"One likes to think one grows as a writer as one ages, else all you get is an "old" young writer. Beyond that is the changing landscape of the universe and the stories I choose to tell"

Raymond E. Feist’s reflection deftly explores the intertwined relationship between time, personal evolution, and the craft of writing. He begins with a notion of hoped-for growth, suggesting that as a writer ages, there’s an expectation, perhaps even a necessity, for artistic and intellectual development. The alternative, he warns, is stagnation: remaining fixed in the mindset and habits of a “young writer” despite accumulating years. This stagnation isn’t merely about style but hints at a deeper immobility, a failure to respond either to internal shifts, experience, maturity, changing priorities, or to the shifting world outside.

Feist’s phrase “an ‘old’ young writer” evokes the image of someone whose writing has failed to mature, stunted by unchanging perspectives or a reluctance to embrace complexity. It’s a compelling reminder that longevity alone doesn’t guarantee wisdom or depth. Aging, in itself, doesn’t produce better writing; growth is an active, intentional process, fueled by self-examination and an openness to change.

The comment then broadens from personal to universal scope. Feist acknowledges the “changing landscape of the universe”, the constant evolution of society, culture, knowledge, and perhaps even the human condition. As these external factors shift, so do the opportunities, challenges, and themes available to a writer. The stories he chooses to tell, therefore, are influenced not just by internal maturation but by the world’s dynamic transformation. The interplay between a writer’s development and the context in which they create becomes central: their evolving worldview meets the ever-new horizon of collective experience.

Ultimately, Feist’s words celebrate adaptability and self-awareness in creative work. To be a mature writer is not simply a function of years spent at the craft, but of continually reimagining oneself in response to both changing self and changing world, and thus bringing fresh, vital stories to life.