It is harder to write when you have not yet read enough than it is when you have. It must be yet harder to write if you have not done much research at all. And it is hard to publish pieces which are poorly researched.
Telling people to stop reading and write, makes writing harder and also makes the next cliché, that publishing is hard, come true.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
I still battle the need to feel apologetic for reading. I even persecute my husband with endless explanations of why I need to read more theory, even though he never had any objections to me doing it. It’s like I have a voice in my head criticizing me for reading too much.
One year at one of my jobs I and a couple of other faculty made a deal with each other, to always say something warmly supportive if anyone mentioned spending time reading. This was a really good plan — it caused us all to stay happy all year, and I think get more done.