Welcome to my newsletter!

“What you write filters through who you are.”

Reader, did you know ...

I'm a person who was raised by a single parent — my mother — with regular visits to my grandmother and grandfather.

However, many of the dominant role models I admired were fictional characters from television, films, books, and comics.

One might assume that I learned the naïve lessons — that good always triumphs over evil, that being kind and generous leads to a loving and peaceful life, or that when push comes to shove, the best in human beings would always come through.
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But I didn't learn that. "Always" is a lot to ask.​
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I learned to value the idea that good should triumph over evil and to believe in its value truly.
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But as I grew older, I came to understand that not everyone drank from the same pool.

I chose to be who I am as I grew older — with little regret, or less and less regret — because who I am is who I am.

I began to realize the value in that: caring less about what people think, acting more thoughtfully than impulsively, and continuing to try to see the value in my own beliefs, philosophies, and ethics.

So my stories — my writings — are about the human condition.​
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In some cases, there are several heroes, or someone who at least rises to the call for help.

• I try to bring joy through some of my stories.
• I challenge injustices in many of my stories.
• I strive to reveal hidden histories through many of my stories, especially when they feature people of color or individuals who have been oppressed.

I learned that ...

• My natural curiosity had value.
• I gained knowledge by listening during conversations, not just talking.
• Stories, fact or fiction, had power.
• Bullying, bigotry, and hate were poison to my soul.

Basically, the more I learned about myself, the more I realized how much that influenced my writing — the more at home I was, and damn proud of the stories I choose to tell.
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Every story you write marks the trail back to your most authentic self.

What about you influences what you write?​
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What piece of yourself have you been waiting to put into words? Start with one line. Just one.

Let me know.

Best,

Alex Simmons

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Have questions? DM me (@AlexSimmonsSays). Or email me at: GoWriteForIt@gmail.com.

If you need help telling your stories, Click Below and let me know.