Most excellent supporters,
The chapter summaries are complete and available to anyone who pre-orders. You can now access a live link to the exact summary document I use in the writing process. Check it periodically to keep up with the latest developments. This document is only available to those who pre-order. If you are interested in access, email me at joe.terzieva@gmail.com. Although the story will likely change from its current representation, reading the document will spoil the story for you. If you are only interested in Lost Generation's final form, you will not want to check this out.
What's Next?
Now the novel's chapters are written, modified, checked for quality, adjusted, checked for logic, and finally we will have a finished draft. After this (and with your powerful voices,) we accumulate enough pre-orders to get this novel published! Keep spreading the word.
The Importance of Strong Female Characters in Lost Generation
I have worked in the information technology field for a large part of my life. Part of that experience requires you to gain a firm understanding of data and specifically, analytics. For example, here are the current demographics for my Facebook page:
Sixty-six percent of my audience is female. When I sit down to write characters for Lost Generation, it is my duty to create a universe that is representative and as diverse as my readership. This duty is one of the reasons I feel it is so important to ensure Marta and Claudia are strong, fully realized characters. I do not wish to create female characters that exist solely to move the plot forward; Each is well thought out and plays a crucial role in the story. It is my hope that readers will enjoy the strengths and weaknesses of each character and find them relatable regardless of gender.
The world of Lost Generation is still one where gender bias exists. Adi's desire to "be a man" at times drives both his insecurity and his work ethic and Claudia feels she has been singled out by gender for being a troublemaker. We explore these situations in a world where automation has broken down so many roles and responsibilities.
I hope you enjoyed this brief exploration of gender in Lost Generation. Continue this discussion in the comments and if you would like to continue to see these themes explored in the story, consider asking your friends and family to pre-order a copy. Your involvement ensures this project receives the funding required to reach publication.
Welcome, new readers! If you have not yet had a chance, please check out the sample chapters and consider leaving a review. Your recommendations, quotations, reviews, and comments add vibrancy to this project and highlight points for potential readers to come.
As the outline takes shape, the core of the story becomes clearer. I've updated the "about this book" section of the project with a more succinct description of what you can expect from Lost Generation.
If you like what you see and you would like to introduce others to the story, this can be done with this simple elevator pitch.
"A generation enters into a workforce where automation vastly eliminates the need for manual labor. A society's worth of individuals, financed by government subsistence, drifts aimlessly through life.
"Lost Generation tells the story of a petty criminal, a mechanic, a secretly wealthy, and an unemployed as they explore the worth of an individual in a society which does not need them."
With every day my confidence in this story and its community grows. If you know anyone who would enjoy this, invite them along for the ride!
Early Access Content
Hello, supporters! Has anyone told you how wonderful you are? It is true! Every single one of you is great because you stepped forward and supported this project. The feedback I received from the samples has been positive, and I wanted to offer something extra for those of you who can't wait to read more.
Starting today all backers can visit http://writeshare.co to download the summary document in PDF, and draft documents in PDF, ePub, and Kindle (Mobi) formats. To access the documents, enter the email you used to pre-order. You will then see links to each file.
I hope you enjoy this treat. If you have issues with the site or want to send feedback on the draft, please email joe.terzieva@gmail.com.
Please continue to spread the word on this project. Only with your help is this possible.
Thank you!