Goodreads asked Sarah N. Ham:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Sarah N. Ham Start... I know that sounds so simplistic, but you can't be a writer if you never start to write. It's so easy I think to fall trap in the mindset of "Will anyone read it?", "Will people like it?", "I'm not a professional or educated writer", etc., but those will trap you from writing. Not everything you write will be gold.
I've had my fair share of cringing over past drafts and stories, but I'm still glad I wrote them because it gives me a timeline to see how I've grown and where I can continue to grow from there. Also, try to find a goal for writing other than wanting fame or acclaim. While it's not wrong per se to want those things, they won't likely bring you lifelong fulfillment.
I write because it brings me joy, and I hope my message reaches someone in a way that makes them feel something, whether that's hope or just empathy in the characters. I may never be a best-seller or in every household shelf, but that's okay, because I know that's not why I started writing. So maybe consider doing the same.

flag