Sherman Alexie's writerly advice: Read, read, read.

LJ: What sort of advice do you have for aspiring poets, novelists and screenwriters?

Alexie: Read, read, read. Read 1,000 pages for every one you try to write. Everybody wants to come up and ask “What advice do you have?” and I say “What’s your favorite book?” or “What book did you last read?” If you don’t have that information…If you aren’t carrying a book around with you, then you’re doomed.

When you look at great writers, you’re looking at people who are actually better readers. Period. So that’s where you start.

(From "Sherman Alexie: The Lumberjack interview")