Anyone writing dystopian fiction?

[stripyeyes]

My novel is set in a modern dystopia, where the details of how society is ordered is gradually revealed.

The story centers around a young man and his boss, who has a not-insignificant power over him. She asks him to take actions which are increasingly morally and legally ambiguous and it is the consequence of this which makes the story.

My current issue is I've read the damn thing so many times, I've lost the ability to "see" what a new reader would know, and whether the implied threat is great enough to affect his actions. Does anyone have any tips? Or fancy a read?!

I'm reluctant to give it to friends and family to read at this stage due to all the usual issues regarding biased or kindly reviews!

Hi there,

I get through a lot of dystopian stuff, would love to have a read.

Get your work sounds really interesting - I've never tried scriptwriting (apart from the odd play for school/church stuff) but it must be v challenging - you can't do all the 'showing' a novel does so have to do it all through dialogue - hats off to you!

Well done everyone with WCs - you all sound like you're doing brilliantly. I don't know how you find the time with young children - mine are older (15 and 12) and it's only in the last few years I've been writing in earnest - when they were little, life was too hectic! But yes, agree about writing in the cracks of the day you can find.

I work p/t spread over the day (all online stuff) so can fit in writing in between that, so I'm lucky in that I suppose, then try to stop for evenings when sorting out dc etc - don't always manage too if I'm really into it.

Editing atm rather than writing but I think I need to do some writing to keep in with the creative urge, as editing can kill that thing stone dead. I quite like it, though, in a strange way, it's so satisfying to bring your words to life and cut out the dross.

Hope you all enjoy today and get some writing done in between drooling over AT, obv

Dear oh dear, really should edit posts

mad interesting that you enjoy editing. Many writers say that.

I fucking hate it . For me, all the fun is in the dreaming/ planning and the first draft. I approach the polish with little joy and have to properly grit my teeth on the real editing work.

This is for novels though. Scripts are far more collaborative and notes/changes more integral/continuous. So I'm more amenable. I think.

Can I ask which genre do you class your work as? Is dystopian always sci fi?

I got the Yearbook for my birthday and note a few agents say no sci fi but what about dystopian stories don't involve any spaceships or aliens?!

I know I can research their current authors, and who represents similar author/style to mine (tho so far from googling most are Americans or dead!!)

I don't think dystopian fiction is always sci fi.

I think it depends how speculative it is.

And if it's YA, is be surprised if any agent turned down any YA based on it having dystopian elements as that would discount everything from The Hunger Games to The Girl With All The Gifts.

Ain't no body want to do dat!

Agreed that it depends on how speculative it is. Mine isn't remotely speculative.

Thanks for all the tips on smuggling writing time into my day! I really want to push this one out fast but not sure I can lower my housework standards any more...

Less Buzzfeed, I think.

There has been a fair bit of dystopian stuff that could squarely be described as Lit Fic, or WCF.

Admittedly by authors already of some standing (so the issue of getting an agent/publisher isn't problematic).

but what about dystopian stories don't involve any spaceships or aliens?!

Two YA examples that immediately popped into my head were Patrick Ness' The Knife Of Never Letting Go and Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now. Not an alien or a spaceship between them!

How's everyone doing?

I'm going to finish the polish on the crime fiction today and get it to my agent. I don't usually bother and just sub straight to my editor, but she's not expecting it until August, so I'm ahead of schedule.

I've a feeling I'll regret it though. On the basis that everyone who sees a MS has to produce a raft of comments.

And I do bloody hate writing by committee!

Great to be ahead of schedule, Get!

My Dystopian has no spaceships, no aliens, no zombies, even. I must be doing something wrong (although 15 yo do tells me she is bored to the back teeth of vampires and werewolves and longing for some different stuff, and mine fits the bill, apparently...)

Yes I quite like editing when I'm in the mood although know what you mean about it killing the urge a bit. I do find it satisfying though but I am a bit perfectionist so it's good for that. For first drafts though I love nothing more than riding the creative wave and not stopping till I'm all washed up on the beach, shattered. Love the adrenaline!

I hate the editing!! Well I do on those days where I think my ms is so boring and badly written I'm just gonna bin the lot!!

Is anyone part of a local writing group? I know that's one way to get regular encouragement, feedback and bounce ideas around but I guess it depends on the people in the group and if they can share your vision for the novel? There's one where I live but not sure whether it would be right for me.

I used to be stripey and it was brilliant. I would never have got my first book into a decent shape without them and I would never have subbed it but for their encouragement.

We only meet up rarely now and just for social stuff when we do. No one else writes anymore.

Hello all! waves manically

How are we doing?

I'm not part of a local writing group (although you guys count, right?) I really miss that aspect of Uni; being able to bounce ideas around. DH is wonderful but has the imagination of a gnat. And that's probably giving too much credit to gnats...

I've hit my 20k target! I'm so pleased! Although now I'm trying to figure out what the hell is going to happen in book two. I feel like it has to be a trilogy because books 1 and 3 are 'sorted'. Book 2 is always the disappointment, so I guess I'm just sticking to the theme...

stripey I hate those days too. Although I love the days when I read through and think 'this is AMAZING! I am a GENIUS!'

Usually only happens at about 2am.

There's been zero writing this last week... lots of chores. Sigh.

I've emailed the draft crime fiction novel to my agent.

I really hope he doesn't come back with a raft of helpful suggestions! I love him dearly but he is not and has never been a novelist. What he is great at is selling my work and standing like a riot shield when trouble brews with my publishers, but fixing problems with novels...not so much.

What I'm hoping for is a haitus so I can go back to my dystopian scripts! I had the clearest ever idea for a scene. I mean I could actaualy see it happening in real time (as opposed to a stylised version on screen) and it made me cry. So raw. I'd really like to get cracking on it.

But have you been writing in your head dust?

I am a firm believer in drafting in your head. I often play scenes repeatedly in my mind's eye (and when I say repeatedly, it can be all day for days on end), changing, tinkering, getting it right.

By the time, I type, it's sooo not the first draft. I think this is the reason, I do so few official drafts. I've already done that work.

Oh Dust .

I also love drafting in my head Get. I usually do it whilst commuting to/from work (hour+ drive each way). Trouble is, I craft something perfectly and then forget it... D'oh!

Oh yes! Drafting in my head! I do this late at night when I can't sleep, then I get all worked up with the excitement of it and can't sleep more but then when I come to write it it is half formed already. I do this for big scenes.

Hope your agent comes back with a helpful response, Get. How long have you been with them?

We should set up our own dystopian critique group on FB or similar!

mad I signed with my agent in 2004, I think.

We've been together a loooooooong time .

Oh Mad I do exactly the same thing! I then end up typing it out on my phone, and generally get around 300 words down. I love stitching the scenes together (unless there's a big gap, then I find it tedious).

Get I've just seen your comment about your writing group - why does no one else write anymore? That's so sad. I can't imagine a life which doesn't involve writing :(

spider it is sad.

We started off as four, then our numbers swelled to six. And they all had talent, three very much so.

But rejection is hard, especially when you know you're neglecting your work/family/social life to write.

This is a dirty industry sometimes. Who it is kind to and who it chews up is often down to chance .

I don't think I'm any more talented or determined than those three.

I should say that I struck lucky with them as a group.

All but one finished and subbed at least one novel. We weren't a group of perpetual dabblers.