NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been thinking about taking this scenario that I've been building in my head over the past couple months, and putting it down on paper, hopefully to be published some day. The idea started during last year's policy debate season, which was focused around government surveillance and arrest power. I heard this group of people talking about corrolaries between Nazi Germany and what was occurring in the US right now. They alway prefaced it, though, with "That will never happen here."

So, I've been thinking, what if something like that did happen here? I have a feeling of what scenarioes would occur that would push the US in that direction. I've concluded, that if contemporary social and economic policies were to meet a disastrous failure, such as another Great Depression, something as horrific as Nazi Germany could conceivably rise out of the ashes.

The main idea I've been working on for the possible plot is the rise of this populist demagogue politician, as told from the point of view of the average, grunt on the ground journalist. Following an economic crisis, the populist demagogue rises to the Presidency, along with a considerable following of acolytes in Congress. Through collusion with sources of private power (i.e., large corporations, mass media), and with no regard for humanity, they begin to consolidate their power base, and begin wearing away at the rule of law. At a certain point, they use some pretext (terrorist incident or the like) to declare a "suspension" of the constitution. Cue dark orchestral music, the path to dystopian nightmare begins.

Our hero, the journalist, is sent to a detention camp for holding "defeatist and seditious" views. He manages to take part in an escape from the camp, and starts living as a fugitive. Origionally a moderate liberal try-not-to-offend-anyone type, he starts to slowly evolve into a radical, as he sees more and more abuses by the new fascist regime. He eventually vows to do what ever he can to destroy this fascist regime, and begins resisting. At this point, the line between freedom fighter and terrorist begins to blur, as some of his actions, by accident or faulty intelligence, begin to harm innocent bystanders.

Anyway, that's what I've got so far. I'd appreciate your feedback.

Lots of people have written similar stories, albeit with various endings, but don't let that stop you. When I first started reading your post, I was thinking of parts of All the King's Men.

Sounds interesting. Some of the best fiction has elements of truth in it.

Go for it.

"It can't happen here" (http://www.amazon.com/Cant-Happen-Here-Sinclair-Lewis/dp/0451525825)

You might take a liking to NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). They have an extensive support network for budding novelists.

are you going to type it or write it? because if you type it, I want to see the finished copy.:p

"It can't happen here" (http://www.amazon.com/Cant-Happen-Here-Sinclair-Lewis/dp/0451525825)

I was thinking more of a 1984-esque dystopian nightmare, rather than "mere" fascist dictatorship. But thanks for the info.

are you going to type it or write it? because if you type it, I want to see the finished copy.:p

Type it, if I can ever get past my creative writers block. I've tried starting it before, but I could never get very far. I've got a couple pages that in no way qualify as a literary work. I was thinking about scrapping it and starting over, with a slightly more updated scenario that I've been fine-tuning in my head.

Sounds interesting. Some of the best fiction has elements of truth in it.

Go for it.
The best fiction always has elements of truth in it. It may be shy on fact, but it is always true.

Go for it. However, I'd prefer it if you wrote a book about how Iraq will flower into a functional democracy instead of how the US will fall into a dictatorial regime. :)

Don't think about it ... just do it ... or don't.

go for it, if you can make it work it will be a cool book

you need some more characters though.

the journalists teen brother, for example. his conservative ex girlfriend who falls on the wrong side of the new administration. maybe some neighbors who go missing.

Go for it. However, I'd prefer it if you wrote a book about how Iraq will flower into a functional democracy instead of how the US will fall into a dictatorial regime. :)

Ah, you mean fantasy fiction. ;)

I hope you have the dedication I didnt! *thumbs up*

I've wanted to write a book ever since I was a little kid. My idea was about a 2nd U.S. civil war, but that is for another thread;). I wish you luck on your dream of becoming an author.

You might take a liking to NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). They have an extensive support network for budding novelists.

that's what I was going to say, I have written for 3 years now, and it's great, 3 months 3 books, 2 of them published (well, in the process) it's the most awesome thing ever!

ps if you don't see me around next month we all know why.

Go for it. Lots of room for interesting content there.

that's what I was going to say, I have written for 3 years now, and it's great, 3 months 3 books, 2 of them published (well, in the process) it's the most awesome thing ever!

ps if you don't see me around next month we all know why.

