resurrecting an old idea

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Posted on Saturday 03 of June, 2006 [04:58:18 UTC]

Flash Utopian Fiction Project Update
Laurie Corzett in libramoon's Observatory
Friday 07 of April, 2006
NEWSFLASH: NEW UTOPIAN FLASH FICTION GOOGLE GROUP:

* Group name: utopian flash fiction

Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/utopian-flash-fiction
Group email address utopian-flash-fiction@googlegroups.com  ??



As you may know, I have been working on creating a project to write a series of flash utopian fiction — flash fiction=ultrashort stories — pieces around an imaginary federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life. I am visualizing little dramatic impacts that also impart information about how the people of the community involved solve their social problems — dramatic storytelling with a purpose: speculative fiction with which to fashion visions from which to expand our collective view of how collective life can be more happily structured. I have had some interest expressed by other writers, and a few stories have been sent to me. I have posted the stories that I have been sent to a delphi forums site I set up to manage this project. I would love eventually to publish, if I get enough stories for a book. I envision a whole world of ideas created through these short bursts of fiction, little vignettes or as one person suggested, peeks into open doors. There is no set format to fit. What you write, if you choose to participate, would help to create the structure itself.

I am totally open to collaboration and inspiration. If you have or or feel inspired to create such stories, or know of others who might be interested, please let me know. If you are interested in participating in this project or have other ideas to add, please respond 

If this project actually works out, it will result in a book in need of publication. If you have affiliation with or knowledge of any small press that would be interested in working with such a project, please let me know.

I may start a new group on LinkedIn or MeWe
Description: This group is part of a project to write a series of flash utopian fiction pieces around an imaginary federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life. I am visualizing little dramatic impacts that also impart information about how the people of the community involved solve their social problems.

A fictional project allows for social activist imaginings outside of the currently "possible" to promote ideas in an easily digestible and enjoyable form, each person involved adding their bits to the overall project. It would be wonderful eventually to publish these stories into an inspirational book, but I am mostly interested to see what kinds of ideas for possible social structures result. I am hoping eventually to see a whole world of ideas created through these short bursts of fiction, little vignettes or as one person suggested, peeks into open doors. There is no set format to fit. What each participant writes would be helping to create the structure itself.
A possible jumping off point would be to write stories based on the scenario:

We are a group of colonizers sent to a new planet, with a variety of skills and knowledge. The core group has been given the job of a sort of council of elders, to develop the new constitution, by-laws, societal structure within which the colony is to operate.

This is only a suggestion. The whole point is: there are no limits

The original stories are still posted on the delphiforums group:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/opendoorways

I intend to continue to post updates here.


If you would like to help promote the project, here is a blurb you can leave where you go:

Laurie Corzett is seeking collaboration for her Flash Utopian Fiction Project: series of flash fiction pieces around a federation of diverse villages each working out their methods of community life — little dramatic impacts illustrating creative solutions to social problems. Got ideas?

http://people.lulu.com/blogs/view.php?user_id=38353 libramoon’s observatory (blog)


Peace,
Laurie


Here is the second story I have written for this project, to give you an idea of what kind of thing I am thinking of (the first story, Sanctuary, is posted further down on this blog, under the heading "Flash Utopian Fiction Project"):

University

We are told that our project was named University because our purpose is to facilitate a universe of possibilities. University started as one of those possibilities, a project conceived and carried out by for and of a conscious community of artists, engineers, scientists and philosophers. I grew up in that community, and wouldn't have it any other way.

We learn in the histories, and know that in many places still today, education has been separated from general life, often made compulsory and relegated to specific times, places and procedures. Corporations took on the tasks of research and product development for a profit, while politicians were responsible to craft projects of benefit to the community. At University projects are constantly being started, executed, sent out to find those who can now benefit from what has been accomplished. Someone or ones snag onto an idea and start to figure out the steps from here to there. A call is given out to anyone who is interested or has relevant skills to join in. We learn what we need to know each step of the way and bring in others as the project progresses. We have the background structure of University to draw upon, where learning of all kinds is constantly in session.

From the time I was very young, from my first moments of remembered consciousness, I knew any of my questions would find serious response at University. There are the libraries, record chips of any subject imaginable, everything explained from the simplest child's vantage point up through the most learned of scholars in the field, fully illustrated in animation and live action recording, as appropriate. More importantly, there are the people, the scholars, engineers, scientists, artists, each with their passions that they are so very happy to share.

