How Old Was Maya Angelou When She Started Writing - Poetry & Poets (2024)

Maya Angelou is widely known as one of the most influential writers and poets of her time. However, how old was she when she began her writing career? It turns out that the future icon was only 8 years old when she began sharing her creative words with the world.

Growing up in the segregated South of the 1930s, Angelou was exposed to the violent and oppressive times early on. This helped her to develop a unique ability to bring her words to life on the page. Additionally, with the influence of her grandmother – a strong Black woman – and her mother’s encouragement, Angelou had been writing stories since she was very young. She was soon creating and reciting her own poems and short stories across the segregated state of Arkansas.

Angelou’s creativity and passion for writing was very apparent in her work. At just 8 years old, she had already been invited to join her school’s literary magazine. In addition to that, Angelou even won a national writing contest as a young adult.

By the time Angelou was 16 years old she had already made her mark as a confident and powerful writer. She had written several plays and had even been the editor of her high school newspaper. Her creative works often showcased her opinion on race issues that were happening in her community during that time.

It is evident that Maya Angelou had a deep connection and passion for writing from an early age. She was able to bring feelings of struggle, hope, and pain to life in her written works. At 8 years old, Angelou was already skilled in finding the right words to express her thoughts and feelings.

Though Angelou had been writing since she was young, it was not until she became an adult in her 20’s that she picked up writing professionally. Her works, poems and books are now highly praised and read throughout the world.

Educational Influence

Understanding the importance of education, Angelou was determined to get her high school diploma, which she did at the age of 16. She decided to further her knowledge and attended a senior college in San Francisco. There, in 1942, she learn about the power of language and African-American literature. Her studies exposed her to powerful and influential writings by people such as Zora Neale Hurston, and she continued to explore writing as a possible career.

At 17, Angelou was part of a production of a traveling road show. She wrote scripts, directed and managed the tour while they were on the road. The experience taught her a great deal about production and creativity and helped her to sharpen her writing.

Upon returning to San Francisco in late 1945, Angelou began to filter out what she found important in literary works and wrote her first article in 1947. She wrote never-ending poems and stories, producing her first poetry collection, ‘Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie’ in 1971.

Angelou’s writings spoke for many African American people throughout the world, creating a wave of emotion in her works.

In 1989, Angelou became one of the first African American women to have her autobiographical work published as a major work. From this work, she was crowned ‘America’s most visible black female autobiographer’, having written books that exposed the brutality of racism and highlighted the power of resilience.

Professional Writing

Despite all the writings that she had done, it was until Angelou was in her late twenties, during the 1950s, when she began to pursue a career in writing. She started off as a freelance journalist writing for magazines and newspapers about racism, poverty, and the civil rights movement. This allowed her to have a platform to spread her voice of awareness of segregation and the oppressions taking place.

By the 1960s Angelou had grown as a writer and was now writing for television and radio shows. She was also developing her skills in acting, music, and poetry. She even wrote a movie script with her brother, working together on a project that had an important social message.

Some of Angelou’s most powerful written works were done over the next few decades. She wrote her two autobiographies, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ (1970) and A Brave and Startling Truth (1995). Her writings even focused on then-President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, where she wrote and recited a beautiful poem.

In addition to books and poems, Angelou also wrote short stories, plays, and essays. She was also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

From the age of 8 to her passing at 86 years old, Angelou was a multi-talented and inspirational figure, who was not to be forgotten. Her words and stories continue to live on today and inspire many of the younger generations.

Personal Writings

Throughout her life, Angelou kept writing and expressing her thoughts on paper. Her personal journals and notebooks were filled with drawings and notes on her thoughts of the world. She even wrote several children’s books, which she felt were important to help children to develop their sense of character.

Angelou also wrote letters to her mother, friends, and family. In these letters, she discussed events that were happening in her life and shared her thoughts and feelings. Many of these letters were later published in her books and provided a unique and personal perspective of her life.

Her personal writings were not just limited to writing, but she was also avid reader. In her later years, Angelou shared that poet and author Anne Sexton had been an inspiration for her, which was evident in her work. She even admitted to having read every word of Sexton’s poetry.

Angelou also wrote letters to her fans, scribbling out her heartfelt words on condolence cards, thanking notes, and even on a website. In each of these posts, Angelou voiced her strong opinions on religion, race, and humanity.

It is evident that Angelou was a true lover of the written word, from her letters and poems to her own plays and scripts.

Legacy & Influence

Maya Angelou’s influence and creative works continue to be remembered to this day. Her works and words are taught in classrooms everywhere and continue to be a source of inspiration for young writers.

Her works were seen as immensely powerful not just to the African-American society, but to the entire world. One of the major reasons why her works were so impactful was because she was not afraid to be brutally honest and transparent in her writing.

Angelou’s work is often praised for its humanity, truth, and beauty. Though her writing career spanned over a short period of time, she was able to achieve so much.

Though Angelou has passed away at the age of 86, her legacy and the impact of her work have left a stamp on the hearts and minds of many people.

Today, Angelou continues to be a major influence to many writers, readers, and poets. Her works live on and continue to make an impact on the world.