New Website!

     About a week ago, I launched my website for my company, Kali Tedrow Editing. To keep everything in one place, I am now going to be blogging on my website. Please visit at www.kalitedrowediting.com! If you would like to read my most recent blog post, you can find it here: http://kalitedrowediting.com/2020/07/22/how-to-choose-a-topic-that-interests-your-audience/.

How to Include Animals in Your Fictional Book

One of my favorites parts of writing fiction is the room it gives the author for creativity. There are many ways to add color to one’s story so that it comes alive for the reader. One such way is by adding animals to your book. An animal character in your story can benefit you in several ways if you follow certain guidelines.

Benefits of Animal Characters

You can benefit from adding an animal character in three ways. One way is by making the story more interesting and natural. Animals are a part of our everyday lives and including them in your characters’ lives can make your story more believable. They don’t necessarily have to be a pet either. Even a wild animal can add to your story and grab your readers’ attention.

Another way an animal can add to your story is by moving the plot along. You can tie the animal into the plot line somehow and use that animal to drive the action. Take, for instance, a mystery novel. You can use your character’s dog to unveil a clue or rescue another character from the antagonist. There are many possibilities depending on the animal and type of story you choose.

A final benefit of an animal character is the possibilities for side stories or comic relief. A cat with odd mannerisms or a birdseed-stealing squirrel adds personality to your plot and helps develop your characters as they interact with these animals. The animal can also add humor to your novel so that readers can have comic relief amid heavy action scenes and drama.

Advice for Writing Animal Characters

Adding an animal to your fictional work may be beneficial, but that is only true if it is done right. There are several recommendations you should follow if you add an animal character to your story that will help you avoid some common mistakes.

            The first tip is the most important: authenticity. As a writer, you need to make sure you are giving your readers accurate information. It doesn’t matter if you are writing fiction; authenticity is critical. Be certain you are portraying your animal character accurately. It won’t add to your story if it doesn’t feel natural to the reader. It will especially cause problems if someone familiar with that animal sees something inaccurate.

            The best way to avoid mistakes is by completing thorough research. If it is possible, you should go see the animal in-person or interview an expert so that you can get all your questions specific to your story answered. Such in-person research can be more beneficial because you can get the answers necessary for what you want to write rather than generic information you might find in books and on websites.

            Another piece of advice to practice is consistency. Make sure that as your plot moves along, your animal characters don’t suddenly disappear and reappear at random. It can jerk the reader out of the story because it breaks the flow and causes the reader to backtrack.

            This is one area where notes are invaluable. Keeping track of details will keep your story consistent and make it feel natural. So, if you have a cat lying on the main character’s couch, don’t forget that fact and allow a visitor to sit on the poor cat. Readers will notice!

            A final practice you should implement is moderation. Don’t let your animal character become so prevalent or quirky that they overshadow your characters and plotline. You want your readers to focus on the action and the point you are trying to make, not the animal. If your animal character becomes too distracting, it will undermine its purpose in your writing.

Conclusion

           Your story should take your readers into its world. One way you can accomplish this is by adding an animal into your book. Animals can be a fun addition that helps move your story along. If you do add an animal, be careful to portray it accurately and consistently. If done right, animals can make your book more interesting and capture your readers’ attention.