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!

this is snowflake:

www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/

That's how my first book panned out mad I wasn't even planning to write a novel so made it up as I went along. This time I already have a world and well established characters so want to have a bit more control rather than find out at a late stage I have lots of plot holes. Still going to improvise and be creative, just good to have the skeleton sorted to put the meat on

Mad my planning is similar to yours. I have an overall plan, and then occasionally brainstorm the next few chapters / scenes. It kind of evolves organically?

I know that sounds horrendously pretentious. Sorry about that.

The downside is that I then have to make lots of notes, because otherwise I'll forget and create a massive plot hole...

I've hit 35k words! Yay! Life has overtaken a bit though. DS is refusing to sleep before 9pm (nightmare) and work is hectic. But I think I'm on course to finish by mid-September (possibly even a few weeks early, if I keep up momentum...)

Also fab news Get! Sounds promising (if a lot of hard work... )

Waves to all quiche-types!!!

Am in NYC meeting with the production company. I am soooo tired. I flew yesterday and went straight to a meeting. Then couldn't sleep last night (ended up MNing in the wee hours). Then loads more meetings today.

The good news is everyone seems to like what I've produced so far. But then have given me a ton of notes. Apparently this is normal .

Can a person die of tiredness?

Get my friend who is an ED Consultant says you cant die from tiredness unless you're driving?!

Sounds very exciting for you but I seem to remember you don't like re-writes so good luck and hope you enjoy this new experience!

Hope Jet-lag doesn't get you too bad!

Nice Get! How's it going?

How is everyone else doing?

I'm heading towards 37k words... which I'm pleased with, as I think it means I'm over halfway. Currently on target to finish sometime in September. EEK

I'm back home now.

I think on the whole the meetings went well.

It's easy to think everyone hates what you've produced when they're making suggestions for a million changes.

But I think this is how telly is. Particularly American telly. And you can't get disheartened by it. The upshot is that despite commenting on everything from the title to the MC's motivation, I've been asked to move the project on to the next phase.

Whatever happens to this project, even if it never sees the light if day, I've learned so much about the process and what's expected. DH asked 'if you knew then what you know now would have done this or just sold the option?'

Good question .

Glad the meetings went well, Get - think of it this way, if they really didn't like it they wouldn't have bothered making such copious notes and they want you to progress it - v exciting!

Spider - brilliant that you've got to 37k - how many are you aiming for?

I need to sit down and write. Stuff stressful with work and been ill this week with a chest infection so I've been struggling and lost the will. I submitted to some more agents so will see if anything comes of that and if the one with the full ever gets back to me. I am feeling despondent and like it is utter rubbish and I should move on and forget it...

Don't be disheartened mad this is part of the process. Your book is not rubbish. Keep writing-you'll get better and better.

I'd be tempted to send a follow up email if it's been that long...not rude at all, just ask if there's any feedback as you're starting the second book and would like to take it on board before you start writing...

Definitely chase.

Nowt wrong with a well mannered chaser.

Bloody Brexit has given me writer's block as well as destabilising sterling. Where's that petition to sign?

Only done 450 words but doing a lot of reading and world building in my head. How's it going everyone?

Funnily enough Brexit has given me a bit of a spur on, as my story is based around a future version of England which is utterly isolated from the rest of the world inc. scotland, wales and NI - with racism rife, far right party, etc - it's an imagination of how things could possibly be, given the circumstances. (Not that I want to get into any arguments here about brexit, of course.... ;) )

Hope you manage to relieve some of that block, cant - well done on the 450 words, that's more than I've done today.

Thanks for the advice re chasing - I think I will.

Last night, I was all for jacking it all in and just flinging it up on Kindle. Would be so easy to do, but I feel like I should give it all the chances first, not that self-publishing is bad, just so hard to market and I hate marketing (I do marketing for a PT job and don't want to spend the remainder of the time on Twitter!!)

Anyone here self-published?

Was also wondering if anyone on here might be up for some kind of critique circle? It would seem a good opportunity with us writing in the same genre - not sure how it would work(FB group possibly or Goodreads?) but it might be an idea if we wanted to get some feedback and help one another out? Any thoughts. (I'm happy to set up a group if people would like to.)

