by Ruth Harris
Writers are always urged to have or develop “rhino skin.”
But let me add a few words about rhino skin.
When I wrote ZURI, I did lots & lots of research about rhinos. As it turns out, rhinos have thick hides but sensitive skin—quite different from the usual perception.
What rhinos have is, in fact, is exactly what writers need:
1) We need thick hides to help insulate us from rejection, rotten reviews and incoming from the demands of marketing and social media.
2) We also require the sensitive skin that gives us the heightened awareness and sensitivity to others and to our surroundings that result in compelling fiction.
As I was contemplating the misconception about rhinos and their skin and the difference between a thick hide and a thin skin, it occurred to me there are a number of other rhino characteristics that would serve writers well:
1) Good sense of direction.
Although rhinos have no GPS to guide them, they do have a superb sense of direction. Rhinos remember a route they have taken only once. They don’t get lost or distracted.
Writers need to keep from getting lost, too. Whether it’s deep in the thickets of a complicated plot or trying to decide between self-pub, small press or trad-pub, writers need to take a cue from rhinos:
Don’t get distracted and be careful not to get lost, lose sight of the goal or the way to get there.
2) Excellent memory.
Rhinos remember people and places and can distinguish between friends and enemies.
Writers sometimes need to do lots of research (something rhinos can’t do) but writers, like rhinos, need to remember the apt fact, the relevant anecdote, the specific situation and the emotions linked to them. That depth and richness of memory allows us to describe a unique setting, a particular individual, and will contribute potent detail that result in powerful storytelling.
Writers also need to distinguish friends from enemies and, in our plots, the good guys from the bad guys. (Even though sometimes we try to keep it as complicated as possible, especially if we’re writing mysteries!)
3) Bond well with others.
Although rhinos are nearsighted, they bond well with other rhinos (contrary to the popular perception of rhinos as solitary, in fact they are social and live in small groups). In addition, rhinos bond well with their human friends and keepers.
Writers will find much support from communities of other writers and, of course, writers want to bond well with their editors and readers. 😉
4) Speed, strength, and resilience.
Despite their size, rhinos are surprisingly fast: they can attain speeds of 35-miles-per-hour over short distances. Writers also have a need for speed: to please readers who are anxiously waiting for the next book and, on deadline, a writer needs the ability to develop high speed over short periods of time as well as strength for the long haul.
It goes without saying that rhinos are huuuge! Rhinos, members of a mammalian class called odd-toed ungulates, are among of the largest creatures on earth. Fully grown, they can be six feet tall and weigh anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 pounds which makes them very, very strong indeed. Strong enough to withstand rejection or a rotten review? You bet! Can you imagine a rhino sulking over a crappy review? Hardly. Strong enough to power through a block? Plenty strong for that.
Can you see a rhino getting defeated by anything except maybe another rhino if he’s of the male persuasion and they’re fighting over a girl rhino? Nope. Rhinos are like the old Timex commercial: They take a licking but keep on ticking.
Ditto writers: Speed through and get that book finished—some will love it, others will hate it—but the writer keeps on writing.
5) Great listening skills.
The nearsighted rhino is blessed with superior hearing. What s/he can’t see, s/he can hear.
Writers would do well to hone their listening skills because good hearing equals good dialogue. A writer who really listens to what people say and the way they say it, will not burden his/her book with clunky dialogue. People speak in fragments and uncompleted thoughts, not long, well-considered sentences and paragraphs.
6) A nose for news
Rhinos have an excellent sense of smell, a quality that helped me write a triumphant ending for the baby rhino, Zuri.
For writers, a good sense of smell heightens the ability to sniff trends and detect BS in others, in their characters—and, most of all, in themselves.
7) What? You thought I wasn’t going to go there????
by Ruth Harris (@RuthHarrisBooks) June 30, 2013
What about you, scriveners? Can you develop a thick hide over your sensitive writer skin? Do you have a rhino “nose” for news and BS? Do you think you can tell friends from enemies as well as rhinos do? What helped you develop your “rhino” habits?
Anne and I love our readers and, because we want to keep them happy, we are offering special deals every Sunday. This week, in honor of all I’ve learned from and about rhinos and in appreciation of our readers, I’m reducing ZURI to 99c from its usual price of $3.99.
No wonder you know so much about Rhinos, Ruth!
Rhinos don't stop and think about the things that often stop us – they just power through and keep moving.
And long since replaced Google Reader with Feedly and Bloglovin'. I wanted time to get used to them before Google's died.
Hi Alex! I really got to love rhinos! The more I found out about them, the more interesting they were.
Problem is African rhinos are almost extinct which is what inspired me to write ZURI. Rhinos are listed as an endangered species as poachers murder them for their horns. The horns are thought to cure cancer/impotence/etc in Asia and as Asia gets richer, the demand for rhino horn increases. The work of scientists, vets & African animal orphanages are all that stand between rhinos and extinction. A very sad story.
Alex—Forgot to add that I made the switch to Feedly as soon as The Big G announced the demise of GR. Had no problem and find Feedly works very well indeed.
