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Age is definitely no barrier to writing a riveting bestseller
Success in writing, much like in life, doesn’t always follow a straight path. While we often hear tales of literary prodigies who penned bestsellers in their 20s, many of the world’s most celebrated authors didn’t start writing until much later. Some were held back by life’s responsibilities, others by self-doubt and others simply didn’t discover their voice until midlife or beyond.
But when they did start, they proved that age is not a barrier to creativity, recognition or influence. If anything, the depth of experience brought richer stories – and in many cases, literary immortality.
They came from all walks of life – teachers, civil servants, journalists, wives, war survivors – and their success didn’t arrive on the heels of youthful energy, but on the strength of life experience. Whether writing from the vantage point of old age or simply taking the time to find their authentic voice, they offer one clear message – creativity is ageless.
So, if you’ve ever dreamed of writing, now might be the right time. Because as these remarkable authors prove, it’s not too late to write the book that only you can write.
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Best known for her Little House on the Prairie series, Wilder began writing seriously in her 60s. Before that, she led a life as a teacher, farm wife and mother. All jobs that were rich with experience but short on time for creative pursuits. It was only after her daughter Rose encouraged her to document her childhood on the American frontier that she began to write. Her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when she was 65. Over the next decade, she wrote the series that would become beloved around the world. Her legacy is a testament to how deeply personal stories, drawn from a full life, can resonate for generations.
Frank McCourt (pictured): He won the Pulitzer Prize at 66 after spending most of his adult life teaching English in New York City high schools. It wasn’t until he retired, at 65, that he published Angela’s Ashes – a memoir of his impoverished Irish upbringing. Published in 1996, the book became an instant bestseller and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for biography. McCourt followed it up with two more memoirs, ’Tis and Teacher Man, chronicling his later life and career. His work blends raw honesty with humour, and his late entry into publishing only deepened the poignancy of his perspective.
Harriet Doerr: Her first novel, Stones for Ibarra, won the 1984 National Book Award for first work of fiction when she was 74. Inspired by her time living in Mexico, it explores themes of love, mortality and cultural understanding with a depth that only a life richly lived could provide. Doerr returned to college in her 60s, earning her degree before pursuing writing seriously. Her success is a powerful reminder that neither education nor creative achievement comes with an expiration date.
Mary Wesley: She wrote children’s books under her married name for many years, but it wasn’t until her 70s that she began publishing adult novels – and it was then that her career took off. Her breakout novel, Jumping the Queue, was released when she was 70, followed by The Camomile Lawn, which became a bestseller and was adapted for television. Wesley published 10 novels in total, many of which explored themes of love, war, independence and second chances. Her stories often featured characters in their later years, navigating complex personal reinventions – something she understood deeply.
Raymond Chandler: His first novel was at 51 after losing his job in the oil industry during the Great Depression. With no formal training, he began writing pulp fiction stories and eventually introduced the world to Philip Marlowe, one of the most iconic private detectives in literature. His first novel, The Big Sleep, was published in 1939 and became an instant hit. Chandler’s sharp dialogue and moody, hard-boiled style helped define an entire genre – noir fiction – and influenced generations of crime writers and filmmakers alike.
Richard Adams: When Adams first told his daughters a story about rabbits with complex societies and mythologies, he didn’t expect it to become a worldwide phenomenon. But those tales became Watership Down, published when Adams was 52 and working as a civil servant. After several rejections, the book was finally published in 1972 and went on to win the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.
Daniel Defoe: Although Defoe wrote pamphlets and political pieces all his life, he didn’t publish his first novel, Robinson Crusoe, until he was 59. That novel would become one of the most influential adventure stories ever written and is often credited as one of the first English novels.
