Goodreads asked Jill Shultz:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Jill Shultz Read voraciously and widely, preferably in different genres. Try to establish a consistent writing habit. I fall down on that one and really suffer for it.

Connect with writers in your genre who are close to your skill level. Whether you want a critique group or not, it's good to have friends who understand your experiences.

Learn about the craft of writing, using whatever method suits you best: workshops, books, conferences, etc. -- and of course, practice! Know that some teachers are a bit forceful about the "right" way to do something. Readers care about the story you deliver, not the process you used to create it, so don't twist yourself into a knot trying to adopt a method that's not right for you. Experiment, and give different ideas a fair trial; you'll eventually discover the methods that work best for you.

If you decide that you want to publish, then treat this like the career it is. Learn about your options. There's no one right approach; many writers now choose the method that works best for a particular project.

Don't give up! Perhaps you'll need to work harder than other writers you know. So what? No one writes novels because it's easy, since it isn't. Try to be as honest with yourself as possible about why you want to write and then don't lose sight of those goals.

Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Nourish your creativity by doing things that bring you joy.

Feel free to send more specific questions. I'm so sorry it's taken so long for me to respond and promise to do better.

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