By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Lions fascinate me. They represent nobility and respect, and their muscular bodies are to be admired and feared. No fat anywhere. Like I hope my stories resonate with readers.
The more I thought about lions, the more I realized writing a novel has much in common with these animals. Here are my 10 comparisons.
- If you find yourself in the presence of a lion, do not run. The animal will chase you. If a story stalks a writer, it’s because she’s not writing it. The story will chase us! Either one will eat us alive.
- Lions do their best hunting at night. A character can wake a writer from a deep sleep with his/her own agenda? “Hey, writer,” the character roars, “I need attention.”
- A suitable den for a lion is small. The animal needs security in a comfortable and small environment. A novel is confined within the pages of a book that tells a story effectively and creatively. Neither a lion nor a story acts well outside its comfort zone. The result is a misbehaved lion or a book without a solid plot.
- Lions are not clean animals. Males like to mark their territory, never mind how. Novels have to be clean or the writer is marked as a messy writer who doesn’t pay attention to grammar or detail. Neither are pleasant experiences.
- Lions communicate through various sounds and physical actions. They like to nuzzle and lick to show affection. They can purr, hiss, or roar. So does a novel. Writers use sensory perception and body language to express emotion in character, plot, dialogue, setting, and narrative.
- Lions represent strength, wisdom, bravery, dominance, resilience, and authority. A well-written novel embraces the same attributes when a character steps out of his/her comfort zone and accepts a challenge. The character refuses to give up, ushering power into the story.
- Lions are basically lazy unless they are hunting. They use patience and cunning to track down their prey. Many plots are carefully hidden, waiting for the reader to pick up the book. The story bolts into action, taking the reader to places never before experienced.
- Lions can be man-eaters. Are novels any different? Stories reach out to readers, seeking to devour their attention.
- Lions are known to pace. A story that touches the human heart will not leave the reader alone. The characters continue to walk across our mind and soul. The reader constantly revisits the adventure.
- Lions are known to be independent within their own pride. A novel stands alone as a witness to the world of a unique contribution to literature.
Are you ready to read a lion-filled novel? I think I hear one roaring . . .
DiAnn’s Library Corner
Library Tip: Readers young and old enjoy stories about animals. Create a display of animal books for all ages.
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