5. Meet the Late Creatives: Stories from the Community
In this post, we introduce a few stories from real creatives who returned to their art after long detours. These aren’t stories of overnight success. They’re stories of quiet bravery. Of listening to that small, persistent voice that says: “There’s still time.”
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Meet the Late Creatives: Stories from the Community
One of the most healing things a creative soul can hear is simply: “Me too.”
It’s one thing to know you’re not alone. It’s another to feel it—through the voices of people who’ve walked a similar path. People who waited, who wandered, who wondered if they were too late... and chose to begin anyway.
In this post, we introduce a few stories from real creatives who returned to their art after long detours. These aren’t stories of overnight success. They’re stories of quiet bravery. Of listening to that small, persistent voice that says: “There’s still time.”
Lena, 47 – Violinist Who Stopped Playing at 18
“I quit violin the day after I got into business school. My parents told me music was a hobby, not a future. So I folded. I didn’t touch my instrument for nearly 30 years. Then one afternoon during the pandemic, I found it in the closet. I cried just holding it.
Now, I play every evening for no one but myself. My fingers are slower. My sound is softer. But the joy? It’s sharper than ever.”
Samir, 39 – Former Architect Turned Comic Artist
“I used to draw comics all through school, but architecture felt like the ‘responsible’ version of creativity. Eventually, the pressure of the field and my own burnout led me to leave. I took a job in logistics to pay the bills.
One day, I started drawing again during lunch breaks—stick figures at first. Now I publish a weekly webcomic. It doesn’t make me rich. But it makes me feel alive.”
Clarisse, 55 – Corporate Trainer Who Now Sings Again
“I always loved to sing, but after college, I told myself I needed to focus on a ‘real’ job. I spent years training executives on communication, ironically losing my own voice in the process.
A friend invited me to an open mic a few years ago. I said no five times before saying yes. That night changed me. Now I sing at coffee shops and community events—and I feel more seen than I ever did in a conference room.”
The Thread They All Share
None of these people “planned” to return. Life didn’t suddenly hand them the perfect conditions. There was no permission slip or roadmap. There was just a moment—a crack in the routine—where their creative self stepped forward.
And they listened.
That’s the thread that connects all late creatives:
The art may have waited, but the yearning never truly left.
You Might Be Next
You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.
You don’t need to know where it’s going.
You just need to feel that little spark, and give it a bit of air.
The creative path isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes, it begins with something as small as buying a sketchbook, singing in the car again, or whispering to yourself: “I miss this.”
If that’s where you are, you are already on your way.
If This Resonated With You…
Try this: Write a short version of your own story. Where did your creativity begin? What paused it? What do you dream of doing now—even if it feels far away?
Reflect on this:
What would it mean to stop waiting for the perfect time—and just begin with what you have, right where you are?
What would it look like to finally say "Yes" to the inner voice that reminds you of what you've known all along? Here are a few books from people are encouraging others to take the first step:
Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creavity & Get Discovered by Austin Kleon
Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times & Bad by Austin Kleon
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
The War of Art: Break Through The Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be by Steven Pressfield
Do the Work: Overcome Resistance & Get Out of Your Own Way by Steven Pressfield
Feel the Fear & Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
Mindset-Updated Edition: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential by Carol Dweck
The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear & Self-Doubt by Russ Harris
The Creative Habit: Learn It & Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
Please engage with us on our Instagram @thelatecreatives. Share your experience of how you answered the ache to create after putting it on hold to meet other urgent needs of life. Even if you haven't gone full throttle on your creative path--maybe your're just starting to find your direction--your story might be the very thing someone else needs to hear.
Coming soon - Post # 6: The Creativity We Carry