I Wrote My First Book at 48 and Am Now a Bestselling Author: Here’s How I Made It Happen

It was 1980—almost 1981—and my parents had given me a calendar of fantastical animals for Hanukkah. The month of June featured a tiny, horse-like creature trapped in a clear, corked bottle on a deserted beach. The illustration was awash in cosmic pinks and purples, the equine a spot of white, its horn a fleck of gold.

While the tale this picture inspired wasn't particularly brilliant (and the plot may have been based on an episode of I Dream of Jeannie), the act of writing awakened a yearning within me: I wanted to be a person who created stories. I wanted to be an author.

I kept this dream secret while scribbling story after rejected story for my high school's literary magazine. I loved stringing sentences into paragraphs, but there was no arc, no journey from here to there for a reader could take. Instead, my writing captured a moment; it was more akin to a photograph than a movie.

With each story's rejection, my mother would hug me and recite her own special spell: "I suspect, my love, that you are simply one of those people who is going to be a late bloomer. Don't give up." Being 16, I thought being a late bloomer meant I might not get a story published till high school senior year.

So it's no surprise that by college, I'd decided that, as much as I loved books, maybe I wasn't destined to be an author. I majored in philosophy and literature, purposely avoiding the ego-bruising of creative writing classes. Instead, I became known for eloquent birthday cards and creative term papers. I used my journal to craft lush descriptions of landscapes and scathing retorts to boys who got handsy. But the lush landscapes never morphed into settings, and the handsy boys never became part of a larger scene. I remained a writer without a story.

In an industry that sometimes seems obsessed with youthful neophytes, it would be easy to end my story there. But I love a good plot twist. And seven book deals later, l can confidently say there’s plenty of room for late bloomers in the publishing industry. My first book was published when I was 48, and I’m now a bestselling author.

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If you're an aspiring writer who feels like time may be slipping away, I hope you’ll find inspiration in my late-blooming tips.

It’s easy to think about writing and not actually write. Make a beginning. You might not end up where you thought you were going, and that’s okay. Follow your own inspiration. Embrace imperfection. When you set a particular writing goal, add the clause: this or something better. Let your own words surprise you. Let you surprise you.

I surprised me. After years of thinking I'd be a fiction writer because that's what I read, I found myself writing nonfiction: small vignettes and musings gathered by theme. It wasn’t a genre I was familiar with, but it suited my voice, and I came to love writing in short, expressive bursts. After a few books written in this way, I began to explore narrative and have, most recently, dipped into memoir.

One of the advantages of starting your writing career later in life is the wealth of experiences you've gathered along the way. Don't try to imitate others or distort your writing style to fit a specific mold. Instead, embrace your distinct voice and let it shine through your work. Your unique perspective, shaped by years of living, can become a powerful asset in your writing.

I couldn't have written my first book at 18 or 26 years old because I hadn't yet lived the experiences I needed for the writing. Draw inspiration from the lessons you've learned, the relationships you've cultivated, and the trials you've overcome. Your life journey is a treasure trove of material waiting to be explored.

Writing a book requires discipline and consistency… and play! Don't be so strict with yourself that you strip the joy from your writing. Spend a little time every day with your manuscript. Somedays, you will spend that time writing, but other days you'll be reading, researching, or redecorating your office to your main character's specifications!

Other people's writing rules might not work for you. Allow yourself to be in your own rhythm and flow. Don't be afraid to dance through the small, regular steps forward that will eventually lead to the completion of your manuscript.

Writing can be a solitary pursuit, but it doesn't have to be a lonely one. Surround yourself with supportive souls who understand and encourage your creative aspirations. Seek out fellow writers, join writing groups, and attend workshops or conferences. These are fabulous venues for connecting with kindred spirits who share your passion for storytelling.

These fellow travelers will provide invaluable support, inspiration, and constructive feedback on your work. Together, you'll navigate the ups and downs of the writing journey, celebrating the victories and lifting each other through the challenges. Beyond being a support, these interactions will elevate your prose, stretching you and helping you to grow as a writer.

There's a well-worn path in publishing: Write a book, query agents, and shop a deal. But that's not the only route. While many writers consider self-publishing, only some realize that many small independent presses will consider queries directly from authors. This is how I got my first book deal.

I approached a smaller press with only the vaguest idea and crafted the book with an in-house editor, who then shepherded it through the acceptance process. Our first proposal was a miss, but we stuck with it and eventually developed a concept that was exciting for the whole publishing team. When the same publisher approached me about a second book, I used the pending contract to leverage an agent relationship which has seen me through several additional deals.

Be a late bloomer. Or a second bloomer. Don't give up on your dreams just because you can't be the youngest or the first. So many people set a cut-off date for having a productive, inspiring, creative life. They believe their lives will be average once they've passed their randomly chosen age. It's an easy trap to fall into, but it's self-created.

Don't give up. I suspect, my friend, that you too may simply be one of those people who will be a late bloomer. And we need our late bloomers—autumn would be dreary without them.

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