Writing Anthropomorphic/3 Keys to Anthropomorphic Composition

What is anthropomorphic writing?  To answer that question, we must first ask, what is anthropomorphism anyway?

The word “Anthropomorphic” is an old Greek word that translates to “Of having human form or shape.”  In other words, it is to give something that does not naturally have a human shape or attributes—these very same qualities.  Thus, to anthropomorphize something is to give it human characteristics.  This can be applied to anything non-human: animals, nature, inanimate objects and so on.

Let’s look at the three keys to using anthropomorphism in writing fiction:

1.        Character development is central.  If you don’t have strong character development, you can forget the rest.  This is a fundamental foundation of any good story.  In the case of a world with an anthropomorphic setting, a good rule is to make it have an impact on the characters beyond their physical appearance: things such as personality, habits, and actions should be impacted by what your character is.  This helps create believability, and that is crucial for your readers to connect emotionally. (For instance, a turtle won’t be playing basketball, though it could be an interesting twist of dreams).

2.       World building is another layer that is absolutely needed.  You must build a world in which the anthropomorphism is impactful and logical.  Think about what kind of species you want to use, how that would impact the world, the society, and everything else.  Making a cohesive, rational world with an anthropomorphic setting is crucial to captivating readers.

3.       Themes & Symbolism. Anthropomorphism can be an extremely effective tool in writing by adding another layer.  With an anthropomorphic setting, characters can have added levels of symbolism and depth based on what species they are.  A simple example would be, say a fox character that is crafty or , you could reverse expectations and make said character extremely trustworthy, and go against preconceived notions for a twist.  Using anthropomorphism as a vehicle for themes and symbolism is an excellent implementation of the concept.

These three keys are a simple introduction to anthropomorphic writing.  Although there are other aspects, for now, we will begin here.  I look forward to sharing many unique elements as we explore all of the possibilities of writing in this genre.

Be sure to drop me a comment! I love hearing from other writers!