Goodreads asked Lesley Glaister:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Lesley Glaister Do lots of free writing and don't worry about the quality. You have to write rubbish before you get to the good stuff. Enjoy writing, even rubbish. You don't have to show it to anyone. Write for twenty minutes a day, at the same time every day, and DON'T READ BACK. After ten days sit down with your pages and a pot of tea and chocolate digestives (or whatever is a treat for you) and calmly read what you've written. Underline any striking lines, ideas, preoccupations. Laugh at the rubbish. You might find the basis of a story or poem or memoir piece in this work, you might find nothing useful. But you are ten days more practiced at writing. If you found it useful start again. Read and read and read and notice what's good and what's not. If you're impressed by a writer's style, try and notice how this writer achieves these effects. Go out in the world and use your senses - notice how things feel and smell as well as how they look. Don't take anything for granted. There are millions of writers out there - the only thing you have that's special is you, your voice, your perceptions and sensibilities. Your own voice is unique- keep writing freely, keep fresh and open to the world, keep wondering. Don't try to write like a writer, write like yourself.

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