{"id":552529,"date":"2022-12-01T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=552529"},"modified":"2025-05-12T13:32:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T12:32:52","slug":"how-to-write-a-dystopian-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/how-to-write-a-dystopian-story\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Write A Dystopian Story: Our Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Writing dystopian stories can be one of the most valuable things you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dystopian fiction is famous for its big, bold themes and the ground-breaking ways in which they\u2019re conveyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you\u2019re looking for a fiction project, and you want a meaty challenge, look no further than writing the next great <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/dystopian-story-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dystopian story<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll cover how to write a dystopian story, as well as:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is a dystopian story?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key elements of a good dystopian story&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dystopian story examples&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our tips and tricks for how to write dystopian fiction&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequently asked questions&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to learn how to write a dystopian story.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n    <section class=\"free-signup-block  alignfull\" id=\"\" data-redirect=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/resource-downloads\/the-jericho-writers-vault\/\">\r\n        <div class=\"content-container\">\r\n            <div class=\"free-signup-block-container\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"free-signup-image-container\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sub-plot.jpeg\" alt=\"subplots\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"free-signup-text-container\">\r\n\r\n                    <div class=\"free-signup-text-wrapper\">\r\n                                                        <h2>Got a brilliant novel idea but not sure how to structure it?<\/h2>\r\n                                                    <div class=\"wysiwyg-container\"><p>Join our free community for instant access to: <\/p>\n<\/div>                                                    <div class=\"features-list\">\r\n                                                                    <div class=\"feature\">\r\n                                        <div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"background-color: #F7941D\"><i class='bx bx-laptop'><\/i><\/div>                                        <div class=\"feature-text\">\r\n                                            <div class=\"feature-description\">Digital tools like our plotting worksheets<\/div>                                        <\/div>\r\n                                    <\/div>\r\n                                                                    <div class=\"feature\">\r\n                                        <div class=\"icon-container\" style=\"background-color: #F7941D\"><i class='bx bxs-user-voice'><\/i><\/div>                                        <div class=\"feature-text\">\r\n                                            <div class=\"feature-description\">Peer-to-peer support &#038; 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This can be due to totalitarian rule, international or civil war, apocalyptic events (and their post-apocalyptic effects), or injustice and suffering.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often associated with Aldous Huxley\u2019s <em>Brave New World<\/em> and George Orwell\u2019s <em>1984<\/em>, dystopian fiction as a literary genre began with Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin and his book <em>My<\/em> \u2014 published in the US as <em>We<\/em> in 1924. Works like Zamyatin\u2019s follow in the footsteps of fellow Russian Fyodor Dostoyevsky\u2019s explorations of evil and freedom, setting the scene for what we know as dystopian stories today.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dystopian novels cover topics like climate disaster, tyranny, nuclear war, anarchy, pandemic disease, extra-terrestrials, artificial intelligence (AI), and even zombies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a story is set in a dystopian future, it may also take on elements of science fiction e.g. technology and its implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what makes a good dystopian story?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story.jpg\" alt=\"underground-city-dystopian-story\" class=\"wp-image-552690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story.jpg 833w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-story-640x384.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Key-Elements-Of-A-Dystopian-Story\"><strong>Key Elements Of A Dystopian Story&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where we get into the paradox of dystopian stories: that despite their weighty subjects, they can make for grippingly good reads. Let\u2019s dive in.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worst-Case Scenarios&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to great dystopian stories is that they don&#8217;t tread lightly. Instead, they take our fears and anxieties and turn them up to eleven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Worried about climate change? Here\u2019s a thinly-veiled conceit that ends in disaster thanks to humanity\u2019s morally apathetic, egocentric leaders (the film <em>Don\u2019t Look Up<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What about technological progress and the future of AI? Have some time-travelling cyborg assassins (<em>The Terminator <\/em>series).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are film-based examples, as we\u2019ll cover books below, but the point is that a powerful dystopian story doesn\u2019t shy away from its premise \u2014 it pulls the problem apart like an onion to get readers thinking about complexities from differing angles and points of view.