University is the busiest, bubblingist, energized and enthusiastic environment to grow in. No one says: "it can't be done." It's always: "well, what's the next step we have to take to get there?"

exactly us

 

 

 

We are all so helpless,

victims of poisonous forces,

multi-crises, big bads beyond our

puny efforts to create better lives?

We can, each and every, do what we

can (not may) to be and portray

or best efforts, our inner heroes,

our passionate lives.

 

 

 

Any random voice can complain.

It takes someone solid to propose

solutions.

 

 

 

As I understand,

you can do whatever you please

then repent, and you're cool.

But, PLEASE! repent before you

destroy me (any me)

or at least truthfully answer:

Why would my life be less entitled

than you?

When I find the power to cross you,

what will you do?

 

 

 

The people in the asylum were not

dangerous.  They are in danger in

the real world, filled with people

who actively won’t accept them.

People who were taught “these

are not like us”

When they are exactly us.

 

 

8/17-26/23

our stories' hero

 

 

 

the systems we have devised/evolved

for distributing power are clearly

flawed. They have been based on

clearly flawed thinking about what

humans are, what we need, want

and can do, based on dead philosophies.

 

What is the solution you want to

implement? What is it a solution for?

What result do you expect?

 

 

 

When did "Conservative" come to

mean bullies?

 

 

 

People, generally (though, of course, not

always) want to be the hero of

their story.  Often what seems,

from our point of view, malicious

or wrong may be meant to be

beneficent or good, from a viewpoint

based on different precepts.  When

this is the case (and dhow can we know?)

isn't it more efficacious to engage in

calm, patient, even kind conversation

to clarify what we each see, believe,

want to make happen?

 

 

 

It seems so much good is not

allowed to be done for lack of

money.

One might assume these losses

of societal betterment are due to

a need to conserve our limited

resources, that they be available

for what has been deemed best

use.  Yet, LOOK! where are these

resources, this money, going to be

spent -- what is the method, who

are the arbiters, what ends for our

resources are they deciding?

 

 

 

It's not that what you do/believe/want

is wrong -- it's that it gives you

fear/anger/anxiety, not joy.

 

 

 

I have a need to share. Yeah, the

writing and posting what I observe.

And I notice, not fully engaging with

entertainments with this insistence

on thinking about how to share it.

Strangely, this feels like restriction.

 

 

 

What media chooses to highlight

forms the public story.

 

 

 

I am thinking of writing a fiction,

based on the realities of far too

many victims of a sick society.

Basic plot:

a woman is raped, pregnant,

legally prevented from getting

an abortion, even when there are

serious medical complications.

The woman dies horribly, but

"Yay! We saved the baby -- though

it does have severe health issues

requiring extensive expensive care,

and no parents."  Who will  take

this responsibility?

 

 

 

8/12-13/23

kindness, not arrogant hubris.

 

 

 

I have recently read articles about

this inflation that indicate the best

response is not about interest rates 

but about improving the supply of affordable

housing.

 

 

 

 

the issue with inflation is often described

as too much demand without enough supply

 

the logical solution is not to cut demand

by impoverishing the populace, but to increase

supply through alternatives, through competition

 

if the appropriate supply simply does not exist,

the issue is no longer inflation, but lack of supplies

and the solution is not about economics

but social responsibilities

 

 

 

 

maybe it's time to break from the helpless,

passive consumption of pre-chewed information

and get out into our communities, getting to

know what and who is really happening

 

 

 

"good" colleges -- expensive, Ivy League,

impressive don't provide better education. 

They provide relationships with wealthy,

powerful people one would not ordinarily meet. 

However, for the most part it's these wealthy

brats bringing wealthy brat knowledge and

resources together to create more wealth extracting

enterprises.  If what we really want is an educated

nation we would do better to go to the old free

school model of people teaching people.

 

 

 

 

What is wrong with this human

world is almost always

exemplified by:

People who just want to be

themselves, mean no harm

to anyone,

are harassed and murdered,

while those who enjoy to

harass and murder them are

applauded, respected,

emulated.

 

 

 

"The road to Hell is paved

with good intentions"

because what counts is

good action which are based

on true kindness, not arrogant

hubris.

 

 

 

Have that compelling thing

you want to say

and say it with the best care

and skill you have at that time.

 

 

 

Fun is but diversion, enchanting

toy.  Seek Joy!

 

 

 

Treated like an imbecilic alien

because your operating system

is different from the "norm" --

though our "norm" is more

an insane crying of loneliness

while treating those around us

with disdain, while clinging to

our hates with meanness

built of rage.

 

 

 

 

8/1-11/23