Start and maintain a journal where he writes down his observations and thoughts for the day. A good structure is to start with sounds and dialogue he heard, what he saw, people he met, then his thoughts. A good journal will be the basis for material for many books and articles.
Synopsize books he reads listing characters, who they are - the plot, what he liked and did not like about the book. Then, once a month, review his synopses and write an essay on 2 or three of them comparing the works.
Plant the idea that a good work is PLANNED like a house - the plan, then the framing, then the rest of the house. The actual part of writing should allow him to focus on the prose with the scaffold he built - characters, conflicts, accidents, setting, chapters - already planned.
Keep files for each story effort that is not complete. I keep files for each of my general efforts and if I think of something or run across something germane to the topic or story, I insert it into the file. Thia allows me to build up material - character sketches, plot devices, prose - so that I build a critical mass over time. There is no reason to pull the trigger on a good idea until it is surrounded by good ideas. I also keep a general file where I toss stuff that is interesting but which does not fit in.
Here is a wonderful essay by Jerry Pournelle on "How to Get My Job."
http://www.jerrypournelle.com/slowchange/myjob.htmlAnother idea is to get some bios of famous Authors. Obviously, Henry Miller is out, but Steinbeck is interesting and mostly safe. Darwin led an interesting life as well.
