This piece of advice is not particularly new or original, but it is of supreme importance. If you are not reading regularly, your writing will suffer. If you're binging on the latest Netflix craze every night, your thoughts are going to become Netflix thoughts. Your imagination will begin working in a visual storytelling mode. But writing is not visual. Imagery and visuals are not the same thing. We work with language. If you aren't constantly putting new language into your system, like a motor running out of fuel, your creativity may stall or sputter out. I often find I'm less motivated to write when I'm not reading. So read, and read widely.

Every Wednesday, as I draft my second novel, I will be posting writing tips, advice, and tough love reminders for myself and anyone who may need it. Feel free to share your own.