Writing for Animals: New perspectives for writers and instructors to educate and inspire

by John Yunker (Editor)

Overview

Despite all we know about the sentience of animals, society tends to view and treat nonhuman animals as lesser creatures. And for society to change its views, writers must change their views. We must look closely at how we depict animals and ask ourselves difficult questions. For example, are we using animals for our writing in a way that is authentic and fair? Or are we using them for our own purposes, leading to further misconceptions and abuses?

As our awareness awakens about animals’ intelligence, sensitivity, and social and emotional lives, literature is beginning to reflect this change in awareness. Yet little has been written about the process of writing about animals, from crafting point of view to giving animals realistic voices.

Writers face many questions and choices in their work, from how to educate without being didactic to how to develop animals as characters for an audience that still views them as ingredients. In this book, writers will find myriad voices to assist them in writing about animals, from tips about craft to understanding the responsibility of writing about animals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781618220585
Publisher:	Byte Level Research
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.51(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: The Writer as Naturalist

Do We Have the Right to Write about Animals?

Animals that Work in Stories

A Case for More Reality in Writing for Animals

Part II: The Craft of Writing about Animals

Meeting the Wild Things Where They Are

Rewilding Literature: Catalyzing Compassion for Wild Predators through Creative Nonfiction

Rabies Bites: How Stephen King Made a Dog a Compelling Main Character

Real Advocacy within Fantasy Worlds

Writing Animals Where You Are

Part III: Anthropomorphism and Literature

Other Nations

Giving Animals a Voice: Letters from an Ashland Deer

No One Mourns an Unnamed Animal: Why Naming Animals Might Help Save Them

Part IV: Writers Change the World

Are You Willing?

With a Hope to Change Things: An Exploration of the Craft of Writing about Animals with the Founders

of Zoomorphic Magazine

Resources for Writers