Awesome! What are you writing, out of interest?

I was considering doing it, but I've already started on something longish that's meant for another project.

There would have to be a sizeable resistance movement. Ever hear of the Battle of Athens? Wiki it.

Awesome! What are you writing, out of interest?

I was considering doing it, but I've already started on something longish that's meant for another project.

I wrote a book about parenting, and a sci-fi cheesefest about aliens abducting fast food workers...it was really a comedy.

I don't know yet what I am writing this year, but seriously I work about 70 hours a week most weeks, and I still find time to write about 3K words a day (it helps that I have Documents to go on my Palm and can write anywhere I get time)

Even if you are writing something else I recomend the contest, it's a great way to destress during November and you never know what might come out of it. Besides, it's all about quantity not quality, write and write and don't edit, you can edit in December!

Go for it grab it and never-ever let go (i'm a aspiring writer myself)

I've considered writing a book within my lifetime...I had a few ideas. Tell me if they could work.

One was about a Tranquility Bay-type place run by a madman of sorts. The man running it is sort of a bin Laden figure in that he comes from wealth but is looked down upon by his family and lives in virtual exile. However, people pay him big bucks to turn their dysfunctional children into functioning members of society. At the same time, though, he's brainwashing them into doing his bidding.

Another idea led me to ask myself...OK, so in 1984, the goal was to have Newspeak be the only thing spoken and thought by Party members. lets say that they reach their goal, the party is incapable of a thought against the government, and so is most of the population, and everyone's under Oceania's party control...then something happens, and in time, the state collapses. Where do the people go from here? I probably couldn't just pick up from where Orwell left off, but still...if people are told something for many years, does it become fact?

If I have any spare time and the werewithal to do so, I will probably write the first idea I have...

Following an economic crisis, the populist demagogue rises to the Presidency, along with a considerable following of acolytes in Congress. Through collusion with sources of private power (i.e., large corporations, mass media), and with no regard for humanity, they begin to consolidate their power base, and begin wearing away at the rule of law. At a certain point, they use some pretext (terrorist incident or the like) to declare a "suspension" of the constitution. Cue dark orchestral music, the path to dystopian nightmare begins.

.

This is happening now......it will be a work of non-fiction. Perhaps call it 'Bush - the lost years'

Another idea led me to ask myself...OK, so in 1984, the goal was to have Newspeak be the only thing spoken and thought by Party members. lets say that they reach their goal, the party is incapable of a thought against the government, and so is most of the population, and everyone's under Oceania's party control...then something happens, and in time, the state collapses. Where do the people go from here? I probably couldn't just pick up from where Orwell left off, but still...if people are told something for many years, does it become fact?

I'd quite like to read a 1984 sequel, but I'm not sure if one has been written. It would be an interesting read, as Orwell's time was a time of the World turning towards Totalitarianism, whereas since the Cold War more societies are starting to turn towards Liberalism, but how far have they really done so, and how far is it just lip-service.

I've been thinking about taking this scenario that I've been building in my head over the past couple months, and putting it down on paper, hopefully to be published some day. The idea started during last year's policy debate season, which was focused around government surveillance and arrest power. I heard this group of people talking about corrolaries between Nazi Germany and what was occurring in the US right now. They alway prefaced it, though, with "That will never happen here."

So, I've been thinking, what if something like that did happen here? I have a feeling of what scenarioes would occur that would push the US in that direction. I've concluded, that if contemporary social and economic policies were to meet a disastrous failure, such as another Great Depression, something as horrific as Nazi Germany could conceivably rise out of the ashes.

The main idea I've been working on for the possible plot is the rise of this populist demagogue politician, as told from the point of view of the average, grunt on the ground journalist. Following an economic crisis, the populist demagogue rises to the Presidency, along with a considerable following of acolytes in Congress. Through collusion with sources of private power (i.e., large corporations, mass media), and with no regard for humanity, they begin to consolidate their power base, and begin wearing away at the rule of law. At a certain point, they use some pretext (terrorist incident or the like) to declare a "suspension" of the constitution. Cue dark orchestral music, the path to dystopian nightmare begins.

