Jess Walter speaks in Building 2 at Ankeny DMACC, photo courtesy Savannah Eadens, DMACC
Story by Cordella Prather
As part of the Celebration of the Literary Arts, author Jess Walter came to the DMACC Ankeny campus on Sept. 11 to discuss his new book, “So Far Gone,” and answer questions from the audience.
He discussed his life, and he described how he got the idea for “So Far Gone” after receiving a notification on his phone.
After seeing how much time he spent on his phone, he wondered how much the smartphone was truly needed. This sparked the question: “What would happen if you threw your phone out your window and lived off the grid?”
He started writing, going off this thought. He talked more about smartphones and AI, and the influence it has over people.
Walter said, “Is it using me or I’m using it?”
With this, he cut down his time on the internet, giving himself rules to follow and taking his screen time from seven hours a day to one. Those rules included: checking the news only on his computer, not his phone, and only using his phone when it was absolutely necessary.
Near the end of the event, he answered questions, mostly about being a writer.
He advised not to call writing work, instead he calls writing “playing” like musicians do when they go off to play their instruments. Doing this puts yourself in a good mindset and enjoying writing instead of thinking about a job you don’t truly like.
Walter gave more advice on where and how to write for longer periods of time. He suggested finding a comfortable space that you enjoy being in, and to turn off your phone or internet while you are in there.
Walter said that using this method, he was able to write more diligently and enjoy the work more. At the end of the event, Walter gave out a free signed copy of “So Far Gone.”
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