Goodreads asked A.E. Decker:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

A.E. Decker Write. Every day, if possible. I know there are a lot of excuses for not writing, but unless you're responsible for defusing a nuclear bomb before it hits Chicago or something like that, try not to make them. The biggest stumbling block to becoming a writer is getting the work done, and I know far too many talented people who seem to spend time coming up with a litany about why they can't write rather than using it for writing.

Once you've established good writing habits, force yourself to finish a piece. Short stories are a good place to start. Try not to get stuck in the trap on endless revisions. No story is ever going to be perfect--and that's wonderful! The world needs great stories, not perfect ones.

Once you've finished a novel or story, find a place to submit it. This is probably the most painful part of the process at first, but when you get your first acceptance, trust me, it'll all be worth it. Above all, persevere. No one else can write your stories. If you don't write them, no one will, and all your worlds will remain undiscovered countries. Isn't that motivation enough?

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