NFL Insider Michael Lombardi’s advice: What Stephen King wrote

Michael Lombardi writes for NFL.com, where he’s one of its “NFL Insiders.” He’s also a frequent contributor to the NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access.”

But he didn’t get the writing gig because he was a standout at the Iowa Writers Workshop or anything. He’s an expert. He headed the personnel departments for the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns and he’s also worked for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos.

So he’s got a lot in common with Bleacher Report writers, many of whom are with the site because it’s a way for them to pursue their passions and interests, not because they have literary ambitions. In fact, Lombardi has been a Bleacher Report writer.

Full disclosure: I haven’t asked him if he has literary ambitions. Maybe he does!

What I did ask Lombardi for is his best advice for writers. That advice is simple and, best of all, something you can act on before you get out of the chair you’re sitting in:

My best advice really comes from Stephen King and his book “On Writing,” where he tells all writers to write every day, at least 1,000 words.  And read two books a week — which will then help you write better.

My recipe: Buy the King book, write every day and read two books a week.

I’m lucky if I can read two books in a year, though I read a ton online.

What about you? How much do you read, and has it helped you as a writer? Do you write 1,000 words or more every day? Has that helped? I bet it has, but I’d love to hear about it in the comments.