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if we know anything about differing points of view, it\u2019s what they can lead to.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dramatic Conflict&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>But first, let\u2019s take a step back. As I\u2019ve covered in this guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/what-is-a-central-conflict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">central conflict<\/a>, a story\u2019s conflict is the result of a protagonist\u2019s want vs. obstacle. Due to the nature of dystopian fiction, you can bet any obstacle is going to be huge, with life or death stakes. This makes such conflicts strong, which is a major part of successful storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, if we think back to our definition of dystopian stories, in stories with themes about power structures, which create external conflict, anti-establishment characters will layer their own internal conflicts on top of that. This is where characterising different points of view can ground philosophical stances in reality, with clear choices for characters that readers can identify with.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Inventive World-building&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not all about concept, conflict and characters, though. Dystopian stories go big to convey big messages, so when you\u2019ve got an apocalyptic scenario, it needs to be reflected in your dystopian world. As a result, world-building is where <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/what-is-a-premise-in-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">premise<\/a> and conflict come together for effect; it\u2019s also useful for characterisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got a dystopian story based on a totalitarian government? How is that reflected in the way civil servants look, dress and live? What do they eat? Where do they sleep? How is this different to the general public \u2014 are they poor, or homeless by contrast?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well-crated dystopian settings help stories feel authentic in fictional worlds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a writer, you can use this world-building to also build on a story\u2019s themes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Thematic Resonance&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The way dystopian themes resonate can take on significance during periods of relevant upheaval. In 2017, George Orwell\u2019s <em>1984 <\/em>became a sudden bestseller after Donald Trump\u2019s presidential inauguration; a big deal for a book published in 1949.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The broadest dystopian themes revolve around destruction, the abuse of power, and survival, and, depending on what\u2019s top of mind in the cultural consciousness, such stories can galvanise people\u2019s real-world opinions, which can impact future decisions and behaviour (as we saw in the US 2020 election).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Humanity As Good Or Evil (Or Both)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the fascinating things about dystopian fiction is who the author chooses to be on the side of good, or evil (or neither, in true \u2018grey\u2019 character style).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is the protagonist a hero, an anti-hero or a closet villain? What about the supporting cast? Who is making the right choices, or the wrong choices, and why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Human beings are complex, fuelled by emotion but capable of rational thought, and dystopian stories are an excellent vehicle for making the pitfalls of that duality scarily clear.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet dystopian novels can be uplifting, too. Of those that don\u2019t end in tragedy as a cautionary tale against their themes, many strive to show the power of the human spirit and its enduring potential. Characters in these tales often labour through long, painful journeys to reach their goals, but that struggle is what makes their eventual success so fulfilling. We can\u2019t help but find triumphing over adversity inspirational, and these dystopian books tend to stay with us long after we\u2019ve finished reading.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1.jpg\" alt=\"person-with-ominous-hanging-clocks-dystopian-fiction\" class=\"wp-image-552692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1.jpg 833w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-1-640x384.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Dystopian-Story-Examples\"><strong>Dystopian Story Examples&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, now that we know what makes a good dystopian story, let\u2019s take a look at some dystopian books that do it well.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>The Hunger Games<\/em> Series By Suzanne Collins&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest entry to reignite interest in dystopian stories, <em>The Hunger Games<\/em> trilogy (and subsequent films) kick-started a movement in young adult (YA) fiction that paved the way for dystopian novels like <em>Divergent<\/em> and <em>The Maze Runner<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen lives in Panem\u2019s impoverished District 12, where she hunts to provide for her family. When her little sister is selected for the annual reality TV battle royale known as The Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place alongside other teens who will fight to the death in the Capitol \u2014 including a fellow District 12 boy who once saved her life. Being <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/how-to-learn-the-market-for-ya-fiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YA<\/a>, there\u2019s also a love triangle, and happily, the seeds of rebellion.