This is all great advice, but I just want to throw one other thing into the mix — podcasts. There are so many great, well thought out, narrative, and insightful podcasts out there that they can do an excellent job of nourishing that creative spark. They will also take you on amazing journeys and expose you to different kinds of storytelling and perspectives, plus they open up other avenues of research and investigation.

One of the biggest advantages though is that you can combine listening to podcasts with doing something else. It’s why I combine my listening with an hour-long dog walk every day. It’s a break from my writing, a way to get outside, and a chance to learn more about the world.

All your points about intent, cultivation, and expression apply equally well to podcasts as they do to books. For some people, like me, they’re a great medium for entertainment and elucidation.