I’m obsessed with the craft of writing. I write every day, I read about the craft often, and in my spare time I like to unwind by watching interviews where authors talk about their writing process. It’s a sickness.

One of the key things I’ve learned is this: there’s no real blueprint. Every writer will have a different path to creation. Nothing is holy writ, except the one golden rule: Read as much as you can.

Read widely and well. Aspiring writers who don’t read are missing the foundation of the craft. Reading teaches the writer about structure, style, and genre.

Even mediocre books offer lessons. The books read when younger imprint on the brain, habituating it to patterns and elements of the novel. Reading inspires the writer, especially out of genre, fueling new ideas.

It is not hard: if you have time to scroll on your phone, you have time to read. Those serious about writing must prioritize reading over screens. It is the central importance of reading, not peripheral classes, that informs the art.

To be a writer is to shut up and read.