Goodreads
Goodreads asked A.N. Boyden:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

A.N. Boyden The best advice I can give is to start writing in the genre you love to read. I say this because you'll have an automatic reference and an understanding of what style of writing may best suit you. If you don't particularly like reading sci-fi, it would be difficult to get your feet off the ground if you chose to write a sci-fi book early on in your career. It might take you extensive research, which may lead to discouragement when it's your first go-around.

I would also say to not be afraid to put yourself out there. Post your first works on a public forum such as Inkitt or Wattpad. Inkitt has great discussion boards for aspiring writers and you can reach out to readers to beta read and leave reviews for your works. Be open to constructive criticism.

Take the time to learn the rules of writing (proper grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, etc.)

Last, but not least, don't let anyone discourage you. There will be naysayers and there will be people who will leave hateful comments because that's just the person they are and it's the Internet. Greatness isn't accomplished in a day.

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