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember what I said about worst-case scenarios, dramatic conflict and inventive world-building? This book\u2019s got all three in spades, with a focus on youth leading the way in a hopeless situation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>1984<\/em> By George Orwell&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of reality TV, the only \u2018Big Brother\u2019 we\u2019re here to talk about is the original, chilling government version. Orwell\u2019s dystopian story, written after the end of World War II, is a modern classic and a warning against totalitarianism.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winston Smith lives under the watchful eye of the Party and its leader Big Brother, rewriting history in the Ministry of Truth. In defiance, Winston starts a diary, a capital offence given what he does for a living \u2014 the risk compounded by telescreens that watch and listen 24 hours a day. He also starts dating a female colleague, which is forbidden as only loyalty to the Party must exist.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes <em>1984<\/em> such potent dystopian fiction isn\u2019t that the Party oppresses all the way down to love and sex, or that Winston is eventually found out, or that he\u2019s tortured and reconditioned&#8230; it\u2019s the ominous ending.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em> By Margaret Atwood&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After that last example, you may be wondering how much darker things can get. Answer? A lot. Welcome to Gilead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>June, who&#8217;s now known as Offred (a patronym for the man she\u2019s assigned to), lives in the Republic of Gilead, previously the US, which is now controlled by right-wing extremists as a totalitarian, theocratic state. Offred is a Handmaid to her Commander Fred, and assigned to bear his children in monthly sex rituals witnessed by Fred\u2019s wife, as infertility is the norm thanks to chemical warfare. With no freedom, and the Eyes (the secret police) everywhere, Offred has no real options \u2014 or so she thinks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Atwood: \u201cWhen I wrote <em>The Handmaid&#8217;s Tale<\/em>, nothing went into it that had not happened in real life somewhere at some time.\u201d That\u2019s a big statement, and a testament not only to her research, but also her commitment to authenticity. Next time you\u2019re watching the TV show, keep that in mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Brave New World<\/em> By Aldous Huxley&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And the darkness keeps on coming, though it\u2019s cloaked in Huxley\u2019s wit and irony. Despite being a decade short of its 100th anniversary, <em>Brave New World<\/em> is a brave iconic take on dystopian writing, with lots still left to offer readers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bernard Marx lives 600 years &#8216;after Ford&#8217; in the dystopian future World State, where people, like cars, are mass-produced with individualism conditioned out. Yet Bernard&#8217;s not the real hero of this story \u2014 John \u2018the savage\u2019 is, who Bernard meets on a trip to the wild Savage Reservation, and brings home. But when Bernard is eventually banished, how will babe in the woods John cope with civilisation?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This dystopian novel is high-concept, so there\u2019s a lot to unpack (e.g. social norms like promiscuity and Valium-like \u2018soma\u2019), and John\u2019s ending is achingly poignant. With a <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/how-to-write-themes-in-novels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">theme<\/a> like truth over happiness, it\u2019s not hard to see why.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story.jpg\" alt=\"dark-sky-apocalypse-writing-a-dystopian-story\" class=\"wp-image-552694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story.jpg 833w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-a-dystopian-story-640x384.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Lord Of The Flies<\/em> By William Golding&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We started this section with characters aged 12-18 in <em>The Hunger Games<\/em> \u2014 now we turn to characters aged 6-12 in Golding\u2019s story about the surprisingly few steps between civilisation and a dystopian society.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ralph and a group of British schoolboys crash-land on a deserted island during a nuclear war; the group voting Ralph as their chief, with Piggy advising him. But hunter Jack wants to lead too, recruiting other boys with his barbarous violence; soon, most of the boys have joined Jack. Things turn ugly when Piggy\u2019s glasses, used to make fire and smoke signals, are stolen and boys are killed. Ralph escapes and lives, saved by a British naval officer, but it\u2019s too late for Piggy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the idyllic tropical island, this dystopian story\u2019s main theme is that humanity is essentially evil (yes, even kids). Another post\u2013World War II novel, it\u2019s also an allegory for war and leadership.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Fight Club<\/em> By Chuck Palahniuk&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For our last example, say hello to Palahniuk\u2019s short story turned novel (and two comic book sequels), which disappointingly, isn\u2019t on popular dystopian fiction lists. The book presents modern life and consumerism as a dystopian regime that needs blowing up, and certainly tries to \u2014 succeeding in the 1999 film adaptation. Yes, it\u2019s satire and a damning social critique, but it\u2019s also anarchic at heart and that\u2019s a fundamental source of its conflict, with the twisty alter ego conflict layered on top. I\u2019d say more, but you know the first rule of Fight Club\u2026&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, onto what we\u2019re here for (and what we <em>can<\/em> talk about) \u2014 how to write a dystopian story.