Two emails I received recently:
“… I’m 16, but please don’t be turned off by my age… pretty sure my age will be a disadvantage in trying to get jobs, but I’m not planning on letting anyone know how old I am unless they ask.”
“I am 18 years of age and have just passed out of school… what is your age? I wish to know that particular fact because I want to convince myself that age doesn’t matter- it’s your diligence that brings paychecks and credits. Are you in your late 20s?).”
HELLO? Do I sound late-twenties to you? Uh, yeah, I guess I do. And until recently, I did it on purpose. Because like the above two writers, I thought that editors would barely give me a second look if I revealed that I was 23. The typical reaction I envisioned was “Pfft. Too young. What does she know?”
People online assume I’m much older than I really am. Compound that with the fact that I’ve been published in some top publications and they think I have years of experience behind me and would easily be in my thirties. If Reader’s Digest sent me an acceptance, I’m sure I’d add another ten online years. That’s ironic, since in reality, people often take one look at me and assume I’m just out of high school.
Recently though, I realized that I was modifying my voice to meet the requirements of my readership. I wasn’t writing as, well, me. I was faking it. My natural voice isn’t mature and sophisticated. I can be the most brash, rude, unsophisticated writer you’ve ever read. But you wouldn’t know that just based on my online persona.
And like me, many young writers end up thinking that they won’t be taken seriously if they reveal their true age. The result? They end up modifying their natural voices and start to sound like someone else. When they finally discover their own voice, they need to start all over, because now they’re not used to unpolishing their writing. When they do embrace their natural voices however, the words flow more freely and the thoughts are much more clear. My writing has improved tremendously since I’ve started giving a free reign to my voice. I no longer need to pretty up my stuff. And my best work has come to me that way… unedited, unafraid, no holds barred. Completely personal. Completely out there. It’s work I’m proud of. It’s work that says “me.”
If an editor doesn’t think that a 23-year old can handle writing for her publication, too bad. My first bit of advice for Writer No. 1 was to target age-appropriate markets. Markets that would be open to accepting ideas from 16-year olds, such as publications for teens. If you’re sixteen, you don’t want to target the parenting market anyway.
But secondly, and most importantly, I realized that my age has never really come up. No editor has ever written to me to say, “This idea’s great. How about you tell me how old you are, so that we can determine whether or not you’re fit to handle this.” Nope. All they look at is my writing. And if that sounds like something that fits into their publication, they give me the go-ahead.
The only time when this issue could come up would be:
a. If you’re below the legal age limit. I don’t know the legality of this, so look it up.
b. Meeting the editor in person. I’d say go ahead and do it anyway, but if you’re uncomfortable with your age, then avoid it. I’ve only met a couple of my editors in person and have managed to do just fine. Even if you do go out and meet them, most editors will be impressed by your age, rather than turned off by it.
Most important though, is to maintain your identity. One very talented writer who comes to mind is 17-year-old Dallas Nicole Woodburn, who has published two books, in addition to having written for national magazines such as Family Circle, Writer’s Digest, Justine, Writing, Listen, Encounter and The Hudson Valley Literary Magazine. Editors have surely been taking her seriously since she wrote her first book while still in fifth grade.
Whether you’re too young or too old, you have perspectives and opinions that only you can offer. No one else can do it the way you can, and that is what makes your writing special.
So whatever your age, let it show. You’ll be a better writer for it.