Same same. Am in my mid-50s, and there are two more novels that I want to get out into the world that haven’t been written yet. I will keep writing after that because I know there are other stories that will,rise up and will need to be written also, but man, the pinch of time really gets me sometimes.
Love the phrase 'the pinch of time'!
Loved it too as soon as it popped into my head. Maybe “a pinch of time, writes nine” (books)?
Some people are wired to get things done. That was not me, until I found out what it felt like to have others 'eat my cooking', figuratively speaking. I am 67 years old. Who knows how much time I have left, but I am putting myself out there because it feels so good to share what is inside me.
I took a creative writing class n high school and another in college. I wanted to write but life, marriage, kids, and a job, first as an Air Force officer and later in industry took all of my time. In my forties I wanted to write novels but had no clue how. I took a writing class, read lots of writing craft books, went to other writing events and spent three years working on a novel. I wrote 30,000 words and didn’t have a clue as to how to finish the story. Life got in the way and I didn’t write again for another bunch of years. At age 55 I started writing again by joining a writers studio, went to conferences, and started another book. I’m 65 now and retired. I finally have the time to focus on writing now that I’ve completed three novels but haven’t published any of them.
A health scare last December was a wake up call to get moving and get something published. I now write a weekly Substack science fiction newsletter http://brucelanday.substack.com
I’m finalizing my author website and will be working with a hybrid publisher to get my novel out into the world late this year or early next year. I also hired a freelance editor to get my novel, Electromagnetic Assault, ready to publish.
Writing is a long journey and now that I’m older I’m feeling the pressure to get my work published. The good news is that I have the money to pay the upfront costs so I have control over the process. I also know enough now about what it takes to publish a quality book. I don’t expect to make any money. It’s the joy of writing and connecting with readers that drives me.
Thanks for sharing your journey and wisdom of hard lessons.
Exactly this!
Although I am more than a smidge past your point of life, I recently experienced the same wincing moment. You put it so well, here.
Love this. I got a boomerang as a gift when I was a child. I immediately thought I would be an expert with it moments before throwing it over the neighbours fence by accident. More informed with my lack of boomeranging excellence, I went into a vacant lot near my home and proceeded to throw the damn thing a 100 times until it finally started returning near me - if not into a catchable position. When my parents moved far later in my life I found the boomerang in the garage. And I went out - and threw it. As if the universe knew its part in the play - it came back to my hand first through. I think it helps when the people around us get our boomerangs back. Kids, friends, trauma, surprises, and the lot - can be wonderful ways to remember the other things we love or the roles we wish we could play forever.
Wildly inspiring origin story! I came to writing very late in life, although it had been my dream from age 8 on. I’m living that dream now, a half century later.
100%, especially to the decades of drizzling without serious commitment (though maybe it felt serious at the time, I can't remember). I'm 45, and last year the world I'd been dabbling in writing for the past twenty years refused to let me keep ignoring it. I hadn't thought about that being due to a sudden recognition of my own mortality, but now that you say it, I think you're spot on. Thank you. 💖
I understand your point as I have given myself to the current cause of Democracy.
At first I was scared because I visualize that I might put myself in harms way and die or worse become an invalid.Well that is true everyday I live because death is right around the corner and suffering.
I always remember my grandfather, who lived nextdoor, that he was willing to give his life for Democracy at the age of 19.
My grandfather was a medic in WWI in France and had to do horrific some things.
So what was I afraid of? Standing on a sidewalk holding a sign or knocking on door? No. I try to Work through the fear when it comes and remember MY BUMPY!
There's nothing like watching kids grow to teach how quickly youth leaves us. I'm in the same boat of reaching my 40s, realizing I'm mortal, and now trying to bring forward goals that were being saved for "some day." I'm doing it not just for myself and the reasons you've mentioned, but also because I believe this is the best way to teach my kids to not make the same mistake.
I'm about to hit sixty, Simon! Sixty! I thought I would have already written the Great American Novel by now and banked millions with my clever scribbles. Most of my life, creative writing has had to take a back seat to my vocation (I am a church pastor), but since '23, I've been pouring more hours into serialized novels (and not watching TV). A motivation has been how long my heart will continue to beat. My parents lived into their nineties, but I am not guaranteed even my next breath. So, the time is now to crank out what I've wanted to do my whole life: write. I hope people enjoy what I produce, but it's good for me just to put it out there.