Guest Post: How and Why I Write by Lee Stone

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Lee Stone
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Re: Guest Post: How and Why I Write by Lee Stone

Post by Lee Stone »

Thank you, Afugisan, for taking the time to read it!
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Fabian Omondi
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Post by Fabian Omondi »

I prefer Harry Potter because he has a way of just getting to me through his books
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Post by Nina Rose »

I love how this spoke of character complexity and growth. The analogy of sand sculpture making someone's day is inspiring and kind.
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Fabian Omondi
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Post by Fabian Omondi »

This story surely taught me about lots of things and I surely feel encouraged.The author is just superb
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riojun18
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Post by riojun18 »

Very well said Mr. Lee Stone. I love this quotation from you “Everyone does have a book inside them, and others will read it as long as words don’t get in the way.”. Ever since, I am very fond of making short stories but due to lack of experience in writing I lost my confidence that I might be corrected with my mistakes but now I had a realization from your quotation. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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baare80
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Post by baare80 »

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,’ said Jojen. ‘The man who never reads lives only one.’
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Insightsintobooks729
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Post by Insightsintobooks729 »

I enjoyed your article and the revised Hitchens quote. I agree that to many words can get in the way of good writing.
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JGBRMS
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Post by JGBRMS »

"Use half as many words!" Great advice especially for educational books. Painful to read as you point out will not succeed for these books.
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palilogy
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Post by palilogy »

I have read some long novels - but I do think that today wise - most people are looking for something shorter.
I am also a poet - so I do tend to think less is more often =)
I'm trying to picture your mermaid playing the violin.
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EmeraldEyes8918
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Post by EmeraldEyes8918 »

A wonderful summary of your process, thank you for sharing!

The part about making someone's day especially resonates with me, because it is such a mindful thing to do especially in this hectic, chaotic world that we are living in. To offer someone a means to escape the turmoil or pressure of life for a few hours through a story and characters that they can relate to, that is a wonderful thing to aspire to do.

I will certainly take your points on board with any future writing and creative ventures. Thank you! :)
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Post by Patox »

The opening quote from Christopher Hitchens has hit me below the belt and I am now asking myself this question: Has everything I have needed been inside of me all this time?
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JordanKSmith
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Post by JordanKSmith »

No heroes versus villains. No black and white. People are more complex than that. That complexity is what makes us all interesting.
I love this, and it can be applied to real life characterizations as well. People tend to simplify those that they perceive as enemies. Whether it is political, religious, or an opposing basketball team, we simplify them. We stretch out their characteristics and turn them into caricatures of themselves.

This behavior turns our perceptions of people into something less than human. We blind ourselves to the world by our preconceptions of it.

By understanding the depth of others, we add to our own depth. This really is a crucial understanding that is the basis of the creation of any successful villain. You almost have to convince yourself that they are right or at the very least, logical. In my opinion, your ability to perceive your real-life villains directly affects the believability of your fiction.
If it looks bad, you've zoomed in too far.

Unconditional love is impossible until you can look at yourself without judgment.
(9 of 175 Books by 12/1/19)
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lildallface
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Post by lildallface »

Beautiful! The "why" is always personal.
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Mrunal Tikekar
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Post by Mrunal Tikekar »

I very much liked and agree with your version of Christopher Hitchens' quote. I have read several books with good stories, but destroyed by their narration style.
Samuel Onowhakpor
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Post by Samuel Onowhakpor »

Some authors driven by the need to convey the message in their books in as much words as possible, wittingly or unwittingly, slow down the story progression to a snail's pace or deviate from the central theme altogether. A lot of such books then get flushes down the proverbial toilets.
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