embracing creativity and success after 40

P.S. it's never too late.

Apr 09, 2025

When I first started sharing my journey of writing my debut romcom on Threads, I didn’t anticipate it would take off the way it did.

Honestly, I thought I’d be lucky if a few people saw it. But what followed was a flood of support from people—many of them in their 40s, 50s, and beyond—who celebrated the fact that I was writing, working on a novel, and pursuing a creative dream later in life. Some of these women even shared their own stories of starting fresh, tackling new projects, and publishing books after 40. They were like, “Yes, it’s possible. You can still go for it!” Many called me “courageous.” I was overwhelmed.

One person wrote to me, “It’s so important to show others that we’re still functional after 40.” My first reaction was, “I never thought I wasn’t functional.”

Friends, I’m 42. I don’t sugarcoat that. I don’t round down (even if it people say I don’t look 40 — which is a whole different conversation). It is the number I proudly put on my dating profile. And while I’m aware of that number, I don’t let it define me — at least not in the way society tells me it should. Sure, I’ve had my moments of looking at a decade marker and thinking, “Wow, I should have ‘had it together’ by now,” (whatever that means!) but what I’ve learned (and am still learning) is that age is just a number. We are the only ones who attach meaning to it. Because no matter how “old you are” your age certainly doesn’t dictate when or how you’re allowed to start something big, like writing a book.

You might be like, “Sounds nice, Brianne, but I really am too old.”

And so my response to you, “WHO SAYS?!”

Friends, there is no such thing as an expiration date on your dreams. I know it feels like it sometimes. I know it feels like you might’ve missed the boat on something, but I’m telling you — there is another boat coming for you, and it’s the one you’ve been wanting to sail! It’s your boat with your name on it! And you owe it yourself to christen the damn thing when it comes! You just need to believe that it is coming at the right time! It’s coming at that perfect time, preparing you, so that you’re ready to jump on board and sail that thing!

When I was younger, I had this motto — one I still carry with me today — that I wanted to “entertain, inspire, and inform” others through my work. Those were my guiding principles, and I knew they’d shape whatever creative path I took. At the time, I thought that meant becoming an actress or a screenwriter, and I was convinced I’d hit it big before 30. I wanted fame, recognition, and success by the time I turned 30. I wanted it all before a single wrinkle or black chin hair could pop up on my face. But life had other plans, and what I see clearly now is that those plans were part of my journey, part of my own timing, and part of the wisdom I’d gain over time.

At 42, I’ve come to realize that while I did have dreams of being successful in my 20s, those dreams were still rooted in an idea of “success” that was based on cultural expectations. Success was supposed to look like fame, money, or accolades (an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Screenplay!) and for years, I thought that would be my path. What I didn’t realize back then is that the wisdom that comes with age — and the tools you gather along the way — are just as important as any “overnight” success story. It’s not about hitting the top before a certain age. It’s about building a foundation that’s strong enough to hold your success when it finally arrives. And at 42, I can say that I’m finally in the place to create, to write, and to truly live out that motto of entertaining, inspiring, and informing in a way I couldn’t have before.

Age + experience = a jackpot of inspiration to share!

When I think back on those early dreams, I know now that I simply didn’t have the tools or the perspective to fully embody what I wanted to do. I didn’t have the wisdom, the grit, or even the emotional maturity to understand what it would take to really create something of value. I was still figuring out who I was, what I wanted, and why I wanted it. But now, as I’m writing my debut romcom, I finally have that insight and self-awareness, and let’s be real, maturity. I’ve spent years honing my craft as a writer, facing my doubts, learning from failures, and pushing through self-imposed limits. All those lessons — the good, the bad, and the ugly-snot-crying moments — are finally adding up to something real.

And it’s not just writing that I’ve learned to do better with age; it’s creating. It's living authentically, being grounded in who I am, and taking the lessons of my past to move forward with confidence. It's embracing the fact that creating anything, whether it’s a book, a new career, or a relationship, takes time. It’s a process. One that doesn’t care about arbitrary deadlines like turning 30 or 40. What matters is that we keep going. And that’s the real lesson in all of this: it’s never too late.

I’m here to remind anyone reading this, especially if you’re over 40, that your creative journey is just that — yours. There really is no one-size-fits-all path. We all get to create at our own pace, in our own time, and on our own terms. We’re all on different journeys, and that's perfectly okay. I’ve seen so many amazing stories unfold from people starting new things later in life, and I’m proud to be one of them. My debut novel (fingers crossed) might be a fun, sexy romcom, but it’s also my journey — the journey of someone who’s spent years cultivating a life and a career, learning to love herself, and now learning how to share that with others in the most authentic way possible.

So, for everyone out there thinking it’s too late to start something new — writing a book, changing careers, or following any other dream — it’s NOT. Don’t get caught up in the age narrative. Don’t get caught up in the Forbes Under 30 bullshit. Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to someone you don’t even know on social media and think they’re better off because they have more than you at an earlier age.

Instead, look within. Look at your story. Be proud of your story. Be proud of you. And remember that, if anything, now is the perfect time to create the desire that lives in your heart. Because, like me, I know you have the tools to entertain, inspire, and inform in ways you couldn’t have in your 20s or 30s. You’ve gone through enough, learned enough, and grown enough to tell stories that resonate and matter.

And for those who are in your 20s and 30s who are freaking out about whether you’re doing enough or if it’s going to be too late…relax, please. Take a breath. Trust the process. Trust that what is yours, will never miss you, and that if you’re lucky enough to live until your 40s and beyond, you will have all you need to create and change your life.

I know we live in a world that subtly (or not so subtly) makes us feel like after a certain age, especially as women, you should have “figured it all out” or risk being relegated to the sidelines. It’s like there’s this invisible rulebook that says, after 40, your chances for success or creativity are somehow limited. But we must keep giving the middle finger to that shit! Let’s keep normalizing success at any age, and remember that life’s timing doesn’t have to match anyone else’s. It’s our own. It’s always our own. It doesn’t take courage to own your desires and dreams at your age — it’s your duty. So let’s create them, right now.

Thanks for being here!

Love, Brie xoxo