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Something new I've decided to give a try, where I share things I have learned about writing in weekly posts. Not sure how it will turn out, but hopefully it goes somewhere.
So you're figuring out how to create characters, and even how to make them feel like they are more than just regular humans wearing animal costumes. Then, while showing your writing to some friends, are asked why you're using these talking animal anthro things instead of just using humans.
This week's post takes a moment to specifically address this issue. Don't worry, next week we're back to writing with the first of several posts about story structure.
If you're interested in improving your writing, I'm also trying to start a informal writing workshop of sorts. Interested? Then check out the Discord.
So you're figuring out how to create characters, and even how to make them feel like they are more than just regular humans wearing animal costumes. Then, while showing your writing to some friends, are asked why you're using these talking animal anthro things instead of just using humans.
This week's post takes a moment to specifically address this issue. Don't worry, next week we're back to writing with the first of several posts about story structure.
If you're interested in improving your writing, I'm also trying to start a informal writing workshop of sorts. Interested? Then check out the Discord.
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Category Story / Tutorials
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 458.2 kB
Listed in Folders
I understand the frame you are coming from with this, as it is a big critique of our genre that many writing in it do not seem to grasp. However, I must disagree as there are tale formulas which demand a necessity for anthropomorphism (myth, fairytale, legend, certain, some forms of fable, certain veins of science fiction/fantasy). Of course, developing writers grasping these types of stories may find more difficulty in their presentation.
There is a weird backlash to understanding of anthropomorphic character as harder to understand, when we have been understanding them within the tale for as long as we have been telling. In some aspects perhaps easier to understand due to the clasp of being stuck wedged between a cultural and natural world and observation built through thousands of years. Quite a poor summary of symbolism on the imprints of imagination and place within the world (also highly culturally dependent swinging era to era). Anthropomorphism is in a weird place. In biological lens there is spectrum between hypothesis: Goodnell where we are very capable of understanding as species share biology, empathy, feelings, thoughts versus Nagel: We are incapable of understanding because we are black box brain bodies in meat suits and don’t know what it’s like to be a bat because we are not a bad just like we are in capable of truly understanding another of our species. So the answer there is somewhere in the middle. The point being there is excellent purpose and dynamics for anthropomorphism as a tale element that is poorly exemplified in the simplicity here.
Nonetheless, it is still a problem when a writer never has asked or has not learned to ask as part of process of why do a thing; especially something as loaded as anthropomorphism which without purpose is very much a moot point, but with it can truly make a tale something spectacular. It is very good to think.
There is a weird backlash to understanding of anthropomorphic character as harder to understand, when we have been understanding them within the tale for as long as we have been telling. In some aspects perhaps easier to understand due to the clasp of being stuck wedged between a cultural and natural world and observation built through thousands of years. Quite a poor summary of symbolism on the imprints of imagination and place within the world (also highly culturally dependent swinging era to era). Anthropomorphism is in a weird place. In biological lens there is spectrum between hypothesis: Goodnell where we are very capable of understanding as species share biology, empathy, feelings, thoughts versus Nagel: We are incapable of understanding because we are black box brain bodies in meat suits and don’t know what it’s like to be a bat because we are not a bad just like we are in capable of truly understanding another of our species. So the answer there is somewhere in the middle. The point being there is excellent purpose and dynamics for anthropomorphism as a tale element that is poorly exemplified in the simplicity here.
Nonetheless, it is still a problem when a writer never has asked or has not learned to ask as part of process of why do a thing; especially something as loaded as anthropomorphism which without purpose is very much a moot point, but with it can truly make a tale something spectacular. It is very good to think.
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