I’ve been working on a psychological thriller series, and let me tell you, it freaks me out sometimes! It’s about remote mind control, and it pushes the envelope of what’s real and what’s science fiction.
For example, can we communicate via our minds, without voiced words or visual or physical contact? Twins might say we can. People who are very close often claim they know when something’s wrong with their loved one, friend or family member.
Then there are cases of brainwashing, where people come to believe something or sympathize with someone simply because they’ve been open to the power of suggestion. We’ve all heard the sad stories of victims who come to associate more closer with their captors than their rescuers. Scary stuff!
Drugs could be involved too. Think about truth serum, which could make you reveal things about yourself or follow orders that conflict with your values, even when you want to fight it or know it’s wrong. What about inorganic changes, like inserting a microchip in someone’s brain to direct them?
Okay, now I want my teddy bear!
I comforted myself with the idea that the worst of these involuntary controls are still decades away. That is, I did until I viewed the TED talk on Brain to Brain Communication. (Click on the link to view the video – about 20 minutes.)
Yes, these scientists are using their power for good. But what happens when – not if – someone uses it for evil? Or has someone already? Maybe my Brain Games series is on to something!
This just proves there are amazing things happening in our world, and as writers, we get to find these concepts, twist them up, and create a good read out of them. If you haven’t discovered TED Talks yet, check it out (www.ted.com). It’s an amazing free resource for cutting edge ideas.
What websites do you use to find new ideas to fuel your writing concepts?
