Most importantly, write every day, or as often as you can. Sure, it’s a cliche, but writing is like a muscle, and exercise really does make it stronger.
I keep my journal on my nightstand where I can reach it in the morning when the alarm goes off. When it does, I crank out 10 minutes of free writing to start the day.
I also think it really, really helps to read. A lot! Whatever you can get your hands on. Blogs, magazines, books, shampoo bottles, clothing tags, coupons, bills — you name it. Anything that interests you, especially if you’re writing a lot. Gotta replenish your creative well, and feed your mind with new words and phrases.
Keep your mind open, too, because you never know when inspiration will strike. Sometimes you’re just tooling down the street, doop-da-doo, minding your own beeswax, when you come upon a beautiful vintage car with shiny chrome wheels…
Well, I read a lot, especially young adult fiction.