Okay, so we know that a lot of writers use their personal experiences in their fictional works. And if you didn't know that, well, now you do. (Of course, this is not always true, but there is a piece of each author, I believe, in everything they write.)
For me, I use my fears to create a scary dystopian world. Maybe fear isn't the right word. I think about things I'd really rather not live without, and then take those away in my society.
For example, I love to take really long, hot showers. So, in my world, shower time is regulated to five minutes, and five minutes only. The temperature of the water is decided for you, and it never varies.
For me, that would suck. I'm hoping that readers will think so too; that I can use something as simple as a shower to make a connection.
I've seen this used in other dystopian works I've read. Let's look at THE MAZE RUNNER by James Dashner. He creates an immediate sense of world--and suckage--by having Thomas lose his memory. Isn't that something we're all afraid of? Not remembering what we need to remember? Have you ever felt frustrated when you couldn't remember?
It's an instant connection. And a terrifying one.
Another device I see used a lot is the idea of a fence, or a wall. I've been blogging about it a lot on my personal blog, but I love fences/walls/barriers. To me, they symbolize fear. This thought of "There's something bad out there."
I saw a fence in DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver, a wall in BIRTHMARKED by Caragh M. O'Brien, social walls in SHIPBREAKER by Pablo Bacigalupi, a fence in THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins, nothing but walls in the space ship in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis.
Walls are caging, confining. And who likes feeling like that? Using fear to make a connection helps in dystopian world-building, and it establishes an emotional connection from the reader to the story.
I'm all about the fear.
What do you think? What do you love that if taken away, would really stink? Could you write that into a dystopian novel? What have you read in dystopian fiction that you thought, "Wow, this world sucks. Wouldn't want to live without [fill in the blank]."?
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Fear
All humans have felt it at one time or another. Fear.
I'll freely admit that I'm terrified of most dogs, even little tiny ones. They have sharp teeth too, you know.
So in accordance with our discussion on Margaret Haddix's AMONG THE HIDDEN, I'm going to talk a little bit about how she used fear in the novel.
Poor Luke is struck with it all the time. He loses his freedom to go outside for fear that someone will see him. He can't sit at the kitchen table for fear that someone will hear him. And Luke isn't the only one living in fear. His parents--though it might be hard to see sometimes--live in constant fear that their third child will be found.
I think Haddix does an amazing job of infiltrating the plot with fear, which then captures readers. Parents can imagine what it would be like to protect Luke from getting caught. Teens and kids can put themselves in Luke's position, constantly living behind closed shutters and silence. The use of fear appeals to wide audience.
So then Luke conquers one of his fears when he sneaks out to meet Jen. My heart was pounding during that scene, because let's face it, haven't we all snuck out at some point in our lives? The fear of getting caught doing something we're not supposed to be doing is almost inbred in us.
Fear is what endears the reader to the plot, because it is a human emotion that we all understand.
Think of the dystopian novels you've read recently. Were they filled with fear? I bet they were. What about other types of novels? Is fear driving them too? What makes someone, like Luke, take a risk, leave the house and scamper out into the open to see if another Third is living next door? What makes YOU take that risk -- look fear in the face?
I'll freely admit that I'm terrified of most dogs, even little tiny ones. They have sharp teeth too, you know.
So in accordance with our discussion on Margaret Haddix's AMONG THE HIDDEN, I'm going to talk a little bit about how she used fear in the novel.
Poor Luke is struck with it all the time. He loses his freedom to go outside for fear that someone will see him. He can't sit at the kitchen table for fear that someone will hear him. And Luke isn't the only one living in fear. His parents--though it might be hard to see sometimes--live in constant fear that their third child will be found.
I think Haddix does an amazing job of infiltrating the plot with fear, which then captures readers. Parents can imagine what it would be like to protect Luke from getting caught. Teens and kids can put themselves in Luke's position, constantly living behind closed shutters and silence. The use of fear appeals to wide audience.
So then Luke conquers one of his fears when he sneaks out to meet Jen. My heart was pounding during that scene, because let's face it, haven't we all snuck out at some point in our lives? The fear of getting caught doing something we're not supposed to be doing is almost inbred in us.
Fear is what endears the reader to the plot, because it is a human emotion that we all understand.
Think of the dystopian novels you've read recently. Were they filled with fear? I bet they were. What about other types of novels? Is fear driving them too? What makes someone, like Luke, take a risk, leave the house and scamper out into the open to see if another Third is living next door? What makes YOU take that risk -- look fear in the face?
The Unknown
This week, I did a post on fear on my personal blog. I listed “the unknown” as something I fear the most. I got a lot of interesting comments, and many of them I could’ve lumped into a fear of the unknown. Fear of what the future might hold.
And this post and all the comments fed right into my dystopian side. I think most people fear the future. What might happen if we can’t stop the oil leak in the ocean? Or we pass that bill? Or elect that official? What will the future be like then? What will the future be like for our children?
And that unknown future brings fear. Dystopian and science fiction novels provide some answers to those questions. Sure, they’re fiction, but they bring normalcy to the chaos of our minds. We don’t know what the future will be like, and reading futuristic novels calm those fears. We see the human race triumph. We see characters falling in love, surviving, finding things that make them happy.
I’m adding “soothes my fear of the unknown” to the reasons I read science fiction and dystopian novels. What about you? What kinds of things do you fear? Do they get soothed in the fiction you choose to read?
And that unknown future brings fear. Dystopian and science fiction novels provide some answers to those questions. Sure, they’re fiction, but they bring normalcy to the chaos of our minds. We don’t know what the future will be like, and reading futuristic novels calm those fears. We see the human race triumph. We see characters falling in love, surviving, finding things that make them happy.
I’m adding “soothes my fear of the unknown” to the reasons I read science fiction and dystopian novels. What about you? What kinds of things do you fear? Do they get soothed in the fiction you choose to read?
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