As a writer and a veterinarian, I am acutely aware of the
use of animals in fiction. According the Humane Society, 62% of all households
in the USA own a pet. That’s a big audience. Often I feel that my fellow
writers forget that you can use animals to enhance characterization and
scene-setting.
![]() |
Consider this
scene: A large cat lay curled up in an
armchair next to the fireplace. Cynthia
smiled, and took another seat. Now see how you can manipulate it. A large cat lay curled up in an armchair
next to the fireplace. Cynthia frowned and pushed it out of the way. With very little effort you can
use the way Cynthia relates to the cat to establish her character, and pet
owners will definitely dislike that second Cynthia.
As fiction
writers we also can use our imaginations to the fullest. Our favorite cat can
teleport and dogs can predict the future. In many books, especially cozies,
pets are more like little furry people. Anthropomorphism, putting human
emotions onto animals, is rampant as genres blend like never before. But
remember to establish a point of view – don’t have your donkey character be
very realistic, then suddenly start to quote Shakespeare. You might end up
simply confusing your readers.
Many of the books
we read in childhood or in English classes used animals as symbols. Think of
Moby Dick, a real whale and but also viewed as the incarnation of all of Captain
Ahab’s obsessions. Remember Black Beauty,
and Jack London’s Call of the Wild?
Animals often are depicted as noble and loyal, and as symbols of freedom. Many
authors describe animals as being far “better” than the humans they are
involved with. But leave it to Steven King, on the other hand, to give us the
rabid dog, Cujo, who evolved into a
near demonic force.
One last
suggestion. People react very emotionally to animal stories. Just recently, the
shooting of the lion, Cecil, created a world-wide wave of anger. You may find
your reader reacts to something done to an animal far more than if it is done
to a person. That may not seem logical but it is true. How many of you were
devastated when Bambi’s mother died? (I was – I was about eight and went and
hid in the women’s bathroom) So, think long and hard before you harm an animal
in your book. My books, MUZZLED and UNLEASHED, both Kate Turner, D.V.M.
Mysteries, have plenty of animals in them, since my heroine is a veterinarian.
Her clinic, the Oak Falls Veterinary Hospital, has a 100% success rate in
saving her animal patients. Unrealistic? Sure, however I want my mystery readers to feel comfortable turning
the pages, knowing everything will turn out fine in the end.
I hope these
thoughts on writing help a little. Now it’s time for me to get out of my
pajamas and back to work!
Eileen Brady is a veterinarian living in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a wife and mother of two daughters and often has to chase her six cats and two dogs away from her laptop keyboard. The Kate Turner, DVM Mysteries is her first series.
Catch Up:
Catch Up:
http://www.eileenbradymysteries.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EileenBradyAuthor
advice for authors
advice for writers
authors
Eileen Brady
giveaway
partners in crime tours
Unleashed
using animals in your writing
writers
writing
writing tips
2 Comments
Very interesting observations about animals in books, especially mysteries. Thanks so much for sharing your insights with us.
ReplyDeleteI like your point of view. We should pay attention what do we write about animals because most people really like them (even more than other people for sure) so you may easily offend some of them. During my essay writing process I make sure that everything I write is not going to hurt somebody's feelings
ReplyDeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
Thanks for being an active part of the Writers and Authors community.