I am older now, having lived a full and interesting life. And I have been a writer for two decades, having written 16 books so far.
And in my travels I have met a few people who have retired and are writing a book.
I find this interesting. It’s a kind of fantasy that some people have.
” Now that I am retired I can finally write that book I have always wanted to write”.
I believe this is the case with Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It”.
He was in his 70’s when he wrote it.
And it is profoundly beautiful. It probably qualifies as a great American novel.
But the interesting thing I have noted about these encounters is that none of them have actually finished the book they were working on. It is always a work in progress.
Yet, they all had a website devoted to the book. One guy even had expensive business cards devoted to the book – that he hadn’t yet completed.
I find this all very interesting. Isn’t it about the book? And not about all the other stuff? Seems like writing the book is becomes a daunting task. Once you have the time, in retirement, to write the book, you don’t actually write it. Or, if you start it, you don’t actually finish it.
They always give me a whole list of reasons why they haven’t finished. My advice is always the same to the person in this situation. — Write the book. Finish it.
And if you are thinking that you will one day retire and write a book I have some advice for you.
Don’t wait until you are retired. Write it now. You may never make it to retirement.