Goodreads asked Timothy M. Houston:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Timothy M. Houston If you have an idea start writing it down and begin to expand on it. Dedicate some time each day -- even 5 minutes -- to start writing your ideas out. (If you're really serious, actually WRITE it out on paper!) Keep expanding and developing your themes and subjects and go deeper and deeper.

Read what others in your space have already written about and differentiate yourself from them or expand further on their ideas to develop something that is uniquely your own.

Use social media to test your material. Depending on your genre, put some of it out on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. and get feedback and then adjust it accordingly if you feel it's necessary. As a side-note, I can say that the public isn't always right because what it "right" for them "right now" may not be when it comes time to release your book or it may not be "right" for you.

For example, one of my regrets was testing out several covers for one of my books (Leads to Referrals) and popular opinion was that the cover with the fish was a great one. I really didn't think so and to this day, don't like it. (I will have it changed when we publish the revised version of the book).

Finally, have a deadline and stick to it! Whether you are looking to have your book published by a publishing company or you are self-publishing, have a deadline for your book or ebook. One of my favorite quotes is from the co-founder of Atari and the founder of Chuck-E-Cheese, Nolan Bushnell: "The ultimate inspiration is the deadline!"

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