The year 3034 is the setting for my current work in progress, a novel about a dystopian future. I’m working on this as we speak and really enjoying making predictions about how the world might be a thousand years from now.
I had the idea for this novel based on a BBC programme from the 1960s where a group of adorable youngsters were interviewed about what they thought the future would be like. Something one of the young lads said got me thinking and sparked off an idea.
The novel is told from dual points of view and has a host of new characters and lots and lots of robots!
Currently, I’m 20,000 words in and on the tenth chapter. It’s been one of those that I’ve picked up and put down a few times so there’s no prognosis for when it gets finished – but I know that it will get finished (unlike the many, many other drafts that remain in various states of abandonment on my laptop!) I needed to take a break from it while I processed ideas and figured out what might happen next.
I like to plan all my books out, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, so I have at least a loose grasp on what might happen next. I don’t find this inhibits me at all, as the story does its own thing regardless of how carefully I plan it.
What is the premise?
It’s 3034. Society is structured into three tiers, with the lowest tier having virtually no rights. Naturally, this highly unfair system causes quite a lot of discontent. There’s a robot to perform virtually every task, from gardening to nursing to teaching.
The protagonist is a girl called Serena who attends the highly-elite Lynwood Academy, which just so happens to founded by the man who created the tier system for modern society. And when one of the robots is found deliberately destroyed on the front lawn, it sparks off a chain reaction of consequences. Who would want to do that? And why?
What genre is it?
In spite of all the robots, I really wouldn’t call it sci-fi. Probably more dystopian YA, which seems to be my favourite to write. I love creating a flawed world and having characters that are idealistic enough to try and fix it. I feel that premise allows me to explore different facets of humanity and how good intentions can lead to differing consequences.
What has been the most fun to write so far?
The little predictions for the future have been the most fun. I love anticipating what technological advances could be achieved by then and how they might impact everyday life.
Who is my favourite character?
My favourite characters are always the villains. They’re the most fun to write, in my opinion, and it allows us authors to unleash our dark side. So, I can’t wait for you to meet Scorpio Lynwood and Governor Blake.
What next?
Next, I have to finish the writing part! After that, the editing part. After that, more editing. And more. And more until I wither away completely.
Not all novels I write are intended to be published – quite a few of them I simply write for fun. This may well be one of them, but I thought it would be worth sharing this part of the journey so anyone interested can get a feel for what’s going on behind the scenes.
I also have to think about promotion for Venom and Blaze, editing for Fable and Legend, editing for City and Shadow, finishing off Flame and Phoenix and then editing Quiver and Arrow. So, along with my day job, I do have plenty to keep me out of mischief.
Can I write two books simultaneously?
Yes, I put a pen in each hand and off I go!
The non-facetious response is actually, yes, I can. I don’t find it too much of a problem – perhaps I’m not doing it properly and immersing myself in it as I should be – but it almost seems to me that the process of doing two together unlocks different parts of my brain. Or perhaps the act of switching tones of voice and changing tack allows me to unconsciously solve problems I’m not deliberately thinking about? I’m sure it’s not the done way to go about things, but I do enjoy having multiple projects on the go at once. So I’m currently working on more books in the Mirrordom Legends and my futuristic novel. Watch this space*!
*If, after ten minutes of watching this space, nothing has happened yet, you can always read other blog posts or take my quiz to find out which City and Shadow character you are. Then come back here and post your results so I can see them!
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