I have a concept for a story, but not the time/energy to finish it before Friday. I’m posting it here, in case anyone wants to take a go at turning it into a story! If it wins anything, some kind of split of prize money should be decided on..
The concept is inspired by Harsanyi’s Veil of Ignorance: if you didn’t know which person you’d be, what kind of world would you want to be in? Also inspired by Andy Weir’s The Egg.
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The story would start with an “empty soul” as MC. They have heard only a few (very positive) things about Life, and are really excited about it. Just before they get planted into an embryo, they need to sign some paperwork. When reading the fine print, they stumble on all the negatives that could happen: papercuts, heartbreak, losing loved ones, getting psychosis, starvation, being raised in a factory farm, drowning as a fish on a ship deck, etc. They realize that the probability of becoming a human, and a happy, healthy one at that, is very low.
Of course, the MC becomes hesitant, and considers maybe waiting a couple thousand years. But they hear, or realize, that Life may not exist anymore by then, or at least not humanity. And they would miss what might be the most important time in history! They don’t really want to live for themselves, but wonder what to do about all that suffering they’ve read about!
Then they get offered a deal: they will be born with the ability to make a difference, if they pledge to use it the best they can. They are not guaranteed to be happy, nor to have it easy (is there really such a thing as an easy life? Few souls have the luck of turning into a house cat..). They are not guaranteed to make a difference.
The MC doubts: how can I possible make a difference, by myself? But it’s revealed more souls have been offered the deal, and some have accepted (while most have chosen to wait for utopia). They could find like-minded souls. The story ends before the MC makes a choice, and that’s it.
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It still needs an explanation for why so many should did choose Life with those abysmal odds, but maybe most just didn’t get a choice.
So, any takers? 🙃 I’d prefer to first be in touch before you start on it, so that we don’t have multiple people writing on it. Details can definitely be changed, although I do have some preferences for a style that’s not overly didactic.
I have a concept for a story, but not the time/energy to finish it before Friday. I’m posting it here, in case anyone wants to take a go at turning it into a story! If it wins anything, some kind of split of prize money should be decided on..
The concept is inspired by Harsanyi’s Veil of Ignorance: if you didn’t know which person you’d be, what kind of world would you want to be in? Also inspired by Andy Weir’s The Egg.
--
The story would start with an “empty soul” as MC. They have heard only a few (very positive) things about Life, and are really excited about it. Just before they get planted into an embryo, they need to sign some paperwork. When reading the fine print, they stumble on all the negatives that could happen: papercuts, heartbreak, losing loved ones, getting psychosis, starvation, being raised in a factory farm, drowning as a fish on a ship deck, etc. They realize that the probability of becoming a human, and a happy, healthy one at that, is very low.
Of course, the MC becomes hesitant, and considers maybe waiting a couple thousand years. But they hear, or realize, that Life may not exist anymore by then, or at least not humanity. And they would miss what might be the most important time in history! They don’t really want to live for themselves, but wonder what to do about all that suffering they’ve read about!
Then they get offered a deal: they will be born with the ability to make a difference, if they pledge to use it the best they can. They are not guaranteed to be happy, nor to have it easy (is there really such a thing as an easy life? Few souls have the luck of turning into a house cat..). They are not guaranteed to make a difference.
The MC doubts: how can I possible make a difference, by myself? But it’s revealed more souls have been offered the deal, and some have accepted (while most have chosen to wait for utopia). They could find like-minded souls. The story ends before the MC makes a choice, and that’s it.
--
It still needs an explanation for why so many should did choose Life with those abysmal odds, but maybe most just didn’t get a choice.
So, any takers? 🙃 I’d prefer to first be in touch before you start on it, so that we don’t have multiple people writing on it. Details can definitely be changed, although I do have some preferences for a style that’s not overly didactic.
Interesting idea! It reminds me of the excellent Pixar film Soul.