I find that during those times when I am actively reading books I enjoy, my writing improves both in quantity and quality. Conversely, those times when I’m too busy or too tired or too distracted to read, I also write less. I don’t think it’s a matter of imitation, even unconsciously. I think that good books (like all works of art, I’m sure) shake up and stimulate the creative impulses. Anyway, here’s the corny formula I made up for this: book is to mind as plow is to field.
I wonder if it’s like this for others as well.
