Replay: Laurie Stone and Richard Toon share the Five Things They've Learned about How to Write a Seductive Sentence
Check out the first five minutes of their recent class.
“My philosophical point of view is that no one knows why they do anything—including the people who are doing it.”
“I’m proposing that the joy of this kind of narrative is creating disturbance, excitement, and confusion for the reader—not for them to land on an understanding.”
“This way of working is completely different from having a story in your mind and recording it—or thinking of a memory and transforming it into fiction. This is the opposite of preplanning.”
“Anything that smacks of clinical language to me is the opposite of literary language. Clinical language reduces people to a set of behavioral understandings, but literary language should preserve human mystery.”
“You have to feel enjoyment, or it’s torture—and why are you even bothering to do it?”
– Laurie Stone and Richard Toon, Five Things I’ve Learned about How to Write a Seductive Sentence
Last week, Laurie Stone and Richard Toon joined us to explore how writing can be a pleasurable experience for both the writer and the reader. In Five Things I’ve Learned about Writing a Seductive Sentence, they shared insights on how to make writing irresistible, emphasizing the importance of falling in love with the process.
The class focused on writing that feels effortless and engaging. Laurie and Richard believe that writing should be a discovery—something the writer is drawn to, not forced into. When the writer feels pleasure in the act of creation, it translates into writing that captivates the reader.
They discussed how to craft seductive first sentences, turn abstract ideas into compelling images, and create narratives that don’t need neat resolutions. The session also touched on the role of humor, emotion, and love in writing. It's about seducing the reader with language, creating suspense, and pulling them in with every word.
Laurie Stone, author of Streaming Now, and Richard Toon, a retired director and writer, brought their years of experience to this class, offering a fresh perspective on how to make writing not only good but truly enjoyable.
Thanks for being part of Five Things I’ve Learned on Substack.
Visit myfivethings.com to view personal video invitations from writers, thinkers, and artists we admire – and to get special discounted pricing with our Five Things I’ve Learned Multi Pass.