Book Update 1

Hello! If you weren't aware, I'm writing a book. I often get asked by a number of people about the book, so I've decided to start a 'book update' series on my blog until it's published. It'll motivate me and keep anyone who wants to know updated. If you'd like to read all the updates I'll be adding them to this page as I continue to post them.

Synopsis/blurb

Water, Air, Fire, Earth, the four elements that plague a dystopian Great Britain. From the age of 17 a teenager is required to battle an element, those who survive are returned to civilization, and those that fall to the element are taken to a reclusive community, but who's better off? Isaac Williams and his friends must overcome their fears and doubts to lead a revolt against Deatra Allstrong in a mission to bring back the elemental powers and end Deatra's reign of terror over the quarter.

Who will survive the battle of the elements?

So, obviously, I'm currently still in the writing process, currently in the build up to the 'finale' of the story. I've worked in a particularly bizarre way in that I've already written the final few pages which will resolve a few plot points and twists that are introduced throughout the book and then working back to weave in these plot points and hints to twists as I write.

Also, I've found it strangely hard to write a dedication. While I do have one written now, I struggled with how personal it was and how I should commemorate people who have supported with me. I actually had this following dedication written and saved for a few days.

I thought I'd tell you some things about the book

1. Whenever I'm approaching/writing a character death (the story has quite a few deaths because of the danger and threat which you'll see if you read it, in fact *spoilers* there are two deaths within the opening pages), I tend to listen to 'Countdown' by Beyoncé, which is pretty strange I must admit. You wouldn't think that such energetic music would compliment writing a death scene, but I've found that it helps me speed the writing process up, especially as I'm not too fond of every character having a death scene that takes up so many pages, In the context of the story, which you can get a glimpse of in the synopsis/blurb above, most of the deaths hit from the middle of the book and onwards to the end, and these deaths are mostly in fast paced scenarios. I must admit, however, that a very small amount of deaths (I would say 2) are dragged out because they have such a major impact on the story.
2. As I continue to write the story, I've noticed that Isaac Williams, the protagonist and first-person narrator, develops in immaturity which I, even though I'm the one writing is, find really strange. The book starts off abruptly and pessimistic and as the story gets darker, Isaac becomes a lot less serious as a team develops around him (including Darcy Cassano, who's a particular favourite of mine). I've shown this in a way where the words the reader reads become a lot more inviting and colloquial, whereas Isaac at the start is very straight-foward and has a 'everybody sucks and I hate the elite' viewpoint. 
3. There's a tonne of social and political commentary in the first few chapters and the final few chapters. I have to admit a stream of consciousness took over for a while. 

I thought I'd leave you, if anyone is still reading, with some character notes. These following four characters are the 'core' group of New Uprisers (attempting to overthrow Deatra Allstrong who is the antagonist of the book). 

Isaac Williams: (Element redacted for plot reasons) DOB: 20^th July 2040 Age: 18

Darcy Cassano: Fire Age: 18

Warren Potes: Earth Age: 19

Jenna Sutherland: Air DOB: 20^th July 2240 Age: 18

Here are some small, unspoilery notes on the two main buildings of the Uprising Quarter (where the Uprisers and New Uprisers are located):

Elemental Centre = operations and conduct, Reformation Building = planning, deformulation, meetings, experiments and general events. The Elemental Centre has a secret underground tunnel (dark and damp) that leads to the Uprising Station, to access this a leader of the Uprisers has to access a door on the bottom floor that leads to a spiral staircase which goes straight to the tunnel.

And finally, here's a paragraph I'm fond of from a character called Clark Liu, one of the Uprising leaders. Spoilers, if, you know... you care about spoilers.

“When we are born, we develop the elemental gene. This allows us to obtain the elemental powers, which stays dormant until the elemental fight which triggers at least one of the elements to develop further and give us the powers. This gene arose as a result of genetic mutation caused by the use of nuclear weaponry in the war of ----. Now, so many years later, we use this gene to rebel against those who inflicted this on us. The innocents against the perpetrators, history repeating itself.”
- Clark Liu

Thanks for reading!