Leah from South DakotaI started a new WIP last week and I'm having a blast writing it, despite wading into uncomfortable territory (very on brand for me). I've been mentally chewing on it constantly, so I thought I'd post a #StoryDNA into the voice to "talk through" why I'm writing another sci-fi feature. 🧵 #Scriptsky
First off, I want to say: kind of over all the stories about AI.
Evil AI. Good AI. Misunderstood AI.
I get that it's part of the zeitgeist right now, but it feels boring. Yes, we'll never stop asking what it means for a computer to be human, but I actually wanted to explore the opposite of that.
Instead of the horror of machines as human, I wanted to write something that explores the horror of humans as machines. Hear me out:
I have this distinct disconnect with my body sometimes, where I'm not sure where Leah is inside this machine.
Everyone probably experiences this, but for me--
this disconnect really started after my brain injury.
Got to say, nothing makes you feel more like a machine than a defective part.
Especially the part that is in charge of, well, all the important things-- memory, emotions, thoughts. Honestly, I don't think I've fully trusted my brain since.
And maybe that's why body autonomy comes into play in a lot of the horror I write (and also, *gestures at the dumpster fire that is the US).
O can't stop thinking about how you can't avoid blinking, or swinging your arms at your sides when you lose your balance. You aren't always in charge.
Your body does not need your authority or permission to survive. So I wanted to explore how something like that could be exploited. Even with good intentions, the ability to hack human bodies is a theme I want to dive into with this new story in a unique way.
And no worries, it'll make you squirm 😈