Your writing will reflect what you read. If you read well-written books, it will register in your subconscious and raise your skill level. Conversely, reading mediocre work may help your confidence and not hurt your writing, but it won’t help it, either.

If you want to write a best-seller, then it makes sense to read best-sellers to see what they’re all about. The next time you sit down to write something, think about what you’re reading at the time and see if you’re assimilating its style without even being aware that you’re doing so. Reading quality material can be a very painless, yet effective, way to improve your writing.