This week’s writing assignment: A monologue or stream of consciousness or other form that uses the thoughts of a person who is unlike you.

I began this story thinking I would write about the thoughts that pass through a woman’s head as she overanalyzes and makes excuses for a guy who hasn’t called. But then I realized that’s exactly like myself. So I decided to write it as an older male who has just slept with a woman he knows he’ll never call again. As someone who always writes from the perspective of a modern 20something female, it’s probably one of the most challenging pieces I’ve had to write.