For my second experiment, I will be working in the dystopian novel genre, and I will be composing one chapter of a hypothetical full-length book that I may build on down the road. I have never written a novel or any part of one in the past, so I spent some time to better prepare myself for this undertaking. My research on the novel genre (and, more specifically, the novel chapter) has given me several pieces of essential information for Experiment #2.

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To begin, I did some research on the novel chapter in general (not specific to the dystopian genre). Novels are often too long to be read in one sitting, so authors usually choose to divide them up into a series of chapters in order to make them more approachable and accessible. Typically, while all of the chapters relate to one another and flow together, each chapter is devoted to a specific idea.

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There are many different ways to construct a successful chapter (MasterClass). One of the best ways to ensure a chapter is compelling is to start with action or excitement as opposed to a more dull activity; this draws the reader in. It is important when drafting a chapter to consider both the beginning as well as the plot development throughout; readers can get bored quite easily and the plot must keep moving forward. Another important consideration when writing a chapter is the structure of the ending (a cliffhanger commonly helps build a strong conclusion). Beyond these basic considerations, writing a chapter involves decisions about pacing, point of view, and titling. Many chapters are longer and incorporate flashbacks and deeper analysis into the characters, setting, and other literary elements; meanwhile, action-packed, suspenseful chapters are typically shorter and more dense. In general, chapters should be between 1,500 and 5,000 words in length (Reedsy Blog).

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Next, after learning about the novel genre in general, I moved to research the dystopian genre in particular. Dystopian fiction, according to a MasterClass article, is a type of speculative fiction that “offers a vision of the future. Dystopias are societies in cataclysmic decline, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression.” While dystopian novels are sometimes just fiction with little basis in reality, they often serve as a way to inform readers about something in present-day society that we should view as dangerous. An example of a well-known dystopian novel is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Common themes in dystopian literature typically revolve around poverty, oppression, violence, and other dangerous situations, and many of the stories in dystopian fiction are futuristic. I hope to focus on these themes in my sample.