It's Never Too Late to Write
Inspiring Quotes and Personal Reflections
Recently, I've been thinking about how embarking on a new creative path can feel like stepping into the unknown. When I began writing seriously, I worried it was too late. But I’ve learned that age or timing doesn’t define creativity—it’s about showing up and letting ideas flow. I hope you find some of the discoveries I've made and the stories I've come across as encouraging as I have.
Age is Just a Number
A surprising number of our favorite writers began writing later in life. As an example, J.R.R. Tolkien began writing The Lord of the Rings at the age of 45, already well into his academic career. On the other hand, Stephanie Meyer was a mom of three with no previous writing experience before she penned Twilight. Even though her work may be a little divisive, her story illustrates how sometimes our creative paths reveal themselves in unexpected ways to us, regardless of what background we come from. At age 31, Colleen Hoover self-published her first book and now has numerous novels as well as a movie deal. I find it particularly inspiring that a self-published novel could spark such a huge writing career.
These are just a few author stories that remind me that no matter what stage of life I’m in, there’s always hope to pursue a dream and that it's worth it to make space for those dreams to flourish. Whether we’re balancing family, work, or self-doubt, we don’t have to choose between our responsibilities and the passions that call to us. If full-time moms, self-published authors, and people already deep into their careers can do it, then we all can.
Words of Encouragement That Keep Me Going
Below, I would like to share some quotes from iconic writers who have truly changed my perspective on what it means to get out of our heads and start writing. Here are a few that I keep close:
Stephen King: "The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better. You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will. Writing is not about making money, getting famous, getting dates, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy." — On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
This has been so true for me! The hardest part is taking that initial plunge—but it gets easier if you just keep going and keep how you want to affect your audience top of mind.
J.K. Rowling: "I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive... And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive... Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged." — Harvard Commencement Address, 2008
I’ve always found this quote to be so re-assuring. When I feel lost and overwhelmed or like I’ve truly hit rock bottom, its that little ray of hope that gives me strength. I hope it can do the same for you too!
Sarah J. Maas: "Sometimes you just need to write, even if it feels like you’re just treading water. Trust that the process will eventually show you the way. The rough draft is the beginning of the journey, not the end. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or polished, or even coherent. It’s supposed to be messy and raw—it’s only the first step." — Instagram post, 2018
Personally, I struggle with perfectionism even when I try my hardest to let the words flow. It helps to remember that sometimes creative flow does not look pretty, and that’s okay. That’s what editing is for!
Neil Gaiman: "The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can... The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before." — Neil Gaiman’s Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts, 2012
If I ever feel like I may be too unoriginal or that I’m not good enough, I remember this quote. Every one of us has our own unique voice, so let’s use it often and with confidence!
Margaret Atwood: "The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read. Not by any other person, and not even by yourself at some later date. Otherwise you begin excusing yourself. You must see the writing as emerging like a long scroll of ink from the index finger of your right hand; you must see your left hand erasing it." — The Blind Assassin
This is such a powerful visual and has been an effective tool in how I perceive my writing, especially when it comes to writing the first draft.
George R.R. Martin: "I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners. The architects plan everything in advance, lay it all out like an architect building a house. But there are also gardeners who dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it with their blood and tears, and see what comes up. They know some of what’s growing there, but a lot of the plants just grow by themselves." — Interview, 2011
I love this reminder that planning and spontaneity both have a place in writing. I’m more of an “architect” in my approach personally, but both approaches I believe are equally interesting and valuable.
Taking Action is Everything
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned in this crazy writer journey is simply just to start —even if its messy or barely coherent. Even if I’m riddled with self-doubt, it doesn’t matter. Every new story, no matter how imperfect, is all part of the journey.
Just because it's not perfect doesn't mean it’s not worth something. Even the most imperfect novels and stories have super fans. So what have we got to lose if we write our stories? I’ll tell you what we’ve got to lose if we don’t—we lose parts of ourselves, we lose the chance to immortalize our ideas, and most of all, we lose the opportunity to find out what could be. Maybe that leads to regret later on down the line. So let’s give ourselves a chance! We matter. Our stories matter. So let’s write them.
Thank you for letting me share a piece of my journey with you! I hope these words and quotes light a spark for you. If they do, consider subscribing. We’re all here to support each other in telling our stories.
Disclaimer: The quotes and stories shared here were discussed in the Pen2Plot Podcast of which I am a co-host. To check out more from the Pen2Plot Podcast check us out here.
Thi sis a wonderful way to start the week, thank you