Our hero, the journalist, is sent to a detention camp for holding "defeatist and seditious" views. He manages to take part in an escape from the camp, and starts living as a fugitive. Origionally a moderate liberal try-not-to-offend-anyone type, he starts to slowly evolve into a radical, as he sees more and more abuses by the new fascist regime. He eventually vows to do what ever he can to destroy this fascist regime, and begins resisting. At this point, the line between freedom fighter and terrorist begins to blur, as some of his actions, by accident or faulty intelligence, begin to harm innocent bystanders.

Anyway, that's what I've got so far. I'd appreciate your feedback.



It sounds good, but becareful, as a book written many years ago by the name of "It Can't Happen Here", is based on the exact same premise.

Otherwise, I'd read it! Hell, I'd buy it!

go for it, if you can make it work it will be a cool book

you need some more characters though.

the journalists teen brother, for example. his conservative ex girlfriend who falls on the wrong side of the new administration. maybe some neighbors who go missing.

Actually, I was thinking about something along that lines. I've not decided whether the main character will be man or woman, but I'm thinking of putting his/her old lover in the new regime's equivalent of the SS.

Actually, I was thinking about something along that lines. I've not decided whether the main character will be man or woman, but I'm thinking of putting his/her old lover in the new regime's equivalent of the SS.

i was thinking a bit about your plot. it needs to seem very realistic. when i read it i should be thinking "yes, this is the way it could happen". the more i think that, the more successful the book is. whatever situation you choose as a catalyst should be utterly possible to happen and completely in the character of the population (as we have come to know it) to go along with these draconian measures.

a new terrorist attack, some kind of internal unrest, even a terrible natural disaster could work. having some people who are interred with our hero be actually guilty of whatever the charges are might be a good idea. one of those "they came for the communists but i wasnt a communist" kind of things.

it could be a very timely book. good luck with it.

It sounds good, but becareful, as a book written many years ago by the name of "It Can't Happen Here", is based on the exact same premise.

Otherwise, I'd read it! Hell, I'd buy it!

Heard of it. I was thinking of titling mine either "Endgame" or "2 Minutes to Midnight."

If I can manage to finish out the idea that "It can happen here," I hope to make the book into a trilogy, with part 2 detailing the main character's work in the resistence against the regime, and the third book detailing a sucessful revolution, (led in party by our main character, of course) that ends the nightmare.

whatever you do, don't write it. type it. i wrote a book once and i wrote it down on paper, and then my hand hurt so bad afterwards, i never wrote a book again. if its going to be a novel, type it. mine had 306 pages too. It was about this girl who lived in the middle of no where and she had an alcoholic dad. when she came home, she would find her mom lying outside the barn because her dad had beaten her. she grew up angry at her dad, and when she was a teenager she vowed to kill him. every night, she would take her dad down to the barn and tie his hands and feet behind him and hold his head back in an uncomfortable position. She got depressed because no matter how hard she tried she couldn't kill him. Her brothers ran away and her sister commited suicide. Her mother died of a broken heart because of the way her entire family was falling apart. One day this girl got into a car accident and had to be placed in the barn while strapped onto a couch. Her dad came in against her will and stared at her. After an uncomfortable silence, her dad said that he was sorry for how he had treated her over the years. He thought that she was dying, and he didn't really mean what he said. She thought he was sincere and so she started to pray. Her dad became a Christian, and a few months later, he died because of his alcoholism. This girl became a successful writer and therapist for young children because of her dad. That's only half the book. I wanted to get it published, but I'm only 13 and thought that maybe I would age a little. ;)

whatever you do, don't write it. type it. i wrote a book once and i wrote it down on paper, and then my hand hurt so bad afterwards, i never wrote a book again. if its going to be a novel, type it. mine had 306 pages too. It was about this girl who lived in the middle of no where and she had an alcoholic dad. when she came home, she would find her mom lying outside the barn because her dad had beaten her. she grew up angry at her dad, and when she was a teenager she vowed to kill him. every night, she would take her dad down to the barn and tie his hands and feet behind him and hold his head back in an uncomfortable position. She got depressed because no matter how hard she tried she couldn't kill him. Her brothers ran away and her sister commited suicide. Her mother died of a broken heart because of the way her entire family was falling apart. One day this girl got into a car accident and had to be placed in the barn while strapped onto a couch. Her dad came in against her will and stared at her. After an uncomfortable silence, her dad said that he was sorry for how he had treated her over the years. He thought that she was dying, and he didn't really mean what he said. She thought he was sincere and so she started to pray. Her dad became a Christian, and a few months later, he died because of his alcoholism. This girl became a successful writer and therapist for young children because of her dad. That's only half the book. I wanted to get it published, but I'm only 13 and thought that maybe I would age a little. ;)

