Goodreads asked Julie Mathison:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Julie Mathison Discover your own voice. I pursued traditional publishing for many years and experienced a lot of interest and success with agents and editors who loved my writing. But when it came down to the sale, I was invariably told that my book didn't fit squarely enough within the genre or the market. And traditional publishing is a business, first and foremost. I would set out to write what I thought would be a "marketable book," but invariably I would end up writing what interested me. I realized, eventually, that this was a good thing, even though I had to let go of my preconceptions about "success." Here is my advice: embrace writing as your calling, do it whether you get paid or not, follow your voice and your heart -- and then, find your audience. There are plenty of people out there who will love what you love. So, perfect your craft, but trust your art.

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