A Story Idea For You
January 14th 2010 12:28
I'm just writing up a quick post for now because I'm rather tired. We had a computer scare here yesterday, but luckily my computer programming uncle fixed the computer for us really quickly. It made me think though.
My life depends on this computer. Not only do I need it to write my books, to work on my blog, and to network with other writers, but I need it for school. The idea that it could have been dead had me in tears, had me panicking. We can't afford a new computer. What would I do without it?
I wonder if perhaps we have become too reliant on technology. Should my entire life depend on this computer? What about people whose career is made entirely online, people like Darren Rowse of Problogger? What happens to us if we run out of energy, if all the computers in the world crash, if the internet is permanently down? What will we do?
Once upon a time there were no computers, there was no internet; there are still people alive who remember that time. And then there are people like me, who have spent our entire lives with televisions and computers, and we rely on these things. Careers are made from this technology, building it and using it. Lives shape around it.
So here's an exercise for you. Imagine if one day the internet was down, and it wasn't coming back. How quickly would people start to lose their minds over it? Take the idea and run with it.
Write a short story about the world a few days after the internet has gone down. Who is losing it? Who is staying calm? What are people doing with their time if they aren't online?
It could be a really interesting story, but it's not one I can write. It's yours.
My life depends on this computer. Not only do I need it to write my books, to work on my blog, and to network with other writers, but I need it for school. The idea that it could have been dead had me in tears, had me panicking. We can't afford a new computer. What would I do without it?
I wonder if perhaps we have become too reliant on technology. Should my entire life depend on this computer? What about people whose career is made entirely online, people like Darren Rowse of Problogger? What happens to us if we run out of energy, if all the computers in the world crash, if the internet is permanently down? What will we do?
Once upon a time there were no computers, there was no internet; there are still people alive who remember that time. And then there are people like me, who have spent our entire lives with televisions and computers, and we rely on these things. Careers are made from this technology, building it and using it. Lives shape around it.
So here's an exercise for you. Imagine if one day the internet was down, and it wasn't coming back. How quickly would people start to lose their minds over it? Take the idea and run with it.
Write a short story about the world a few days after the internet has gone down. Who is losing it? Who is staying calm? What are people doing with their time if they aren't online?
It could be a really interesting story, but it's not one I can write. It's yours.
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