Sorry about the misinterpretation. When I say write, I mean that I will be typing it on a computer. Writing for me describes the creative process, not the manual process.

i see. do ya like my book?!:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I wanted to get it published, but I'm only 13 and thought that maybe I would age a little. ;)

Damn, you should have gotten it published yesterday when you were still 27 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11800202&postcount=8)!

Too bad.

that was my sister stupid

that was my sister stupid

:rolleyes:

honestly!!!!! we have the same IP address so we use the same nation and the same forum name :rolleyes:

Don't think about it ... just do it ... or don't.

That's very zen and very yoda.

that was my sister stupid

riiiight, and both of you have the same atrocious spelling and grammar... because it's genetic right?


Oh, and I think you should apologize if only to save face because WYTYG is one of the most intelligent people you will ever meet.

we do not i am a better speller.

we do not i am a better speller.

you are better than she?

that's really sad for your "sister" if she is 27...

what..... shes a model not a teacher. she failed hight school. i laugh

I've been thinking about taking this scenario that I've been building in my head over the past couple months, and putting it down on paper, hopefully to be published some day. The idea started during last year's policy debate season, which was focused around government surveillance and arrest power. I heard this group of people talking about corrolaries between Nazi Germany and what was occurring in the US right now. They alway prefaced it, though, with "That will never happen here."

So, I've been thinking, what if something like that did happen here? I have a feeling of what scenarioes would occur that would push the US in that direction. I've concluded, that if contemporary social and economic policies were to meet a disastrous failure, such as another Great Depression, something as horrific as Nazi Germany could conceivably rise out of the ashes.

The main idea I've been working on for the possible plot is the rise of this populist demagogue politician, as told from the point of view of the average, grunt on the ground journalist. Following an economic crisis, the populist demagogue rises to the Presidency, along with a considerable following of acolytes in Congress. Through collusion with sources of private power (i.e., large corporations, mass media), and with no regard for humanity, they begin to consolidate their power base, and begin wearing away at the rule of law. At a certain point, they use some pretext (terrorist incident or the like) to declare a "suspension" of the constitution. Cue dark orchestral music, the path to dystopian nightmare begins.

Our hero, the journalist, is sent to a detention camp for holding "defeatist and seditious" views. He manages to take part in an escape from the camp, and starts living as a fugitive. Origionally a moderate liberal try-not-to-offend-anyone type, he starts to slowly evolve into a radical, as he sees more and more abuses by the new fascist regime. He eventually vows to do what ever he can to destroy this fascist regime, and begins resisting. At this point, the line between freedom fighter and terrorist begins to blur, as some of his actions, by accident or faulty intelligence, begin to harm innocent bystanders.

Anyway, that's what I've got so far. I'd appreciate your feedback.

your Hero being a journalist is the problem. Unless you make him more conflicted and more real where he has no real noble purpose but simply wishes to advance his own career and is actually secretly cheering on the demagogue to go further and further so he has more to write about.

your Hero being a journalist is the problem. Unless you make him more conflicted and more real where he has no real noble purpose but simply wishes to advance his own career and is actually secretly cheering on the demagogue to go further and further so he has more to write about.

Not so much. I'm trying to mold him as being your average, run of the mill moderate liberal. Basically, the optimistic reformists who think that government regulations and reforms can fix an inherently unjust system. He is not an important journalist, just your run of the mill journalist scraping by a living, working for the big dogs by collecting facts and interviews for the talking heads. He gets rounded up for his opposition to the new regime, and in the concentration camp he begins making the ideological change from moderate liberal to anarchist radical because of his experiences.

riiiight, and both of you have the same atrocious spelling and grammar... because it's genetic right?


Oh, and I think you should apologize if only to save face because WYTYG is one of the most intelligent people you will ever meet.

Seconded.