Charles, I am about to head out for an appointment but I’d like to respond to this in an article.

Here’s the short version: I didn’t write my first book until I was 58. It won three prizes. My next, a year later, also won prizes. I was shocked to my toes. Who knew?

I hardly even got started until I was nearly sixty. In so many ways, some of us have to wait until we have enough road rash to have something substantial to say. To that, then, your job is to find your authentic voice.

NO. You have wasted NO time whatsoever. You’re ready when you are ready and not one millisecond sooner. Period.

There’s a great line from Father Cavanaugh in Rudy when he says (in effect) that we pray for things in our time. God answers in His time. I may not necessarily be a Believer, but I absolutely believe this.

Start writing, Charles. This IS your time.