Vary what you read - fiction, non-fiction, in your genre and outside it. Not only is it more interesting for your reading life, you’ll be influenced by good writing from a variety of sources, which is bound to help your work. Oh and be influenced by the best! See opposite!
Make time for reading the writing magazines you subscribe to which at times is often easier said than done. I admit I can’t always do so daily but I try to make sure I read them at least three times a week, mainly to make sure I don’t miss out on any competition deadlines.
In a fantasy/sci-fi world, how do your characters communicate? I’ve got the Kingdom “borrowing” ideas from earth and adapting them for their use.
Could everyday items we take for granted be misused on another world or even be a threat? Could these items be turned and used against us?
Have brainstorming sessions every now and again. If you get stuck with a piece of writing, this is a good way to get going again and who knows what you may come up with?
Ask yourself questions all the time. What do you want to write? What have you got to say that nobody else can say?
How can modern communications help your story along?
Keep at it. And if you write novels, have a go at short stories on the side. I believe it harder to write a good short story given you haven’t the space to expand yourself that you have with a novel but it’s a good challenge and will help you write tightly, which would do your book the world of good too.
There are novel writing competitions - for example the Daily Mail run one. Go into these with your eyes wide open knowing there’ll be loads of entries but give them a go. You have nothing to lose after all.
I write short stories every so often given my first love is the novel. I find it almost feels like I’ve had a holiday when I return “full time” to the novel again. Keep your mind and body active and well. Challenges do wonders for the brain.
Don’t be afraid to start small and then build up if a novel seems too much to begin with.
Give enough description to make your story real but not enough to drag it down. Does your tale have enough action in it? The appropriate action for what the tale is about?