Writing is one of those pursuits/passions that often doesn't really get going until later in life. Author Hilary Mantel, who just passed away at age 70, didn't publish her first novel until her mid 30s. Science Fiction author Gene Wolfe was a plant engineer (helping to design the machine used to make Pringles, incidentally) and later the editor of a technical magazine. He wrote short stories and novellas on the side starting in his 30s but wasn't able to start writing full time until his late 40s or 50s.