Someone recently told me she was too old to try to write. I reminded her she was still breathing, which was all the reason she needed to put pen to paper.

I get it. Sometimes we see technology over the writing. All the talk about AI, writing to SEO, white-papers on topics we do not understand, the need to promote via podcasts, TikTok, and Instagram. It can feel daunting that not only do we not understand a lot of the topics that need writing about out there, but if we write for ourselves, the publishing of it scares us away.

Take a breath.

Just write. Write your story. Enjoy using all your word tiles and creating beautiful sentences with them. Let the writing be its own reward.

A neighbor of mine is 90 years old. He has had an incredible life as a self-made man. Over ten years ago, he decided his life needed to be recorded, so he’d stay up each night and write. I could see his light on across the cove from me as he scribbled in his notebooks. Finally, he decided he’d reached the end and got someone to type up the manuscript. They he had it formatted and published it locally, for no one other than his family.

There are many writers out there working into their 70s and even 80s. They aren’t writing technical manuals. They are writing history, mystery, children’s stories, short stories, horror stories, slice-of-life vignettes, and more. And when they decide to publish, they either pitch to agents or publishers, or they hire someone to put the book together and self-publish.

It’s very doable, friends. Chin up. You can always write. That’s what I love about the craft is that it’s always an option for just about anyone.