Goodreads asked Cynthia Ogren:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Cynthia Ogren My best advice to aspiring writers is to READ, READ, READ! Read any genre that inspires you, not just the genre you plan to write. And don't forget to read the classics. There's a reason they've become classics. They're immensely instructive to blossoming writers. I agree with Stephen King and many of the iconic authors who caution that if you don't read regularly, you can't write well. Through reading great books, writers learn how to craft important story elements, such as setting, plot, and pacing. They get an intrinsic feel for how a story is supposed to arc and play out. But perhaps, the greatest gift reading bestows is that of helping the writer find his own unique voice. And that is a priceless gift, indeed!

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