Goodreads asked Ellwood Cooper:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Ellwood Cooper I have a couple of tidbits for aspiring writers. The first, and the obvious one you'll hear from virtually every established author, is just to write. You have ideas in your head -- maybe a story line or a couple of characters you'd like to develop -- so just do it! Put your thoughts down on paper or device and then narrate in your head (or aloud) how you think your reader would like to hear your story. Even though I have my own ideas about how I want to get my story out, I always think about how they would sound to someone actually reading them.
Secondly, proof-read your manuscript carefully, and frequently. Re-reading your work over and over again as you are developing it can turn up errors in punctuation, spelling, and continuity and expose discrepancies that must be corrected. Don't leave your review until after you've finished your first draft, because you are more likely to miss critical issues.

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