The best work of your life might be behind you

Why embracing both craftsmanship and artistry in writing can help you thrive, even if your best work might already be behind you.

Hi,

This is a thought experiment.

I'm 42, and have been involved in about 100 projects of different types during my career. If I have 100 projects left in me, then there's about a 50% chance that the best thing I've ever made has already been written. Similarly, there's a 50% chance that my best project is ahead of me.

So, what if my best work really is behind me?

Well, for one, I should certainly make sure to fully exploit my best work. I’m not talking about just selling a book in its native language, either. Once you have a winning story, you can translate it into other languages and mediums. Great stories traditionally don’t expire. Hollywood stakes billions annually on this truth, mining old successes and reimagining them in new formats. You can do the same with your work.

My most popular book has only been read tens of thousands of times in a world with billions of people in it. Even if it had been read by millions, there are still billions of people out there who haven't heard of…