Can dystopian fiction save the world?
Novel Update #2; Contemplations on smashing tyranny w/ art; a Cry For Help
I’ve always thought of fiction as the best art form for smashing tyranny.
You can write a powerful, bite-sized message into a poem. A song can become an anthem for freedom. A painting or drawing can elicit strong emotions that flower into resistance. Comedy often points out the nakedness of emperors. But a well-written story with anti-authoritarian themes takes the reader on an entire journey, from the initial realization that something is not right in this world, through the harrowing details of how wrong it actually is, to the motivation to do something, and—if it’s a story with a hopeful ending—all the way to the endpoint of having conquered the tyrant.
The reader becomes the protagonist, sees what he sees, feels what he feels, does what he does. Once the final page is read and the book is set aside, the reader has that whole experience of recognizing tyranny, gathering the courage to stand up to it, and (perhaps) winning. The imaginative experience becomes part of the reader’s blueprint for navigating the world. No other art form can deliver that.
This is one of the main reasons why I write dystopia. I love the genre, of course, but even more, I love the idea of assisting readers on that journey. As an unapologetic advocate for human liberty, I hope my stories might serve as guideposts and safe houses on an underground railroad of the mind, trafficking as many people as possible to freedom. That might seem self-important of me to think, but, as I wrote in my first newsletter, that same underground railroad is exactly what led me to my deep skepticism of authority. It’s a hope rooted in my eternal optimism for the future of humanity—a future in which dystopia is just a fictional concept.
So, can dystopian fiction save the world? Probably not. Not by itself, at least. And certainly not just one, lone novel. But I think it can help. If every believer in freedom used his or her unique talents to create something magnificent in support of freedom—a million guideposts and safe houses for every kind of mind—together, perhaps, those creations could pave the way for a free humanity.
Which is exactly what I’ve been hard at work on for the past seven days. So without further ado, here is my progress report for the week.
Novel Progress:
Chapter 1 is done!
Chapter 2, scene 1 is completed. 2 more scenes to go!
The novel is still on schedule to begin publication on May 8th.
I devised a promotional plan for the week of pre-launch, and I need some help! If you’re interested in volunteering a small amount of time, be sure to read to the end of the newsletter.
Other Updates:
Yesterday, I published Part 2 of my essay, Just Potatoes, about the dystopia of Ireland’s Great Famine. If you haven’t already, you can read it here.
My daughter’s tonsillitis (reported in Novel Update #1) relieved itself without further medical intervention.
One of our hens just hatched 12 chicks!
I thought a late frost had killed my potato plants, but they have rallied and are producing new leaves.
And hey, before you go…
(A-hem)
If this novel is going to help save the world in its own small way, it’s going to need a little publicity.
I’ll be dedicating a couple hours each day this week to promoting the novel on various social media platforms, and any help would be amazing and greatly appreciated. Ideally, I’d like to have a small crew helping me create some hype. If you’re interested in helping, here are the details:
Throughout the week, I’ll be posting on Twitter, Facebook, and MeWe about the novel. Follow me on your preferred platform, and keep an eye out for those posts and share/like/comment.
I’ll be holding a Facebook Live event on Thursday, May 6th at 1pm Eastern, where I’ll talk a little about the novel and answer any non-spoilery questions you might have. I’d love it if you can attend!
Chapter 1 is going out early in the morning on Saturday, May 8th, and I need people to share it on all the social media platforms, ideally with a few words of your own about the story. Whoever wants to help me with this will receive the chapter a couple days early, so you’ll have time to read it before it goes live.
If you'd like to help out with any of the above, leave a comment or reply to this email, and I’ll be in touch. (If you’re a subscriber, I already have your email.)
Thanks! Y’all are the best!
Let me just close by saying:
-Starr