A Visit with Harper
a very short story24 total reviews
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Rod,
Terrific entry for the writing prompt, "My Favorite Poet/Writer #2".
I hate to admit, I have never read the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird". I have seen the 1962 movie though, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and Robert Duvall as Boo Radley. The children of Atticus Finch are played by Phillip Alford as Jem Finch and Mary Badham as Scout Finch. (Side note: Phillip Alford also played the youngest son of Jimmy Stewart (Charlie Anderson) in the 1965 Civil War movie, "Shenandoah".)
Harper Lee passed away at 89 years of age, February 19th, 2016. Her words to live by, "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself. And write! Don't just think about it." Sheree Fitch has been a great help to me, and I'll add her advice... "Write about what you know!"
"Dead, yes, but I still make promotional appearances," she laughed. "I'm pleased you recognized me." ... Yikes! Imagine being visited by a ghost!
Nicely penned!
Cheers,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2024
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Hi Rod,
Terrific entry for the writing prompt, "My Favorite Poet/Writer #2".
I hate to admit, I have never read the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird". I have seen the 1962 movie though, starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and Robert Duvall as Boo Radley. The children of Atticus Finch are played by Phillip Alford as Jem Finch and Mary Badham as Scout Finch. (Side note: Phillip Alford also played the youngest son of Jimmy Stewart (Charlie Anderson) in the 1965 Civil War movie, "Shenandoah".)
Harper Lee passed away at 89 years of age, February 19th, 2016. Her words to live by, "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself. And write! Don't just think about it." Sheree Fitch has been a great help to me, and I'll add her advice... "Write about what you know!"
"Dead, yes, but I still make promotional appearances," she laughed. "I'm pleased you recognized me." ... Yikes! Imagine being visited by a ghost!
Nicely penned!
Cheers,
Kimbob
Comment Written 20-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2024
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Kimbob, I am delighted you dropped by and read my shortie. TKAM, the movie, is terrific. I loved teaching the book, then following it up with the movie. Rod
Comment from royowen
What good advice, the gift will always follow, I wouldn't write if I didn't please myself, but write, the gift follows, I like to write many great poets work, I've always been a student of eloquent language, it's a the paintbrush of the writer, beautifully written, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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What good advice, the gift will always follow, I wouldn't write if I didn't please myself, but write, the gift follows, I like to write many great poets work, I've always been a student of eloquent language, it's a the paintbrush of the writer, beautifully written, blessings Roy
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Thank you, Roy. Yes, I agree Harper gave good advice. Rod
Comment from Begin Again
Even after death, she gave excellent advice ' "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself..... And write. Don't just think about it!"
I wallowed in grief and depression for the longest time after losing my husband and my parents. I'd given up on writing.....but a promise to them and FanStory - taught me I would get no where nor would I feel happy again until I opened my heart and mind to writing again.... It worked!
Smiles, Carol
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Even after death, she gave excellent advice ' "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself..... And write. Don't just think about it!"
I wallowed in grief and depression for the longest time after losing my husband and my parents. I'd given up on writing.....but a promise to them and FanStory - taught me I would get no where nor would I feel happy again until I opened my heart and mind to writing again.... It worked!
Smiles, Carol
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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FanStory is not registering my replies again. Many thanks for sharing my story and your own, Carol.
Rod
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Thanks, Rod...I have had problems with the site lately as well. I think there are gremlins lurking. LOL
smiles, Carol
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this writing prompt entry with us. I like Harper Lee's advice. "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself.' It's great advice.
Dead, yes, but I still make promotional appearances," she laughed. (appearances." She -- laughed isn't a speech tag, it's an action tag.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Thank you for sharing this writing prompt entry with us. I like Harper Lee's advice. "Write to please an audience of one: Yourself.' It's great advice.
