Let’s write a story. Together.
Let’s start with the idea of an environment and a technology.
Something unimaginably old that people use every day, but aren’t too concerned about it when they do.
Hmmm.
What else is tied to our perception of reality?
Politics, perhaps – but could our fascination with bureaucratization be enough to facilitate a lapse in our technology? Or at least badly enough to sustain our plot?
Perhaps a decline is not what we’re looking for. Instead: stagnation.
Apathy.
Contentment.
What would make our culture reach a point where it would say: “Enough. This is good enough.”
It would have to be a world where making technology no longer was a priority because it no longer made money. In order for it to no longer be fiscally feasible, it would have to be ubiquitous, or nearly so.
So it would have to be homemade, as well as an incentive for people to make it themselves rather than just having someone else make it for them, and then personalize it.
SO. What are we thinking here? We’re thinking of an extremely easy level of technology, right up there with, say, cooking.
This suggests something that is organic – too many people are unskilled to create something mechanical.
Organic is easy.
Okay. So where does that leave us? Recap: An organic technology that has been spread throughout all cultures, has superseded all other forms of technology that garner the most money, and has brought an unprecedented equality across the boundaries of human experience, reducing social stratification and nationalistic feeling.
Holy crap. Let’s do this thing!
Onwards.
This organic technology would have to be something that allowed people to connect to other people. It would also have to be capable of communicating pain and pleasure equally – pain is the incentive for people to like things, or is that the absence of pain?
Depends on the person I suppose.
Now what else?
Does it have to be one thing, or can it be a number of things? And what about conflict? Are we looking at the need to encounter another species?
Hold the phone. ARE WE TALKING GALACTIC WAR? Because that idea is old, used in Ender’s Game and in Shadow and Claw.
So.
So how to make it new again?
Would this technology take people somewhere else? Because if the only place they can go is into their own minds, done in Matrix, or into another plane, which abandons earth, that might make it less relevant again – for both our readers and characters.
People would then be clamouring for galactic war.
And this is not Starship Troopers. (Although Starship Troopers is good.)
This has to be a story about us, not somewhere else.
That is what will make it relevant.
That is what will make it ours.
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okay. ah feel uh liddul bedder now. axually, YOUR post, set whatever wheels and gears (worn tho’ the gear teeth may be) going and i wrote something slightly weirder than usual.
and, tho’ i’ll be in portland, don’t worry, i won’t message you.
(wish i could ERASE some of my prior comments — in regardz other posts).
what/when is your next running event?
totally down. let me respond more in a second…..
Excellent!
so are you in portland? here, i will message you…
Awestruck and inspired! It’s a brilliant plan and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!
Thanks! You’ll see it here first :)
wait, Can I message you. I had nothing extremely private to say, but if indeed here, right on. I have been writing plain journal entries for the last few weeks, scattered, unclear, frustrating me. I lay concrete and and an earthquake comes. I should just accept my volcano exploding compositions, let them destroy what it feels like destroying. but the inspiration to write a poem, which is already written and finished, waiting for the ‘hands control nerve wheel to be turned towards heaven to compose with maybe a tear of feeling how beautiful, Valery suggest she say hello over here.she, bumped into, with some new gorgeous me on everett and 18th I thanked it and told it I missed it so much, tried to convince I was done now with pomes. yes. pomes. but the music came, I fear my poetic wings being stolen in my slumbers. I should just let it go. She always will crawl back into bed and soothe me. How lucky, proud I am, to introduce her to anyone, if not enjoyed, the eyes observing must have been inept, needs to buy a pad and pen. see i just let that come out. i cant help it. whenever i doubt myself, Valery always chills me out, smokes a joint with me. anyways, portlander? or no? i’ll come write with ya. I have not one poet friend here. Lots of musicians, as I am one also, and why I believe so much that I am proud to write down a groove loop of elevating lines. I think the poem and abstraction are dating right now. though she professed her love for me in a morning bed today, after a night spent over. if you could keep that ya know, on the down low. I think it will break a poem heart, so very sensitive. I swear, didnt take acid. my surreal hand must be an adrenaline junky. James Merril is at the door, meh, I’m gonna ask him if, why a dead person waking up in scary films is so scary. I would love to score horror films, and think I shall a few 2 or some poo. fun. James is very up set. Kerouac broke it off with him. Everyone but him is like, um yeah? Our jack does that. He even said he didnt love him anymore the other night when he was so drunk he urinated on my lawn and tried to hit on Di Prima while walking her pugg, wang still out and about though a shout of none happened. “Thanks Jack, please go to bed.” have you seen those dharma notebooks, the millions he has filled? wow. He for sure had that coffee and benzo’s while that baton waved around.
i’m sorry. i love not thinking and going and going. off too go see some first thursday. come find! I’m araid to read what is above. Delete if you want. very sorry. a writing crew, how great.
Nothing like stream of conscience writing. :) Not in Portland, no, though I have always wanted to go! My husband and I did a road trip down the coast to Ashland and we absolutely loved it.
ETHELTHEDEAN. How did you know that I am currently, right at this moment exactly, thinking of writing. (I realize you didn’t just write this, but just go with me)
To be specific, I’m looking for jobs that will let me write. And then I’m getting frustrated, as there are no writing jobs that don’t require at least a year of experience at a publication. I don’t have that. Therefore, I’m drinking wine! (hence the comment that is quickly become irrelevant to your blog post)
Anyhow, I love hearing your idea process…I have no process, but it’s something I’m working on. You should start another blog full of creative writing pieces, as I’m a big fan of the ones you publish here.
Wish we lived closer, could totally use some girl talk time with a fellow writer! :)
Laura the Writer! What a lovely comment ;)
I totally know what you mean about looking for jobs that fulfill that writerly spirit. Although I do a ton of writing at my job, most of it is academic/high brow – and even though I love that kind of writing, I need something to satisfy my creative tooth too! (Hence, the blog of course.)
I would love, love to meet up and talk girl talk/writer talk. But you never know where the wind may take me next!
xx