Goodreads asked J.M. Lanham:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

J.M. Lanham For aspiring writers, I have two pieces of advice.

First, make sure you write every day. Not three times a week, or even five.

Every. Single. Day.

No weekends off. No holidays. No excuses.

I like to compare writing to going to the gym. The first few weeks you try it, you're basically forcing yourself through the motions. But after a while, it becomes a part of your routine, and you feel empty and uncomfortable when you don't get it done.

I think writing—or any good habit for that matter—is all about maintaining the routine, no matter what. I've heard people say, "Well Bill is just a good writer," when really, Ol' Bill is probably just fine-tuning his craft every day of his life. Write (and read) every day, and you'll be surprised how much your writing improves over the long run.

The second piece of advice is simple: Read Stephen King's "On Writing." He's one of the best, so why wouldn't you want to pick his brain? The book helped me overcome a lot of self-doubt and excuses, and is one I would personally like to thank him for writing someday. It really is that good.

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