Writing engaging and successful stories

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Writing engaging and successful stories

• To benefit animals and your organization

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Why write?

• To gain support for an issue
• To educate
• To win financial support
• To acquire a base of support

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Where will your writing appear?

• On your website
• In your newsletter
• In a newspaper--in print or online
• In a brochure
• On the Best Friends Network or another website

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Principles of good writing for animals

• Wherever your writing appears, the principles of
  good writing for animals are essentially the
  same
• Use description
• Use one or two quotes
• Use short sentences and paragraphs
• Tell a real story or use concrete examples
• End on an up note--uplifting and inspiring
• Give your reader something to do / a call to
  action
• Use a happy photo of an animal
• Provide contact information

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Why engage your reader?

• People give when they feel emotionally engaged
• When they care
• When they feel involved with an animal
• When they find an animal irresistible

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Why tell a story?

• Because as you tell the story, the reader comes
  to know the animal
• Develops an attachment to the animal
• And wants to help

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Story Brave Dog Jimmyby Azam Siddiqui

• It was in the year 2003, on a winter night that
  the family had supper, so did Jimmy Rocky.
  Later that night Bahadur Thapa and his family
  members woke up to the barking of the dogs, and
  when the family came out they could not believe
  what they saw. The dogs were barking at a leopard
  in their yard

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Description

• Provides context
• Draws the reader into the story
• So that the story becomes meaningful
• The reader feels that he/she is inside the story

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Description and Context include

• When
• Where
• What else was happening?
• Sounds
• Sights
• Action
• Underlying situation

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Details of description

• When? Winter night in 2003
• Where? on a hill in the suburbs of Guwahati
  city.
• What else was happening? They ate supper.

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More description

• Sounds - barking of dogs
• Sights - a leopard in their yard
• Action - When the family raised an alarm the
  leopard got frightened and disappeared into the
  jungle above, only to be charged by an angry
  young dog--Jimmy.

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Note about describing injuries

• Dont be graphic!
• Understate injuries.
• Borderline graphic Sometime later Jimmy
  returned to his master with a blood-spattered
  face, bleeding from his face, ears and eyes.
  Jimmy lost the sight in both his eyes he
  ruptured his ear severely.
• Better When Jimmy returned, hed been injured.
  Later, he lost the sight in both his eyes.
• Why not be graphic? You risk losing your readers,
  and some people, including children, may be very
  upset. Also, it is not necessary and accomplishes
  nothing.

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Note about context

• In first paragraph Guwahati is a city which was
  once rich in urban wildlife. Most of this urban
  wildlife has been wiped out due to land grabbing
  and encroachment over the years, resulting in a
  sharp increase in conflicts between humans and
  big cats.

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What does this story accomplish?

• Clarity and inspiration!
• A dog can be a hero!
• A dogs family can be kind!
• Urban sprawl and land grabbing cause
  human/wildlife conflict!
• A story of heroism inspires, engages, and
  potentially motivates the reader!

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Story Darky by Irene Zhang

• Darky, a Tibetan mastiff mix, was found outside
  the gate of a hospital by May, a member of Animal
  Rescue Beijing, who is a nurse at the hospital.
  His left eye had a terrible injury. On his nose
  there was a long cut. And many other wounds on
  his body. He was so small and weak, about two
  months old

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Description of Darkys personality

• After three weeks, Darky was fully recovered and
  grew to 10kg (22lbs.) He stayed in May's home and
  got along well with the kitty May had rescued
  from the street. There was no barking, no
  fighting. He did not even get angry when the
  kitty ate his food.

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A good description shows us

• a picture--instead of telling us a fact.
• Not Darky was a gentle dog.
• But He did not even get angry when the kitty ate
  his food --
• Which is
• much more dynamic!

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Good description

• Touches lightly on negativity, but does not dwell
  on problems, and leaves the reader feeling
  happier.
• Not -- a long, sad description of Darkys missing
  eye
• But simply Darkys one-eye problem

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A happy or uplifting ending

• Makes your reader happy
• Encourages your reader to read more of your
  stories
• Draws your reader toward your organization or
  your cause

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Darky finds a good home.

