Goodreads asked Anita Cox:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Anita Cox This business is not for the faint of heart. You will probably work yourself to death without making any real money. You'll sacrifice time with friends and family to work. Unless you are okay with competition, you'll probably get overwhelmed by a market that is flooded with other "aspiring writers" who are throwing their first drafts up online and calling it good.

But if that doesn't scare you away, then you need to do your research. Follow marketing advice from someone like Kristen Lamb, who can teach you to reach your readers without being that annoying author who is tagging 150 strangers in pics of their book cover. Read her blog, all of her archives.

Find a mentor, someone who has been in the business for awhile that is willing to help you. Be willing to help in return.

Read. Read a lot. Read industry news. Read books. Read the blogs of successful authors. Read best sellers (this is how it's done.) Read stinkers (so you know what not to do.)

Now, prepare to work 13-15 hour days.

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