So You Think You Can Write a Dystopian Novel
After the success of "The Hunger Games" trilogy and "The Maze Runner" series, you think it will be easy to pen a dystopian novel. Think again.
Dystopian literature has been around for centuries. "Nineteen Eighty-Four" will come to mind, but not everyone will agree that it's the best work in that genre. George Orwell's (writing) style is another matter, which is still being discussed (and debated). Fifty years later, the genre is back in demand. And it has never been this popular. Maybe Suzanne Collins and James Dashner were brilliant to cast teenagers as lead characters. It also helps that there's romance. Some will point out that Winston Smith and Julia have their tender moments, prompting others to wonder if love is mandatory. Not really.
There's no limit to (human) imagination, so it's not hard to think of another dystopian book. Here are some reminders:
Think about the ills of modern society. Orwell had many trepidations, and he had valid reasons. After World War II, the last thing that survivors wanted to witness was another conflict. And they couldn't helped but be skittish about World War III. Modern world seemed tame if compared to the chain of events seventy years ago, but you only need to look at the news. The simmering issue between the Arab world and the West can be an intriguing premise. How about the financial crisis? Don't forget the migration of thousands of Africans to Europe. Did it cross your mind that there would be no cure to some diseases? There are other scenarios, so choose your premise carefully.
If you want a YA book, then keep your premise simple and engaging. You don't want to underestimate your readers, but a Young-adult story is another matter. It will be about teenagers, grappling with teenage problems, but you must employ subtlety. Maybe their trivial conservation leads to the grim state of the world. They are still struggling with self-esteem issues, which will be resolved when the bigger issues are too hard to ignore. Be creative about it.
Don't ever think about crossover. Writers want to be recognized for their work, but only a number of them are lucky to achieve popularity. There's more to the success that Collins and Dashner enjoy nowadays. Write a YA dystopian book because you want it. If you believe your work will give more value to the genre, then do it. Don't compare yourself with the other authors. (Not that there's nothing wrong about following Orwell's footsteps, but the creative process can be overwhelming.) Never hesitate.
Once you're done, what will you do next? Tell your friends about it. Share it. If you want to see some copies in book stores, then inquire and talk about it. Expect criticism. (You can't please everyone.) What are you waiting for?
