The good thing about writing a low effort dystopian YA novel, is that you have a syllabus at hand.

If you're still in a fix about the perfect execution, several of which must also be a part of the plot, here's a step-by-step guide.

Creating the Signature Evil Government

This part might seem a little tricky, but it's not. You see, in a standard dystopian plot, the totalitarian government has a corrupt purpose that oppresses the population in a very real way that sparks a meaningful revolution.

However, if a dystopian YA trilogy as fairly popular as Matched (2010) can have a government that's evil solely because it forcefully matchmakes 17 year-old kids, you don't even have to worry.

Just find something stupid that'll motivate a regime to throw a bunch of dumb teenagers into a survival game setting to prove a point, I guess.

Finding the Chosen One

No dystopian YA novel will be complete without a protagonist who's still not old enough to have a driver's license, but is somehow ready to fix the broken society by abolishing the totalitarian government. All this while they're constantly in denial about the role they play, and stressing about a nonsensical love triangle.

You may introduce them as an average teenager and then change their life by either making them discover a hidden power, or randomly getting them selected as a pawn in the government's schemes. Bonus points if you can provide them with a vague tragic background and use that to explain their emotionless facade. That will save you from the effort of giving the protagonist a proper character arc.

Quests – the Beginning of the End

Your government's obsession with plunging teenagers into survival quests is extremely vital to the progression of the plot. So, invent a grim purpose, handpick a few 15 to 16 year old misfits, and throw them together in a life or death situation in the most bizarre setting possible.

Have them do a bunch of brutal tasks around a dilapidated urban zone, or make them run around in a stupid maze in order to find something. In the process, they must come to very difficult realisations about the fundamental flaws of the society they live in.

From here on, it's smooth sailing! Elect the snobby protagonist that's been unwilling to do anything valuable the entire time as an eligible leader for the rebellion against the government. Include a few bouts of them stepping down, some drama to get them back on track, and a few betrayals and unlikely alliances within the rebel group to create the illusion of character growth.   Finally, let the protagonist plan a heist that involves basic enemy infiltration tactics and a double ended plan before the big win. And since you don't have the willpower to explore the aftermath of a war, have the protagonist retire to a quiet life with all their cottagecore fantasies. They deserve a break from carrying around the weight of yet another addition to an oversaturated genre.