Goodreads asked Frances Howitt:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Frances Howitt Don't give up your day job! Writing is a craft you have to learn and it's a very slow process. Everyone begins at the apprentice level, like a trainee bricklayer. Your first book could well be a fantastic story that you're itching to share with the world, but my recommendation is to simply write it down and work on the next book. Read books by as many different authors as possible - see how they do it and what doesn't work. Go back to it a year later and your style and skills will have developed and you'll then be in a better position to update it.
Also, don't try and polish every sentence as you go along - that kills the flow and pace of the story. Finish the book and then start editing.

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