Yusuf: Science Fiction Novel

Due to last week's unconventional structure, the IP team was privileged to meet with new (albeit temporary) iPeople from grades 8 to 12.  One of the students who graced our building was freshman Yusuf K.  A polite and quiet young man, Yusuf came to us desiring to work on a science fiction (#scifi) novel.  He informed us that his course load does not permit him much time to work on the piece, so he wished to capitalize upon the week's freedom in order to generate substantial material.

After reading several of his drafts as well as discussing the writing with the artist, I am convinced that Yusuf holds immense promise.  Without giving too much away, I wish to share some details of his story.  Through the narrator's commentary, the reader learns of a mechanized planet that resembles something of District 13 of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Trilogy.  Barren at the surface, yet a highly developed military complex beneath, Siferith is an enormous planet that is said to dwarf galaxies.  One product of this civilization is the Tribulis, a horrendous machine stolen from the narrator and insidiously reappropriated.

Yusuf weaves strong visual descriptions throughout his prose, evoking images of plants and landscapes that are perceived holistically and felt immediately.  He is no novice of lore, for while editing, he constantly spirals back to earlier pieces in order to thicken the soup, to add events and details of his world's history.  To continue his expansion as a writer, he would benefit from an in-depth exploration of punctuation and may want to consider the "show" vs. "tell" rule.  He and I began this work with me modeling the process.

Of course, this partnership lasted for but an instant.  The drawback - no...the necessary product - of explorative, innovative periods such as last week's is the residual questions that remain suspended, tantalizingly, in front of the mind.  What if this week's structure became the modus operandi for a school-wide curriculum? What if this freshman-soon-to-be-sophomore continued this intensive work by joining IP?

What if...?

What do you think of Yusuf's work? Do you have a question for him? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of 1st image:  A graphic of Cyberton of The Transformers:  The Movie (1986), a mechanized planet not unlike Yusuf's.  Picture located at www.ign.com.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the image above.