To add to this point, Neil Gaiman says writers should have a compost heap:

“Everything you read, things that you write, the things that you listen to, people you encounter – they can all go in the compost heap. And they will rot down. And out of them grow beautiful stories.”

You won’t use everything you see and write down. Most of you’ll forget, but there will be things you remember. And you can use them for your writing – whether as an idea or to make a point.

The key is to remain open to everything, all types of influences. Not just other writing.