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"How-To-Write-A-Dystopian-Story\"><strong>How To Write A Dystopian Story&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the calibre of examples covered, writing a dystopian story might feel like an insurmountable task \u2014 but in practice, the steps aren\u2019t dissimilar to ordinary fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, how do you do it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For ease of use, I\u2019ve broken it down into 5 key steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how to write a dystopian story:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose Your Problem&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you choose the issue (or theme, then brainstorm from there) that you want to explore. For many dystopian authors, and those in other speculative fiction subgenres with a dystopian society, the first nugget of an idea often arises from real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atwood\u2019s idea for <em>The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em> came to her after a conversation during the 1980s about women outside the home, and what would force them back. Tomi Adeyemi\u2019s award-winning YA fantasy series <em>Children of Blood and Bone<\/em> was inspired by racism and extreme police brutality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both are powerful examples of taking a real-world issue and expanding it into a successful dystopian premise, which brings us to our next step.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make It A Premise&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve chosen your problem, and now you want to flesh it out into a full concept. Excellent! This is where more brainstorming helps. So does an example.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Say you\u2019re looking at the government and wondering how they get things so wrong (a little meta, but let\u2019s go with it). Make a list of what they\u2019re mismanaging right now, and pick what you see as the biggest issue. Electricity and gas? Inflation and the cost of living? Or something else? Now, what\u2019s the absolute worst thing that could happen from this problem? Got it? Great. Then multiply it by ten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s electricity and gas, maybe your premise is that they no longer exist; or maybe they only exist for certain people. Tease out the how and why. What happened for some people to lose these utilities, or keep them? What does this difference look like \u2014 do the have-nots use fire to cook and heat instead, and what does this mean for the environment? These knock-on effects will make your premise all the more real.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose Your Protagonist&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For some writers, you\u2019ll arrive at your premise with a character in hand. For the rest of us, you need to think about what you want from your dystopian story, and what kind of protagonist works best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you want your main character to win, or is your aim an exercise in caution (see <em>1984<\/em>)? The answer will determine what traits and skills should be inherent to your character, or learned throughout the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And while we\u2019re here, don\u2019t forget your supporting characters. With the weight of the dystopian world on your protagonist\u2019s shoulders, they\u2019ll need help and support, not to mention people that challenge them, along the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing.jpg\" alt=\"masked-person-apocalypse-dystopian-fiction-writing\" class=\"wp-image-552695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing.jpg 833w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/dystopian-fiction-writing-640x384.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Check Your Conflict&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve selected your problem, expanded it into a compelling premise, and have a protagonist in mind, it\u2019s a good time to confirm that your conflict is strong enough to carry your story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dystopian novels tend to fall into the category of <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/driving-the-story-internal-vs-external-conflict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">external conflicts<\/a>: character vs. society, technology, nature, the supernatural etc. With a strong central conflict, your main character is forced to reveal themselves through action and the decisions they continue to make as the plot advances. Remember: your character\u2019s want + its obstacle = conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Build Your World&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ll have been making notes as you go, but for those new to<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/worldbuilding-guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> world-building<\/a>, it\u2019s completely fine to start once you\u2019ve gotten your head around the steps above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bringing your story to life involves building on earlier questions to craft your dystopian world and its people i.e. nature and geography, and people and governance (as well as various cultures).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This not only means the physical landscape, climate and seasons, resources, and plants and animals, but also a population\u2019s races, genders, sexualities and classes, plus language and religion, norms, values and economic systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Tips-For-Writing-Dystopian-Fiction\"><strong>Tips For Writing Dystopian Fiction&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, you know how to write a dystopian story in theory \u2014 but you want a few more tips and tricks. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ve got you covered.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are five tips for writing dystopian fiction:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pick an Issue You\u2019re Passionate About: <\/strong>Circling back to our 5 steps for how to write a dystopian story, if you\u2019re stuck on choosing your problem, what issues happening around the world get you angry? What matters to you? Scour news and current affairs for meaningful inspiration. Having own-voice experiences can be beneficial here, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bring the Catastrophe: <\/strong>Alternatively, if translating your problem into a premise is the sticking point, you may be thinking too small. Now is not the time to round down \u2014 don\u2019t just go big, go gargantuan! Think of the most extreme outcome and explore that.