From a Law Enforcement Career to Writing Crime Novels | Patrick O'Donnell

The Daily Writer · Aug 15, 2025 · 47m

I talk to a lot of writers who are just getting started in their 40s and 50s. That was certainly the case for me. I was a college professor for many years, then made the transition to ghostwriting and author coaching in my mid-40s. I can name dozens of other writers who have made similar transitions to a writing career mid-life. It’s tempting to feel like you’re getting a late start, but I believe the opposite is actually true: you have a head start because you have a wealth of knowledge from your previous career that you can apply to your writing. That’s certainly the case with my guest…