Thomas Pynchon is a counter-example. "V." was published when he was 26 and was nominated for the National Book Award. Here is his "headshot": http://pixel.nymag

Thomas Pynchon is a counter-example. "V." was published when he was 26 and was nominated for the National Book Award. Here is his "headshot": http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2013/08/23/23-thomas-pynchon.w245.h368.jpg http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2013/08/23/23-thom... Of course, he was already becoming famously reclusive by this time so maybe he's exempt from this rule.