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10 Hugely Successful Authors Who Got Their Start Later in Life

by Writing Workshops Staff

A week ago


10 Hugely Successful Authors Who Got Their Start Later in Life

by Writing Workshops Staff

A week ago


Not everyone is an upstart literary wunderkind. It can often feel like if you aren't published early on you'll have no shot at getting your work into the world or have a career. But most authors don't hit it big with their first book. They have to keep writing until they find their stride.

The key is to keep writing and believing in yourself. It is true that the only people who are published are the writers who simply don't stop writing. Who don't let rejection stand in their way. Who simply keep going.

If you feel discouraged, take heart. Just look at this list of 10 successful authors who got their start later in life:

  1. Toni Morrison (Age 40)
  2. Mark Twain (Age 41)
  3. Marcel Proust (Age 43)
  4. Henry Miller (Age 44)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien (Age 45)
  6. Raymond Chandler (Age 51)
  7. Richard Adams (Age 52)
  8. Annie Proulx (Age 57)
  9. Laura Ingalls Wilder (Age 65)
  10. Frank McCourt (Age 66)

If your dream is to simply write and one day publish your work, we are rooting for you! If you're looking for a community, come write with us

How to Get Published