Writers and Aging

There was a fascinating program on Bravo the other night about writers and their craft. Gorgeous and talented American author Richard Ford said he hesitated to start a new novel at the age of 58 because he knew it would take him four or five years to finish it. No matter what age he is, Ford doesn’t hesitate to put the time into his work it deserves, and this reminded me of the British novelist Mary Wesley who didn’t publish her first adult novel until she was sixty one.
Wesley went on to publish nine more—the last of which when she was eight five. Even though Wesley had terrible problems with gout, she still managed to work. That’s the great thing about writing. You can do it at any age, and you don’t have to feel good while you’re doing it.