• My brother came to bring Darky to the new place.
  He's so cute with a big appetite for food and
  toys.

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But dont people need to know the painful facts?

• Yes, absolutely, they do, and Irene has put these
  at the beginning --
• His left eye had a terrible injury. On his nose
  there was a long cut. And many other wounds on
  his body. He was so small and weak, about two
  months old

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What is the message of Darkys story?

• Compassion and possibility
• Yes, there is suffering, but we can help
  animals, and you, the reader, can help animals
  too.
• You can join us in our work to help animals!

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A major challenge

• To have people read what you write!
• People on the internet often scan stories and go
  very quickly!
• To have your story read, you must catch their
  attention!

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First Sentences

• By Best Friends writer, Elizabeth Doyle
• Example Puffy is going to live!
• Not After a myriad negotiations with Rescue
  Group A and Rescue Group B, along with
  cooperation from Government Group X, a male
  orange tabby, age 10, was rescued from a hoarding
  situation, etc. etc.

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The first sentence

• Must catch the reader!
• Must give a reason to read the next sentence!
• Must draw the reader into the story!
• Otherwise, your reader has gone to another
  website.

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Great first sentences

• The cute little pig didnt even have a name.
• Potato is a life saver!
• They found the hero!
• It looked like they were going to be extinct

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A quote brings a story to life

• According to Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder,
  Wildlife S.O.S., "The ring to us signifies
  slavery which the bear has patiently suffered all
  his life. This freedom from the ring is true
  freedom from pain and suffering.
• From The story of Babu Bear by Vasudha Mehta,
  Widlife S.O.S.

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But the quote doesnt need to be profound

• Any real quote will do
• Example "He's a brave dog and fast like
  lightning," said Bahadur Thapa.
• From the story Brave Dog Jimmy by Azam Siddiqui

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A first person story

• How Crip got his name
• By Dr. Gwen Davis
• Hi. I'd like to tell you the story of how my
  name got changed. When I was first born, I didn't
  have a name at all. I lived in a house, with my
  mom and the other puppies. I was warm and happy,
  but that didn't last long.

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More of Crips story

• As soon as I was barely old enough to walk
  around I was thrown out I would wag my tail, and
  look as cute as I could. But no one ever picked
  me up to take me home.

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Crips story works because

• Dr. Gwen manages to become Crip--and
• Crip is not sentimental or self-pitying--but
  just matter of fact.
• After about a week a lady came in and adopted
  me. She told them I was a special gift for her
  husband Well, when I met my new friend Bob I
  knew why. Bob had wheels just like me!

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Which would you rather read?

• Deep in the blue Red Sea along the coast of
  Sinai, the land of the prophets as Egyptians say,
  lives a predator we always think of in terms of
  its natural killing instinct.
• The media has propagandized this magnificent
  creature making it into a monster, feared by the
  majority of people.

• Deep in the blue Red Sea along the coast of
  Sinai, the land of the prophets as Egyptians say,
  lives a predator we always think of in terms of
  its natural killing instinct. The media has
  propagandized this magnificent creature making it
  into a monster, feared by the majority of people.
• From Our Shark Friend by Ahmed Diab

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Give contact information

• How can people find you?
• How can people donate?
• At the end of your story, add
• Please visit our website
• www.wonderfulelephants.org

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Who are you talking to in your writing?

• Are you talking to a police officer?
• A judge?
• A government representative?
• A convicted animal abuser?

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A magic key to good writing is

• To know that are talking to a friend
• So, be kind to your friend, the reader
• No need to be pretentious, blameful, or difficult

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Write the way you talk

• Dont write, "Our rapid response team treated 16
  cows, 11 horses, and five donkeys. We dispensed
  two dozen vaccinations, then we returned."
• Instead, write, "When we arrived at the camp, we
  saw a little donkey struggling to stand up"

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Writing for the Best Friends Network

• If youd like to be a volunteer International
  Writer for the Best Friends Network, please
  contact me,
• Sharon St. Joan
• Sharonsj_at_bestfriends.org

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Wherever you write

• Enjoy writing!
• and remember, if you can talk,
• you can write!