Week 1 Exercises

If I'm going to make a go of this thing, I have to do it. So here we go.

Time Travel - List 3 Old Enemies of Your Creative Self-Worth


1. Many a teacher I had during my catholic school years, with the librarian, Sister Francis Miriam, leading the way in General Horridness.
2. Mean classmates I had during the same years; classmates who did all they could to make me feel awful and worthless. They really were quite successful.
3. Myself. After the influence of both of the above, I think I became my own worst enemy. Constantly questioning my ability, myself; constantly telling myself how untalented and unworthy I am. Bad stuff.

Time Travel: Select and Write Out One Story From Your Monster Hall of Fame

In keeping with #1, above, I'm going to recount one particularly terrible story about Sister Francis Miriam, the meanest librarian ever known. I was an advanced reader from a fairly young age, and I tended to favor books that would have been far beyond most of my classmates. For the most part (although, honestly, not always), I understood them. Sometimes, I didn't entirely "get" them or didn't pick up the double entendre, but hell, that could be said about many people. Anyway, I no longer remember how old I was at the time, but I remember that I wanted to check out a series of 2 books, one of them "The Hobbit" and one of them a book I had already read previously (I think it was "Cougar", but I can't swear to it). She flatly refused to let me get either book, and probably said something nasty. I was humiliated and flustered, and ended up selecting a book about dog care called "A Puppy For You" (I was a bit obsessed with animals and pets!) Well, when she checked it out, she laughed out loud at me and announced to my class in a snide, mocking voice, "Hahaha, would you look at that? I told Amanda she couldn't check out XYZ and look what she chose instead. 'A Puppy For You'. HAHAHAHA!" I remember the way the hard wooden chair felt pressed against my thighs, I remember cutting my eyes furiously at her, sending her daggers of hatred. But mostly I remember how humiliated I was, how much I just plain didn't want to be there, didn't want to ever draw attention to myself by trying to be smart again. God, what a bitch she was. Why was it necessary to be so cruel and hateful?

Write a letter to the editor in your defense


Dear Editor,

Sister Francis Miriam shouldn't have been so mean to Amanda. She only wanted to check out a book to read so she could have a way to escape her miserable life, and Sister was mean and nasty. Amanda should be able to check out whatever book she wants from the school library -- we only go from grades K - 8, so there really isn't much danger of her reading something "inappropriate" for her. We're all close to the same age, and if she can understand those thick books I think she should be able to read them. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with reading a book that is not particularly challenging. We all need to relax and enjoy ourselves; everything shouldn't be a chore.

I also am made to understand that it was Sister Francis Miriam who once said to Amanda (who was bored in a class that she was probably too smart for and doodling on her notebook), "A doodle is a sign of a weak mind." Obviously, that's a completely untrue statement. I have a feeling that brilliant people have been doodling to help themselves work things out, keep their minds occupied, and just plain for fun since time began. Probably, doodling is actually a sign of a strong mind.

Sister Francis Miriam really is a bitch, sir. Let's keep her away from poor sweet Amanda.

Yours Truly,

Fake Me

Ok, that's enough for tonight.