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nail Your Main Character\u2019s Backstory: <\/strong>If you\u2019ve followed the first five steps but are stumbling over your protagonist, maybe a character profile will help. You can use everything you\u2019ve noted about your dystopian setting to flesh out your protagonist\u2019s background, role and goals, characteristics, and personal conflicts to layer accordingly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Research, Research, Research: <\/strong>While much of your research will go into world-building, you\u2019ll still need to fact-find for your premise. If your story is based on large-scale war, authentic specifics are crucial, whether that\u2019s reading up on World War II or going down the science fiction path of something like H. G. Wells&#8217; <em>War of the Worlds<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Read the Dystopian Greats: <\/strong>Speaking of which, if you want inspiration, read dystopian stories like the examples listed in this guide, but also read other dystopian writing widely. This will help you learn the ropes (and <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/sci-fi-tropes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tropes<\/a>), as well as any pitfalls you\u2019d like to avoid in your work.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"833\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction.jpg\" alt=\"destroyed-deserted-city-writing-dystopian-fiction\" class=\"wp-image-552700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction.jpg 833w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction-600x360.jpg 600w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/writing-dystopian-fiction-640x384.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Frequently-Asked-Questions\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>How Do You Start A Dystopian Fiction Story?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You start a dystopian fiction story like you would any other: with a hook and inciting incident. For dystopian stories, that hook is your unique premise and what it means for your dystopian world. You also need to introduce your protagonist and how they fit (or don\u2019t fit) into the world, which the inciting incident makes clear. The best dystopian fiction stories do this in the first few chapters, then further the plot while deep-diving into character, the world and the central conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What Are 3 Common Themes In A Dystopian Story?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 3 most common themes in a dystopian story are destruction, the abuse of power, and survival. Destruction can be technological, nuclear or environmental, even apocalyptic, with mass poverty and violence as outcomes. Abuse of power, often governmental, can include censorship, extreme oppression, and loss of personal or cultural identity. Survival then becomes the goal, whether it\u2019s physiological as in air, food, water and shelter, or psychological like mental health.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What Are The 5 Elements Of Dystopia?<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 5 key elements of great dystopian stories include: worst-case scenarios, dramatic conflict, inventive world-building, thematic resonance, and depicting human beings as good or evil. For a dystopian premise to be successful, it requires a significant potential for harm, a strong external conflict, a fully realised, authentic-feeling world, big themes with broad appeal, and an answer to the question of whether humanity is the problem or the solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What Is The Opposite Of Dystopian?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the opposite end of the dystopian spectrum is utopian fiction, which depicts an ideal or utopian society. English philosopher Sir Thomas More\u2019s <em>Utopia<\/em> (1516) coined the term with his perfect island society that cut itself off from the world<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/utopian-fiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">. Utopian fiction<\/a> is around 500 years older than the dystopian genre, and in it, authors invert problems to show what could be, rather than what is; ecological sustainability might be explored by depicting a human society in harmony with its natural environment, for example.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Writing Dystopian Fiction Stories&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a lot to love about dystopian fiction. Yes, it can be dark. It can be harrowing. But from darkness comes enlightenment, and thankfully, we can experience these dystopian stories from the safety of our homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dystopian novels guide us and teach us where to do better in the hope of a better future. Sometimes they\u2019re bitter pills to swallow, but nothing truly worth it is easy. That\u2019s where doing the work comes in.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If this line of thinking appeals, now that you know how to write a dystopian story, it may just be your time to begin.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Writing dystopian stories can be one of the most valuable things you can do. Dystopian fiction is famous for its big, bold themes and the ground-breaking ways in which they\u2019re conveyed. So, if you\u2019re looking for a fiction project, and you want a meaty challenge, look no further than writing the next great dystopian story.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17576,"featured_media":552689,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[27498],"class_list":["post-552529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-novel-writing","tag-idea-generator"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jericho Writers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dystopian stories shine a light on some of society&#039;s greatest issues. 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