CAN YOU BE DISCOVERED AS A WRITER AFTER 50?

Charles Bukowski

Hell yeah! It can be done, and it has been done. My brother Bukowski did it at 51 with his first autobiographical novel, Post Office. Such a funny book full of bits of wisdom.

Bram Stoker was 50 when he published Dracula. Man, now that´s a story! I keep pushing my brain to come up with a character that will outlast me as much as Dracula did to him. Keep pushing, sir.

Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt´s memoir, Angela´s Ashes, was published when he was 60 years old. I remember so well living in New York in 1996 when I heard about his story. A new yorker guy, a high school teacher. What an amazing story.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 when her first book was published, Little House in the Big Woods.

I remember growing up watching her series on TV in Colombia in the 1970s.

Lastly, I have to mention Gabriel García Márquez and his majestic Cien Años de Soledad.

He was 40 when it was published. Still, a bit up there in age. He is also the most famous and beloved Colombian writer, and he deserves to be mentioned here.

So, to all my fellow writers, let´s not despair. We still have time, a lot of time. Just keep on writing and creating and imagining.

My own personal opinion, it is ok if I am never published or read by multitudes. I know, know. This is what we all desire deep deep inside our souls, but the reality is that not all masterpieces are found or published or read. I write because I need to do it. I write because it´s in me. I write because that is what I am; a writer.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas