Exercise 1

Writing I

I am Steve. Steve makes
me think of a tall, thin person who waves their hands and arms wildly
about when talking; like my uncle John or Chris Thile. I am
sensitive. When I think of doing or saying (usually saying) something
bitter and cutting, it makes me sad. I derive pleasure from being
sad, or imagining sad things. I feel hurt when people do these sort
of things to me, but my other side, my New English shell, feeds on
the pleasure of biting back and inventing cutting, sarcastic remarks.
Or is it just my sinful nature? I feel annoyed with non-sensitive
people.

Writing II

Love. What is love?
Love is not explainable. When one thinks of a loved one, one thinks
of that person as something misted by a golden light or veil of sheer
happiness and perfection. Love is something that one can not account
for, like by saying, “It’s because.” There’s
no because. It’s all a trick played by cupids. Not really, of
course. That was a metaphor. But it’s not an ordeal of
“choosing.” “Liking” is a matter of choosing.
Boyfriend/girlfriend/crush relationships are a matter of, “I
think I like him/her specifically because s/he is handome/pretty and
intelligent.”

Writing III

Josh Ernst. He will
become a pilot when he grows up. It’s not something I hope for.
It seems like destiny. I would be sad if he died in war. But he will
miss a lot when he’s away. I worry for him about that. When
will he marry? I hope he doesn’t break _______’s heart
and marry some pilot chic. But that would not be Josh. It’s one
of those “go off on a noble quest and then struggle to return
and find the heroine so he can marry her and she’s been pining
away, single and hopeful” things. I hope _______ doesn’t
marry Ned or someone. Ned needs to marry _______, anyway.

Writing IV

Wright brothers. Flying
goggles, etc. Get to work and write! Right. That’s right.
Rrright. Yeah right. No…write a letter. Write to me. Peter
Gaultney hasn’t written back. A novel; an author wrote this
epic novel in 19__. Sort of historically. Or on the back of a book.