Are you too late?

The single most common thought that stops would-be writers in their tracks is “Am I too late?”

I wrote a chapter about that exact thought in my latest book, The Never-Retired Writer.

Today, I’m sharing that chapter here in full:

Chapter 10: Are You Too Late?

I used to believe that I’d missed my shot if I hadn’t mastered something by 30.

I figured the best writers, creators, and entrepreneurs had already found their genius by their mid-20s, and if I hadn’t, I was destined to stay average.

But I learned that many of the greatest writers didn’t hit their stride until later in life. Haruki Murakami wrote his first novel at 29 and didn’t gain worldwide success until his late 30s. Frank McCourt published Angela’s Ashes at 66. Charles Bukowski didn’t make a living from writing until his 50s.

Another example is David Goggins. He published his first book, Can’t Hurt Me, at 43, after a career as a Navy SEAL, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker. Before that, he was relatively unknown outside military and fitness circles.

The book became a massive bestseller, inspiring millions worldwide, not because he was a lifelong writer, but because he had real-life experience and hard-earned wisdom to share. You’ll find countless other examples, too.

Writing is one of the few crafts where age is an advantage, not a limitation.

You’ve got more stories, more insight, and more resilience than someone in their early 20s. You know what matters and what doesn’t. You’ve been through the knocks. And yet, so many people hold themselves back because they think it’s “too late.”

Get outta here with that. It’s not. In fact, this is the best possible time to start, regardless of age.

Writing is just a tool. But what you write depends on you, who stands to learn from what you say, and being conscious of how your unique experiences really do matter.

Even if you’re starting out very young, writing is still totally relevant for you. Because it isn’t about age, it’s about how the world benefits from seeing the world through your eyes.

And with the Internet, the great leveller, success at any age is now possible. This wasn’t the case in Aristotle’s or Dickens’ time either. There’s no one stopping you from writing and publishing. The traditional approach is dying and practically dead.

You have every opportunity and few excuses.

That’s one chapter of sixty-two.

If it landed for ya, the book has 61 more like it, covering writing as a career for life, mindset, brand-building, and how I’ve made a living from words for 15 years.

Grab it here.

Peace,

Alex