Listening to an interview with one of my favourite authors, Kazuo Ishiguro, recently, I heard him say something fantastic:
What I want to emphasise is that for novelists … I think that your peak is likely to be somewhere in your mid 30s to your mid 40s. A few years after footballers!
But then the pressure came on …
You have to really go for it when you’re in your 30s, and you have to ignore older people who patronise you as though you’re some kind of little chick that’s about to hatch. Historically, that’s when you’re most likely to do your best work, so go for it.
He went on to give plenty of examples of famous novelists who really had published their best novels in their mid 30s.
So, there’s good news there: I’m about to enter my mid 30s, so I figure this is a positive sign for my future novel writing potential. Of course it would help if Ishiguro could share his theory with all the publishers likely to look at my work, then I could really milk it. But the bad news seems to be that it’s getting close to crunch time. If I’m going to make it, I have to really get on with it and make it soon!
It’s nice to daydream about a future where I really am a published novelist (I mean, I actually do believe it will happen one day – I just don’t know when). However, being a novelist is one thing that I’ve always thought is much less age-dependent than pretty much every other occupation. I mean, sports stars and film stars mostly start young; sports stars generally finish young, too. But plenty of novelists don’t start until they retire from their “real job” and they still do well.
Okay, to summarise my thoughts: I would love to be a published novelist in my 30s, but I don’t think this will be my peak. Perhaps if I’d studied writing at university and had really spent my 20s practicing my craft, it would be possible, but I still think I have far too much to learn. But is what Ishiguro says, in general, true? I don’t know, but I’d like to turn that question over to you, readers:
What’s the peak age for a novelist? Let me know your opinion in the comments section.
Tags: Kazuo Ishiguro
I’d be happy to peak in my mid-30s, as long as that’s part of a long career, hehehe.
I think you’re right, though. It’s less a function of age — though amount of life experience probably does have *some* effect – and more about how long you’ve been working at writing.
And on that note, I should go work on writing… lol.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Why write =-.
You’re lucky Kristan because you’ve done a lot more writing than me at a younger age – and yep I’m sure your peak will still be part of a long and successful career! But yeah, stop reading my blog and get on with your writing
Well, I don’t think anyone should wait for his/her ‘peak’ to come. Look at Ishiguro’s work- he’s getting better and more complex with everything he writes. I guess practice is what matters more than age.
anyhow, if he’s supposed to be his absolute best in his 30′s then i definietly can’t wait to see his future work! I loved both his first novel as well as Never Let me go.
Good point Hansi, I think Ishiguro is a perfect counter-example to his own idea!