Menagerie Stories

The earliest known artists and writers used animals as their first subjects. Images of creatures dominate cave walls of Lascaux and Altamira and tell stories of the prehistoric world.Teaching stories and fables arrived later. They reveal, through actions of animals, ways to show children how to behav...e and the consequences of wrong choices.

What menagerie could you create to tell a story?

Consider two animals who collaborate. An elephant waded into the pond at a Wild Animal Park. With the sound of a trumpet, it tossed water from its trunk onto its back. Ripples from its skin sent droplets over the large frame. A bluebird happened by and noticed this refreshment in the heat of the day.

“Hello,” the bird sang as it flew above the trunk.”How do you do that?”

“Ah, “ the elephant responded. “ Would you like a spray?”

“I have flown from the north and would like a drink and bath,” the bird flapped just above the gray trunk. Soon the water sparkled from its feathers. “What a wonderful mechanism to have.”

“You’re fortunate also to have wings,” smiled the elephant. “I’ve always admired birds in the sky and how they can travel.

“It looks like we have ways to share our experiences,” said the bird, drying one feather at a time with its beak.

“So many animals here have talents to learn about,” said the elephant.

“Aren’t you frightened by the fierce ones?” the bird asked.

“Each has his or her own specialty,” said the elephant and moved deeper into the water.

Ears wriggled from the water as a large head appeared, then the body of a hippo.

Creative Write:  Where would you take this story? Start one of your own!

The Write Mind

Do you realize that you possess all you need to activate your Write Life? You do not have to fret or feel concern. It’s all there. If you focus on your resolve and bring to mind the intention and commitment to write, you will achieve your true Write Mind.

A supportive state of mind becomes the best way to commit to a Write Habit. Nourish your resolve and direct your write energy with intention. Change your statements about writing. Instead of indicating that you want to write or you will write, think “Writing is my nature.”

If you permit your subconscious mind to work from a place of perceived inadequacy, the energy that supports your resolve weakens. A positive approach assists your level of contentment even during times of seeming frustration.

Energize into your Write Mind!

Answer these questions from a positive perspective:

1. Do you believe your writing results from talent, hard work or the struggle that moves you beyond rejection and disappointment? Why do you write?

2. Do you write needing praise and attention for your writing?

3. How do you practice writing?

4. Have you quit in frustration only to return with renewed vigor after a break?

5. Do you permit yourself to write for fun?

6. What do you discover when you write?

7. How does writing provide contentment?

8. What do you learn each time you write? About yourself? About process?

9. How do you overcome the fear of publication and its hype?

10. What will you do today to strengthen your writing resolve?


Keep your writing resolve moving with a smile!

Hook your reader with your first words.

If the paragraphs don't tease, annoy or astonish the readers in some way, they'll stop reading. You also have to provide a bit of character, mood and setting.

Margaret Atwood in her most recent novel, The Year of the Flood (2009), begins:

"In the early morning Toby climbs up to the rooftop to watch the sunrise. She uses a mop handle for balance: the elevator stopped working some time ago and the back stairs are slick with damp, so if she slips and topples there won't be anyone to pick her up.

As the first heat hits, mist rises from among the swath of trees between her and the derelict city. The air smells faintly of burning, a smell of caramel and tar and rancid barbecues, and the ashy but greasy smell of a garbage-dump fire after it’s been raining."


Creative Write: Look at the photograph above. Create a character based on the above information. Provide a few lines to intrigue!