No, really, it's that simple. If you want to become a writer you need to read. What do you want to write? Sci-Fi? Read Ursula LeGuin. Fantasy? Read Neil Gaiman. Literary prose? Read David Foster Wallace. Read the classics and read contemporaries. Read everything you can get your hands on and then read a little more.
But most importantly, read GOOD stuff. Not to knock Wattpad, but a lot of the people (including myself) are unpublished for a reason. And don't read NYT Best Sellers. Read books with good reviews, books that people you respect recommend, books by writers you want to write like.
But seriously, just read.
Rating: 5/5 stars (Yes, I just rated the usefulness of reading)