I have been writing for a long time, and here are some behind the scenes stories about my writing process as well as advice I can give you.
The best advice I can give aspiring authors is to have a brutal editor and a critique group who will challenge and encourage you along the way. Being an author isn't easy, especially a self-published one. But with help, determination, and luck, this life will always be an answer and a blessing. Why are you writing? If you're writing to make money, you're in the wrong profession. Write because you have stories inside you that must be told, write because you love it, and write because you have a message for others. Get your first draft out without a lot of editing because you can't edit a blank page. You can always take something written poorly and make it into something gold!
Good luck, and God bless!