Works in Progress

10 Stories I Might Write

November 8, 2017 — Work in Progress. I got really sleepy yesterday and skipped a day, so I’m posting on the 9th. I got really busy today because prioritization and commitment is hard, so I settled: write a “quicker” WIP of ideas, only. Vote on what you want to read next? O:)

My grandfather proposed a theory to me the other day.

To live, you must move.

Here’s a rough translation:

活动 (huo dong). It’s the Chinese word for “movement”.

Do you hate conflict, too?

When I’m about to disagree with someone, or when someone disagrees with me, I panic.

I don’t quite know what to call it. Nervousness? Anxiety? Fear? Dread? All I know is that I feel it in my body. Something catches in my chest, and I feel cold in my arms…

What do words mean?

A good friend of mine once asked me why I studied English Literature at Princeton, and why anyone studied English at all. We speak it — what more is there to say about it?

I replied, vaguely and ponderingly at the time, that the study of English can be useful in its…

Why commit?

This month of November, I committed to writing a draft once a day.

Today is November 13, and I missed quite a few days in a row.

The thing is: I don’t really regret it.

I thought I found the secret of the universe.

And then I lost it.

I have felt many things this past year. One thing was, thankfully, intense bliss and joy. I like to joke that it was “back when I was enlightened for a month or two.” I loved everyone, felt…

Do you feel this, too?

Your eyelid twitches, and then it stops. A spot on your thigh pulses — one, maybe two beats, and then it’s over and gone for a year. You’re itchy for no apparent reason, and then it goes away until the next itch without a reason.

Remember who you are

My grandfather is close to 90 years old. I don’t know how old he is, exactly, because I don’t know when his birthday is. Neither does he.

I don’t know his story, except for the fuzzy details:

• His name is Junjie Zhang.

November Drafts

This November, I’m going to write and publish a draft a day.

What’s the topic?

Well, I’m going to write about many things.

That’s because things have been really different for me, lately. I’ve been having hard times. I’ve…