Is reading more books the best way to improve your writing? Is

>>9894242
I don't read very often, and at the moment haven't done so in a long while. But I do write, and according to some who proof read what I've done, it's a positive influence on my writing style and plot lines.
Largely because it doesn't seem to be influenced by any author but still somehow appears familiar.
At least that's what I get told.

>>9894254
That's right, most people on this fucking board read and write shit at the same time. Result? During the week in which they read Infinite Meme their prose sounds like the one of Foster Wallace, a week later it sounds like fucking Hegel, a week later like Salinger, and you can bet that after another two weeks they'll start writing in terza rima because they've just read Dante, and so on!

>>9894266
Suppose the good thing of picking up influences from what you read is that I keep reading my own stuff thanks to revision.
Mostly come on here to see if there are tips getting published or perhaps to help formulate an idea on a book cover.

>>9894266
>>9894254
I don't follow exactly. Is it bad to be inspired by certain authors? I really doubt that the way I write is special, and I think the only way for me to have a personal style of writing is to pick and choose from different authors.

How to improve your writing:
read books in your genre so you know your field
read books outside of your genre so that you're not stuck in a rut
read books(/listen to podcasts/etc) about writing
write
edit
rewrite
get critiques
edit some more
rewrite some more

>>9894285
I'm not saying it's bad. For others it might certainly help inspire and 'get the old juices flowing'.
But I personally avoid it, partly because I don't want to be influenced by other authors/stories.
These stories all came to me at once while staring at a fire. I write them as I recall them and I don't want them to be made different from what they were.

>>9894285
It's bad because you're not yourself.
Taking inspiration from other authors is just a /lit/ meme. You can see it repeated on this board every day in multiple threads.
You're not supposed to read for inspiration, but to assimilate literary abilities. Of course, reading gives you ideas, but if those ideas are not based on your personal experience, thus on reality, they are worthless.
And for what concerns the style, you should never adopt the style of one particular author. You should find yours. Whether it is common, neutral, or completely original doesn't matter. Most here try to imitate postmodern styles just because it's a trend, or because they make them feel cool. That's fucking stupid.
Read a lot, even for days without interruption, draw inspiration from everything you read, but then take a break. Detach yourself from what you've read, forget it. Then start writing with your own style and about your own experiences. Your style must develop from your own style, your experiences must take new directions from your own experiences. Reading is just bread.