Photo: Retha Ferguson

If you study the marketplace for publishing stories, there are anthologies and other opportunities for young writers.

Granta, the British publication, famously publishes its pick of 20 best novelists who are under the age of 40.

Many writing contests are also geared for even younger writers as are grants and applications to places at artists’ colonies.

Nearly all the major magazines including online ones are on the lookout for the next new thing and will entice young and so called “emerging” writers to submit their work.

Alas, if you happened to be a writer, and a fiction writer at that, over 40, the opportunities diminish.

In fact, the term “emerging writer” tends to mean someone who is a young’un and has yet to be discovered.

And yes, there are writers who have not been successful or haven’t gained fame until they reached their mature age—Frank McCourt, Vladimir Nabokov, Raymond Chandler, and of course the novelist Helen Hooven Santmyer, author of  “…AND LADIES OF THE CLUB” who published that blockbuster in her 80s!

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio

But unfortunately those mature writers are the very few who succeed as literary rock stars.

What it comes down to is that publishing is a business. A tough business.

And like a business that depends on customers and fans, it needs to entice readers and interest by showcasing the newest talents.

They are busily seeking out fresh voices in books and stories which they assume that only young writers (and young people) can write about.

They—the publishers, editors and gatekeepers of the literary world are not always right about that!

Most of the time, young writers, because they simply have not had the long view insight of being alive and experiencing much in their lives, cannot bring the same depth of characters and plots to their work.

Photo: Alex Wilcom

Certainly, there are truly magnificent young writers on the scene today that show that artistic maturity. I could name many and I heartily endorse their work.

But I wager that the slush piles at publishers’ desks are strewed with manuscripts with scribbled half-baked themes and contrived characters with no real story behind them.

Older writers have the wealth of experiencing life in many of its usually difficult facets and unexpected twists which they can bring into their stories.

Photo: Yerson Retamal

I remember that I gave a reading to a college writing class, and afterwards, a student said that he had trouble writing a story that seemed realistic.

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I told him, that he alas, has not yet been challenged enough by life.

That may happen sooner for instance if someone has to go to war, or is uprooted by say, family circumstances at a young age.

But usually, even when something significant or catastrophic or shattering happened to a young person, it may take years for a perspective and insight to yield itself into a remarkable and deeply felt story.

Photo: Matej

I’m not saying that all writers who take up writing in their later years automatically become great ones—not at all.

It takes enormous energy, time, and focus to forge a writing talent plus unwavering tenacity to learn how to craft and hone a great story no matter what age.

But I am saying that as with many businesses, older people will face discrimination when they try to sell their work.

It’s already ingrained into our American consciousness that old people are inept at things—technology, politics, fashion, life…

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio

Listen to how often you hear late-night comedians mock old people in their monologues.

The older I get the more sensitive and less humorous I find these jokes.

Look at the ubiquitous advertisements online and in the streets, and you won’t see many older people at all featuring the products or brands.

And look at the book photos of newly published works by the rising stars—how old are they? Anybody over 40?

So if you are an older person who has been writing without much fanfare, or one who is about to write for the first time, be aware that the marketplace, like so much of our society, is an ageist one.

But don’t let that stop you!If you need to write, and if this is the best time in your life to do it, then do it!

Forget the naysayers.

Applaud the new talent. But also applaud yourself for emerging into your own amazing talent and unique voice which age, experience and wisdom has nurtured and revealed.

Photo: Tojo Tantely

As we used to say: “you’ve come a long way, baby!”

For encouragement and inspiration here is a list of late blooming writers: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63112/11-writers-who-started-late

Writing Wisdom:

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” —Aristotle, Greek Philosopher, Writer, Polymath

Cheers, Irene

P.S. Need help and inspiration in writing GREAT fiction?

Find both in my writing guidebook: THE FICTION PRESCRIPTION: HOW TO WRITE AND IMPROVE YOUR FICTION LIKE THE GREAT LITERARY MASTERS.

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