In Pursuit of Personification: Writing Stories to Honor Your Animal Friends

It is no surprise animal stories are a favorite among many readers. For one, animal lovers are able to connect to pets, while readers who may not be animal lovers gain a new perspective. Readers can get questions to answers surrounding ways animals interpret the ever-changing world. Writers exercise creativity by providing a voice for those who we cannot verbally communicate with. But why are animal stories so potent?

A writer can take a topical issue, such as animal abuse, and pen a novel advocating animal rights. The writer gives the animal a voice. The writer encourages compassion, inspiring the reader to develop a new-founded understanding surrounding animal rights. For centuries, authors have used animals to shed light on social, moral and political issues, without the predictability of standard human behavior.  George Orwell’s political allegory, Animal Farm, for example, allowed readers to focus on bigger issues, while Orwell creatively enhanced his story with a uniquely refreshing twist. Not only did Orwell personify animals well, he created profound ways to categories personality types, social functions and underhanded political agendas in a nuanced language.

So as a writer, what are things to consider when penning your story?

• Research.  Finding inspiration for stories celebrating or grieving animals will help inspire you to connect to your own creative writing outlet. You can also research videos where animals are central to the theme discussed.
• Connect to Your Pet. Why not challenge yourself to imagine how your pet would react given a certain circumstance? It could be fun to focus on your pet’s character while writing various themes.
• Have Fun! Ultimately, there is no theme any animal cannot be central to. Poets, comediennes, ad playwrights have all dedicated works to pets; all it takes is having the drive to follow through, and the imagination to think outside of the box.

Animals, honored in literature serve various functions, but ultimately, through their archetypes, are an extension of ourselves. They have the same basic needs as we do; they form attachments; they provide unconditional love and compassion; they also suffer at the hands of others. Animals in narratives can also function to connect us to parts of ourselves we hide from, or think we are too sophisticated to embrace, accept or explore.