Ayr is unrecognisable. Imagine deserted streets, derelict houses and feral cats hunting in packs. But what can we see in the haze? A group of writers huddled in the remains of the Mercure, determined to defy the orders of those in charge. Ayr Writers’ Club doesn’t give up just because society has collapsed. The threat of being ‘disappeared’ won’t stop the writers in their resistance campaign against the oppressive regime they suffer under.
This atmospheric vision came from one member, using one of our workshop prompts on Wednesday.
Club member, Susan McVey, led a workshop titled ‘Crafting Catastrophe – the art of dystopian world building.’ Susan is well placed to deliver on this theme, with the recent publication of her second book in a trilogy of dystopian novels for young adults, under her pen name, Marti M McNair.
With a staggering list of world problems such as global poverty, climate change, the power of artificial intelligence, multiple major conflicts across the world, and extreme inequality, Susan fears that we may already live in a dystopian world. Susan sadly doesn’t need to look too far for ideas in our daily news and from elements of the past.
We were put through our paces and forced to think deeply when constructing our own dystopian worlds. A series of useful exercises began with us creating a setting for our own dystopias. Brilliant suggestions were volunteered, including a characterless New York, an eerie London, and closer to home, Ayr, with the determined writers meeting in the abandoned hotel.
Susan invited us to imagine what had led to the collapse of our worlds and the kind of propaganda and controlling techniques being used by the leaders. Ideas included punishment and suppression, strict monitoring of IT use, unrealistic curfews, and state-controlled media. Our imaginations carrying us into the gloom, Susan suggested the possible rebuilding from disaster, especially thinking of ‘The Resistance,’ with a hero or heroine bringing light to the darkness. Ayr Writers’ Club holding brave and secret meetings in the hotel, perhaps? 
Many thanks to Susan for such an enlightening and informative workshop. The dystopian theme intrigues us because of the scary familiarity to the world in which we live. A grim subject indeed, but on a positive note, the milk did arrive on time, and best of all, Ayr was still standing as we ventured out into the icy night.
Lizzie Gowans
