RobArt Penguin

Daily writing prompt

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

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I’m following the daily prompt, the first thing that comes in my mind: “I’m old.” This has been on my mind because I’m pursuing a life long dream, being an author. As I do, I look back (I know I shouldn’t) and wish I started this 30 years ago or more (I got the writing bug in 1984). I presume that at my age now, I won’t accomplish all of my dreams, fantasies such as: walking into my Publisher and people fawning over the big-time author, or giving a lecture at a local college like Ray Bradbury, or maybe even being a New York Times best selling author. Of course, my life decisions were the key factor. And the good news, is at least I’ve started. I have two books out and the third one is with a professional proofreader. Gene Hackman published his first book at 80, and I’m a long way from that. Who knows where I’ll be at 80. Some hurdles are difficult. I have no connections and I’m a nobody (my protagonist says that, too). Fortunately, the self-published route has changed a lot and I have the resources to take advantage of it. My books are selling as good as most self-published authors, so I’m doing all right so far. Still, this cloud hangs over me, the regret of not pursuing my passions when I had the vitality of youth. I’m definitely slower now, and writing (more so, the editing) is a chore. I’ve been told many times to write a non-fiction account of my struggle as a survivor of childhood trauma to pursue art. That’s a maybe. I get bent out of shape when I get negative ratings of my fiction works. Most people like my work, but some people hate it. That’s the part of public exposure I’m not crazy about. So, I’m old, but still kicking, and writing. Look for the old man, hobbling down the red carpet, cane in hand, with my wife, at the 2045 Oscars.