My writing advice is read read read, said Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at last night's Stylist Book Club

Here's some of the other insight and advice Adichie shared during the first Stylist Book Club:

- ...I keep notes, I don't mind my own business ever!

- I listen to conversations and I watch people at airports to pick up ideas for characters

- I see my characters as humans - I don't judge them as I leave my readers to do that

- My writing advice is read, read, read: you don't have to like what you read but it demystifies writing

- If you are finding the writing process tough, take a break and eat some chocolate

- Writing has texture to it: you need to pick up on real, human details to bring a story to life

- The reader I write for is me. It keeps me honest as I don't try to pander to anyone's view

- I started writing Americanah because I felt compelled. I was emotionally attached to it

- I love writing, it's what makes me happy and that joy is what keeps me going if I struggle with writing a book

- I usually have an idea of where a novel will go but I don’t always know what the end will be

- Tell the truth in your writing even if it means people aren’t going to like it

- I wanted to write about depression in Americanah because it’s not discussed a lot although lots of people suffer from it

- I know women who are brilliant, fierce & alive in the world but they made bad choices about men

Immigration is a thorny issue but I’m interested in the way it strips away human dignity

Lupita Nyong'o wins rights to Americanah film, author confirms