The Generation Z Phenomenon

I started writing my first novel at about fourteen years old. And to be completely honest, an internal voice told me that I had to be older and ‘more experienced’ to be able to produce something of high quality.

At that point, I had already moved from my home country, lost too many friends, learned a new language, struggled with culture shock, spent a year without one friend, and dealt with so many things many adults will never experience.

As I continued to edit my first novel, I wrote more. And without the goal of being published even within a five-year timeline, I continued to revise.

Yet, at sixteen, I was able to publish my debut book. Then re-release it in 2020 under a better publishing house.

We have it so ingrained in us that we cannot be successful until we have graduated from university, or until we have the proper degree or education. We are told that our youth amounts to a lack of experience and an immature view of the world. But the new generation has, for the most part, grown up with technology. This means that we had access to nearly unlimited information from an early age. The feats earlier generations could only dream of accomplishing were only available to them through a level of higher education.

Gen Z is so unique in this way, where earlier generations could not possibly imagine publishing a novel at sixteen, a Gen Z writer can youtube and search for writing and publishing tips to learn from the best.

We have this information always readily available to us. This is something so very difficult for older generations to understand.

Many of us have heard that 10,000 hours of work and practice at something will make you an expert. Oftentimes, people will try to begin learning, practicing, and honing a certain skill after they have completed their university education. But Gen Z can start watching lectures from experts and taking online masterclasses as early as they want. And this allows them to begin to practice their craft from a much earlier age.

For example, we can use an author. Previously, a writer may start their first novel in or after university. Say it takes them one year to draft, and another to revise and search for a publisher. This would be considered extremely quick, but still, the person could be in their mid to late twenties by the time the book is out.

Now, we are seeing a rise in teen authors. They begin to write at around thirteen or fourteen and they may spend a full year drafting and another two revising. They have resources available to them for outlining, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing, and help for any step of the novel-writing process. By the end of, say, four years, they are still in their teens. They have spent the same amount of time studying, writing, and working on their project as someone many years older than them. And just because a person is younger, does not make their work or effort any less valid.

Another saying is ‘practice makes perfect’ and if this is to be believed as true, then the same amount of practice and hard work will amount to something equally as valid. The age of the person should not, in any way devalue their work.

Let us look at the amount of effort and time spent and applaud them for figuring out and pursuing their passions at such a young age.

And let us encourage the use of the available technology in order to lift up the youth who have accomplished something great.