Dead, yes, but I still make promotional appearances," she laughed. (appearances." She -- laughed isn't a speech tag, it's an action tag.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Barbara, I am delighted you enjoyed my conversation with Harper. I follow her advice religiously. Thank you for the tip on speech/action tags. Rod
Comment from Ric Myworld
Harper Lee's book has touched many lives over the years. Mine included. It's just amazing why she would have waited so long to write the next one. But in always wanting the next offering to upstage the last, I guess she had to have figured that wasn't possible. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Harper Lee's book has touched many lives over the years. Mine included. It's just amazing why she would have waited so long to write the next one. But in always wanting the next offering to upstage the last, I guess she had to have figured that wasn't possible. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Hi, Ric. I loved reading and teaching TKAM. She was a very humble woman and the recognition she received surprised her. Her second novel was kept stored away for decades before she allowed it to be published.
Rod
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
I like the way you responded to this prompt so well. You showed how the topics she wrote about influenced your writing. After teaching DANDELION WINE for many years, I would choose to talk to Ray Bradbury. I love how he wrote about his family.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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I like the way you responded to this prompt so well. You showed how the topics she wrote about influenced your writing. After teaching DANDELION WINE for many years, I would choose to talk to Ray Bradbury. I love how he wrote about his family.
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Thank you, Verna. I am pleased you enjoyed my conversation with Harper. I never taught DANDELION WINE. Rod
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This one is not sci fi by Bradbury, but a magical, lyrical retelling of his childhood. Though I loved his poetic prose, not ALL the students did. ; )
Comment from Mrs. KT
Good morning, Rod!
I so appreciate your creative dream conversation with Harper Lee = one of my all-time favorite authors as well. Taught To Kill a Mockingbird to 9th graders for years. Such a powerful and moving novel.
When I retired from teaching, the opening paragraph of my farewell speech included the iconic quote from Mayella Ewell, "I got something to say, and then I ain't gonna say no more" :) :)
Thank you for sharing!
Best wishes,
fondly,
diane
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Good morning, Rod!
I so appreciate your creative dream conversation with Harper Lee = one of my all-time favorite authors as well. Taught To Kill a Mockingbird to 9th graders for years. Such a powerful and moving novel.
When I retired from teaching, the opening paragraph of my farewell speech included the iconic quote from Mayella Ewell, "I got something to say, and then I ain't gonna say no more" :) :)
Thank you for sharing!
Best wishes,
fondly,
diane
Comment Written 19-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Hi, Diane. I am so pleased you enjoyed my conversation with Harper. I love all the characters in TKAM and am not surprised you enjoyed teaching the book too. Rod
Comment from lyenochka
That sounds like advice from that gifted writer. And I chuckled about the post-grave promotional visit. Her sequel book was published after her death. She's right that we can't write to please everyone and we need to be happy about our own work. On the other hand, there are some writers who are so focused on their own worlds that it's not inviting for readers to enter in. Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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That sounds like advice from that gifted writer. And I chuckled about the post-grave promotional visit. Her sequel book was published after her death. She's right that we can't write to please everyone and we need to be happy about our own work. On the other hand, there are some writers who are so focused on their own worlds that it's not inviting for readers to enter in. Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 18-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Thank you, lyenochka, for sharing my conversation. I do follow her advice. Rod
Comment from RJ Heritage
I like the way you introduced your writer, and the simplicity of your conversation that flowed very casually. Harper Lee's to Kill a Mocking Bird, is one of my favorite books. I like the atmosphere you created through the relatable imagery to anyone who has read the book. Nicely presented and written.
RJ
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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I like the way you introduced your writer, and the simplicity of your conversation that flowed very casually. Harper Lee's to Kill a Mocking Bird, is one of my favorite books. I like the atmosphere you created through the relatable imagery to anyone who has read the book. Nicely presented and written.
RJ
Comment Written 18-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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Thank you, RJ, for sharing my conversation with Harper and your kind praise. Rod
Comment from lancellot
That is solid advice. Not sure if it is always the right advice, depending on the purpose of writing. Commercial writers, movie and TV series writers who do that usually go hungry very quickly. But, for us small time writers, it is usually good advice.
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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That is solid advice. Not sure if it is always the right advice, depending on the purpose of writing. Commercial writers, movie and TV series writers who do that usually go hungry very quickly. But, for us small time writers, it is usually good advice.
Comment Written 18-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 19-Sep-2024
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FanStory seems reluctant to register my replies. Thank you for sharing my story. Rof