Mad I share your reluctance to self publish-it's a huge undertaking to edit, proofread, design covers, publish, market yada yada yada...I would exhaust the traditional route first...

Critique circle sounds good. Not to keen on FB but google plus or good reads maybe?

Mad I'm aiming for around 70k, so just over halfway I think! Hope you're feeling a bit better now... Have you heard back from anyone? It's so hard when the self-doubt/self-critical side kicks in. I tend to mope around for a few days until DH compliments me out of it . (Note: he is biased...)

I've also had a Brexit spur on. Wrote a very apt vote scene on election day. Was a tad emotional...

And yes I would be up for a critique circle. I feel like I need to finish it first though... I've got a sneaky suspicion that once I'm nearing the end I'll need to edit/weave story threads throughout.

Spider I really think we should swap MSS at some point, I'm so fascinated to see where yours goes! Well done on getting to the half way point :-)

I'll set up a Goodreads group then, get something going and people can join in as they like?

Cant I don't actually mind the formatting and cover design sides of it all, I'm a bit geeky that way, but it's the endless marketing, trying to sell yourself on twitter, 'blog hops', trying to persuade bloggers to review you etc etc, not to mention blogging yourself, which I do but too rarely to build up a decent following. It's all such a PITA. Plus I just really want to be traditionally published. Wah.

I'd be happy to join your group, let us know the details

Am plodding on with editing - amazed at how useful the Reading Out Loud technique is! Sadly it's putting me in a 'this is rubbish I should just bin it,' mind frame!!!

Yes Mad! I'll let you know when its at a read-able state. I rush-edited it for a friend, and its come back with SO much red pen on it .

Nooo stripy don't say that! I think a lot of writers are overly self-critical and perfectionist. I'm sure its just 'one of those days' (I also get a lot of them!).

Oh stripy no don't think like that - you're doing brilliantly and have some fab writing in there, keep on going! I do think we all judge ourselves harshly, and some days feel like we are the worst writer ever. Go and look at some self-edited stuff on amazon - it's an easy way to reassure yourself that you can actually write. It's a long lonely road sometimes though.

I'd love that, Spider - I'm happy to do some editing work on it too if you'd like some at some point - I'm trying to start doing some editing/proofreading/formatting work online so starting to set up a portfolio. I did some for stripy and really enjoyed it, am also doing a couple of others.

Talking of proofreading, I had a good chuckle at DS' report from school yesterday. In the English section: 'MHD's DS needs to ensure that he proofreading carefully...'

stripey I think it is almost impossible to be properly objective about your own work.

You're just too close.

I can usually get a sense of certain aspects of my work but the novel as a whole? Very difficult to assess if it works as A Thing.

OK I have set up a group on Goodreads. I have set it as a private group so only people from here can join, I can invite people so if you PM me your email I'll add you.

Actually I don't need your email, if you want to join Pm me and I'll send you a link to the group invitation :)

An update here.

Crime novel sent to editor who can't get to it before mid August with line edits. Pumping air with fist!!!!! This gives me time to spend on dystopian project.

Sounds fab Mad! I need to get a wiggle on.

And oooh Get thats a nice month-or-so to get it done and dusted .

That's good Get - so you can really get on with this project. Is your crime novel with an editor for publishing or is this being edited before you submit (sorry, not good with remembering details!) Exciting either way :)

Have sent link to those who PMd - anyone else is welcome to join. Hope the link works - it was a bit hard to find, Goodreads seemed to not quite get that I might want to invite people who were not either FB or Goodreads friends!!

mad it's with my regular editor for publishing.

She will get back to me with comments/line edits mid August at the earliest. I'm in no hurry . I think it's due out later this year so as long as we hit booksellers deadlines it will be fine.

The dystopian project is moving along. I still feel out if my depth but am trying to go with the flow. I fly back to NYC tomorrow for the next round of meetings ( with the networks). I've worked my backside off for the pitch.