How to avoid the harsh light syndrome? I'm still working on that myself - sometimes I like my light harsh. For this shot, though, I think it would have been more effective if the light were indeed more diffuse and softer, and if you'd come in a lot closer to the tips of the pencils - the empty space here just feels too empty to me. For softer light, try using a sheer fabric of some kind, or pointing the light at a white posterboard and reflecting that back onto your subject. It will require a slower shutter speed, requiring a tripod, but can be worth the effort.
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