Name: Katie Everett
Major: English
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Describe your I.S.
I’m writing a science fiction novella which revolves around the theme of humanity and computers. The plot consists of characters waking up in a virtual world which looks quite different from our own with no obvious means of getting out. They are forced to compete against each other for territory, resources and the chance to escape from their imprisonment. However, the real enemy may not be found in each other but in the people pulling the strings behind this world. These characters might not be strictly human in the traditional sense. Through their trials, I hope my project forces people to consider how they define humanity and the many forms it takes.
What motivated you to choose to write on this subject?
I spent a great deal of my childhood watching my dad play various video games, many revolving around dystopian science fiction worlds. My father also introduced me at a young age to Star Wars, Star Trek and many other geeky and futuristic movies and TV shows. Many of these different narratives depict androids or other human-like computers, and the gap between technology and humanity has always fascinated me. However, upon taking a class at Wooster called Women Writing Science Fiction I also realized how the genre could be used as a means to explore specific social issues through the lens of advances in technology or dystopian societies. I wanted to use a science fiction narrative to explore the level to which computers can achieve humanity and the issues surrounding that type of transformation.
What’s your creative process?
Oftentimes my creative process involves throwing stuff at a wall until it sticks. I have notebooks and Microsoft Word documents filled with random ideas, names, plot points, etc., which I then go through and select my best ideas to create a cohesive story and characters. Often my best ideas seem to come at random while I’m going about my daily business. A friend will say a certain phrase or I’ll spot some odd occurrence in the world and I’ll jot it down somewhere so that I remember it for later when I’m writing.
Who’s your favorite author or what’s your favorite book?
Definitely J.K. Rowling and any of the Harry Potter books.
If you could be any kitchen appliance, what you be and why?
I would probably be a toaster because I love trying to guess when the toast will pop out of those things. I feel like it would be really satisfying to startle people by popping out toast at inappropriate moments.
Which starving artist do you connect with the most?
My grandmother, actually, because she has just recently managed to get one of her first books published after a long series of attempts. Since she and I have both desired to be published authors, we’ve been able to bond over the often stressful process of drafting, editing and seeking out potential publishing companies, all without a guarantee of actually being successful. I really admire her drive to get her work out there through whatever means she can and her passion for her family history which is the subject of her book.