Writers Write and Writers Read

Reading is a frequent subject here and for good reason: I write and I read. You can’t do one without the other, as many authors have wisely said (including, notably, Stephen King). Douglas Wilson also offered similar advice in his tremendously helpful (and funny) book,Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life. His advice to aspiring writers is simple—Read alot:

Read like a reader and not like someone cramming for a test. If you try to wring every book out like it was a washcloth full of inform...