Lessons Learned From Those Who Have Gone Before

, One of the best pieces of advice for writers that I’ve heard (and I’ve heard many) is simply, read. Stephen King especially promotes this—the idea that in order to be a good writer, you have to read. Lots.
 
Part of this is understanding our craft through example. How to create drama. How to create suspense. How to create a charcter people will love—or a character people will hate. Sometimes, the wrong character. A well-written book can teach you lot about writing. So can a poorly written one. A...