Writing is an act in which ideas, experiences, propositions, imaginations and feelings are put down in words. Is there an age limit to writing? The answer is no. Writing is not an exclusive right or art for adults or certain age groups. It transcends age, race, gender, experience and other demographics.
So, how young is too young to start writing? We believe that as soon as a person can begin communicating in words and has learnt how to write a language, he or she can start composing. If you have the words and you understand the syntax of the language (the conventions of a language that allow people effectively communicate in words), go right ahead and write.
There are different levels and different kinds of writing. We have academic dissertations, specialized write-ups and compositions that appeal to people of different classes, social statuses, ages, academic experiences etcetera. What appeals to one category or group of people might not appeal to others.
Also, some texts are specialized and written for a specific audience. For instance, medical texts may not make sense to lawyers, engineers, some other professionals and non-professionals, and vice versa, if they have a lot of medicalese.
When you pick up a book and read it intently, you are likely to observe the style of the writer. You would observe this, even much more, if you have a collection of that writer’s works. The writer’s idiolect (preferred choice of words) will unveil itself to your discerning eyes.
Furthermore, a piece of writing reveals to a large or small extent, the writer’s experience, and possibly, places where the writer has lived.
Written works also give you ideas of the worldview of their writers; they represent the writers’ perspectives on specific topics that make up the subject matters of their works. Writers, especially those with several books to their name, write books at various stages in their lives, in order to commemorate those stages and experiences.
They also use them as outlets for their emotions; particularly if the experience was a difficult one or a transient one.
For children who begin writing early, it may be the unfolding of their creativity and budding genius. Although their writing may not be a reflection of their experiences (since they are too young to have much experience), it is definitely a reflection of their childlike worldview.
A child’s writing may not be enlightening or educative, but it is expressive. Children writers are likely to blossom into excellent writers when they become adults.
It is our opinion that people should write at every stage of their lives. Portray your experience at each stage, by using the written word. Besides writing something that people at each of your stages can relate to, a retrospect at each written work (published or still in manuscript form) will show you how you have grown.
A review of each previous text will show you how you have overcome challenges, and this would inspire you to take on new challenges with boldness, knowing that you have done it before and you can succeed again.
A retrospective analysis would also reveal patterns that you have acquired over the years, and possibly need to change. In addition, a retrospective look at your works could birth a new book, which could be either a collection of all previous works or a completely new work.
Writing is a non-discriminate art. It can be done in any language, set in any setting, and portray any time in history or a fictional time. Writing can also be done at any age. Old, young, middle-age etcetera are all welcome to writing. You can write on anything. If you see something beautiful, write about it. Express yourself through writing.
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