The Best Simple Advice

To be a better writer:  READ. 
Here are the novels that have had the biggest impact on me as a writer.  They’ve taught me how to tell a story, how to write a sentence, how to make a plot, how to write a scene of dialogue.  They’ve proven to me that all good writing is about emotion.  They’ve taught me about life and about writing.  This is an ever-changing, evolving list, but today these are the most important novels to me (lots of poetry and nonfiction has been important, too, but I'm focusing here on fiction).
Isabel Allende-The House of the SpiritsHarriette Arnow-The DollmakerMargaret Atwood-Alias Grace, The Handmaid’s TaleLarry Brown-Father and Son, Joe, Facing the MusicChris Cleave-Little BeeEmma Donoghoe-RoomWilla Cather-My Antonia, O Pioneers, Death Comes for the Archbishop, The Song of the LarkMichael Dorris-A Yellow Raft in Blue Water Louise Erdrich-Love Medicine,  The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No-Horse Denise Giardina-Storming Heaven, The Unquiet EarthGraham Greene-The Power and the Glory, The End of the Affair Thomas Hardy-Jude the Obscure, The Woodlanders, Tess of the D’Urbervilles S.E. Hinton-The OutsidersZora Neale Hurston-Jonah’s Gourd Vine, Their Eyes Were Watching God Garbriel Garcia Marquez-Of Love and Other Demons, Chronicle of a Death ForetoldJohn Irving-A Prayer for Owen MeanyD.H. Lawrence-Sons and Lovers, The Fox Harper Lee-To Kill a MockingbirdToni Morrison-BelovedMicahel Onndaatje-Coming Through SlaughterMarilynne Robinson-Housekeeping, Gilead, HomeLee Smith-Fair and Tender Ladies, Saving Grace, Black Mountain BreakdownWallace Stegner-Angle of ReposeAlice Walker-The Color Purple