'Write what you know.'

Almost every writer, and probably every non-writer as well, has heard this bit of advice. And it's good advice. The best writers are those that take their own experiences and use it to enhance their writing, whether they're writing fiction or non-fiction. For this reason, you are never too old to write, because the older you are, the odds are, the more you know.

'What you know' does not mean 'wisdom' necessarily but what you've seen, done, witnessed, participated in, shared, or attempted. And the older you are, the more likely you've seen, done and learned a lot. All of that experience, the good, the bad, and even the ugly, translates into a rich patina that you can use to 'paint' your writing.

Think about a romance novelist who is writing the 'big fight' between the two main characters. Now think of that romance novelist drawing upon her own experience of losing a loved one. That novelist can infuse her scene with raw, honest emotions and layer the dialogue with gut-wrenching and heart-breaking words when she draws from his/her own memories and recalls how that lost felt.

This 'technique' is the same thing that actors use to allow themselves to portray a certain emotion within a scene. And it just goes without saying, that the more memories you have, i.e. the longer you've lived and had those life experiences, the more you have to draw upon, and thus, the richer and fuller your writing can be.

Age also brings perspective, which is a wonderful thing for a writer to have. Being able to understand and 'see' things from many different perspectives allows a writer to craft truly memorable characters - to let the writer 'speak' with different voices in an honest and genuine way. For instance, a writer who has endured an affair in his/her lifetime, may be able to write the parties in that affair in a way that doesn't portray any one party as 'the bad guy,' but rather as just real people, who have made mistakes, and who are trying to learn from those mistakes.

Even if the writer is writing a work of pure fantasy, having a good perspective on life - the way life can suddenly change, the way people interact as they grow up (and sometimes apart) and the other myriad life 'lessons' that come with just living - helps to give that work of fantasy an element of 'relatability' that can draw a reader in. Star Wars, for all its sci-fi and fantasy elements, was at its core a story about love and family, which almost everyone could relate to, and thus, may explain its phenomenal popularity.

Finally, most people who have reached a certain, 'advanced' age have probably read quite a few books, newspapers, magazines and assorted other media formats in their lifetime. As any writer will tell you, a good reader makes a good writer. Just being exposed to stories, writings and other forms of writing can give a writer an idea about how words 'fit' and how stories can 'flow' (or not flow) and how characters can be made memorable. Taking a writing course to get the basic rules of grammar and spelling down is helpful, but understanding what makes good stories and writing through years of exposure and experience? Those are things that can't be taught.

So, if you've also dreamed about becoming a published author, or simply just writing that story or article that's been bouncing around your head for a while now - fire up that computer (or take out the old pen and paper) and get started! Writing is definitely one trick an 'old dog' can learn!

Learn more about this author, Katie Lee.
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