Consider this writing exercise inspired by Tash Aw’s Five Star Billionaire:
For now it is sufficient to ask : What were you doing when you were eight, thirteen, fifteen, and eighteen?
Figure out the year of each and map out yourself, your place, and you’re sense of space from each age.
Ask yourself:
- How did you dress?
- How did you craft identity at that time?
- Who were your closest friends?
- Your enemies?
- Why?
- How?
- Your crush?
- Your girl/boy friend?
- What did you have tacked on the walls?
- What was in your pocket?
- Your backpack?
- What was something you wished you said to your parents, your teachers, your best friends, your peers, your siblings, your enemies?
- What was something you wish you hadn’t said to your parents, your teachers, your best friends, your peers, your siblings, your enemies?
- What did you see when you looked in the mirror?
- What did you want to see when you looked in the mirror?
- What was your relationship with your body?
- With other bodies?
- What was the taste you can most remember?
- What was the place that made you feel most alive and why?
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