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

by John Yunker (Editor)

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthologies, Activism, Writing

222 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

UPDATE: John Yunker is co-author (with Midge Raymond) of the mystery DEVILS ISLAND, coming in September 2024 from Oceanview Publishing.

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John Yunker is a writer of plays, short stories and novels focused on human/animal relationships.

He is co-founder of Ashland Creek Press, a vegan-owned publisher devoted to environmental and animal rights literature. He is author of the novel The Tourist Trail and the sequel Where Oceans Hide Their Dead.

His full-length play Meat the Parents was a finalist at the Centre Stage New Play Festival (South Carolina) and semi-finalist in the AACT new play contest. Species of Least Concern was a finalist in the Mountain Playhouse Comedy Festival. His short play, Little Red House, was published in the literary journal Mason's Road, and produced by the Studio Players Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky. The short play Of Mice and Marines was workshopped and given a staged reading at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education) conference in Las Vegas.

His short stories have been published by literary journals such as Phoebe, Qu, Flyway, and Antennae.

Reviews

[Jeannine Ouellette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book for writing teachers! And humans. A lovely and diverse and thought-provoking collection. Highly recommended.

[emily mackin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I've read a lot about animals this semester, more than I ever thought I would, but this was a pretty good read. Added a lot of insightful thought to animals and the concept of writing them.

[Sharon Wishnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This multi-authored book is a thoughtful discussion on animals in literature and how to create an authentic and compelling voice for animals, the non-human kind. As humans continue to expand, exploit, and endanger communities, animals are often overlooked as essential to everyone's health. This book provides an introduction to animals in literature and the history of nature writing; ideas for how to write about and for animals; examples of writers who have included animals in their work; and how writers can add a voice to the discussion. This is one-of-a-kind book a combination of craft and discussion. Well worth the time for writers seeking to develop deeper stories and characters.