The pictures are adorable and yes, I wish I was more like Zuri.
Great stuff there. Rhinos CAN be very defensive when aroused, which sounds familiar to me. But I guess that's just the rogue bulls. So I should stick together with the writing community I've found.
And grey's my favorite color so I take no urging to enjoy the rhino. Wish the Lands of Hope had some, but haven't been too deep in the Argensian jungle to date…
TDR—Thank you! I love those pix too. Shows a whole different side to rhinos. I found them when I was writing ZURI and think my rhino heroine looks just like them and has an equally chic red blanket!
Trekelny—Thank you for the kind words. A mommy rhino will get very PO'd if she thinks you mean any harm to her calf, that's for sure.
Great analogy between rhinos and writers. I definitely need to develop more of the tough skin for querying. And I agree with Alex about rhinos not stopping to think.
Natalie—Glad you enjoyed the analogy! Alex made an excellent point: rhinos don't stop to second guess themselves. Or revise & edit ad infinitum! 🙂
Lexa—Thanks. Getting in touch with our inner rhino can only be a good thing! 🙂
Julie—Thanks for the kind words. Our rhino-selves will conquer the world, right? 😉
Holy Cow! I had no idea Rhinos got THAT big! And I sure hope I can develop a thick skin when it comes to reviews.
mshatch—Huuuge! I suspect you will…the thick, review-protective hide comes from experience & perspective.
Didn't Henry Ibsen write a play about this? 🙂
In all seriousness, I love the idea of being like a rhinoceros. Great post 🙂
Love the rhino allusions. Thanks for the book offer too.
So much useful info here as always. I hope you don't mind, but I've linked this post on my next blog post (next week) and have advertised two of the writing opportunities. Let me know if this is a problem.
Denise
AJ–That was Eugene Ionesco. Brilliant play to read. Kind of tedious to stage. 🙂
I never imagined I'd be happy to imagine myself as a rhino – but I totally am! I'm all rhino-ed up now with a tough skin and a nose for BS. Thanks for the analogy and all the tips. 🙂
Ruth, it does take rhino like traits– what a fun post and your points are so well taken. I really liked the thick skin vs staying sensitive. Well said.
I switched to Blogluvin weeks ago so am all prepared. I actually like it better now that I'm used to it.
Great post!
Wonderful post as usual, Ruth. So much you said resonated with me. Especially the don't lose the direction. The other day I had to remind myself whose story I was telling. It really helped to pause and think about this before I moved on to Act III of my novella. Also the full speed ahead point. That's just what I needed to decide to finish this story by the end of July and set a deadline for getting it to my publisher. Once in a while we writers need a kick in the pants. So thanks for the kick. 🙂 I've got "Zuri" on my Fire and can't wait to read it. That's the third thing I wanted to say. All the best, Paul
Your 'Rhino' post was great and nice of you to share this submission listing.
Thanks for sharing the links for submissions. And love your parallels between Writers and Rhinos– didn't know they had so much in common.
AJS aka MB—Anne is right: Ionesco.
I share your love for being like a rhino. Tough but tender; strong but fast. What's not to like? 🙂
Hi Denise, thanks for the kind words and thanks, too, for the link!
Damyanti—All credit to Anne for the links!
I didn't know writers & rhinos had so much in common until I wrote the post. Writing is an excellent way to find out what you actually think and what actually makes sense. It even occurs to me that almost anyone—not just writers—could gain something by getting in touch with their inner rhino!
JL—What can I say except thank you? Much appreciated!
Hi Paul, so pleased the post resonated. A writer needs to juggle so many ideas & goals, it's all too easy to get lost in the trees and lose sight of the forest. Interesting, too, that different points resonate with different writers.
Hope you enjoy the adventures of Zuri and her friends—animal and human. This is the first time I've written animal characters and I loved it. Kind of proves you never know what you're going to like until you actually try! 🙂
Sheena-kay—Awwww, thanks for the compliment. And credit to Anne who shared the submission listing.
Melanie—Thanks! Glad the analogy worked for you. Sometimes the right analogy can make something we already know especially vivid!
I enjoyed this post – lots of facts about rhinos I didn't know. As for emulating them as a writer…well, I've got the huge part down pat. (I really MUST go on a diet.)
LD—lol 😉
Great analogy- dead on.
P&P&Zombies is one of my favorite books–really, it's that funny. I don't think I can write quirk that well though. Seth Grahame-Smith really nailed it with that spin on Jane Austen.
Thick skin in social media–you are so right-on. It's sad how mean people can be online. I've been a part of message forums and communities online since 1999 and I'd like to say I'm tough, but it still hurts when people are intentionally cruel while hiding behind a screen name. I just witnessed a fellow writer get harassed on twitter yesterday, and just…why? It's so frustrating.
Steph—Thanks for taking the time to comment. The cruelty is shocking and makes it very difficult to stand strong. Getting in touch with your inner rhino is a good image to keep in mind because, much as it can hurt, no rhino is going to melt down.
I think I shall adopt "be the rhino!" for my new motto!
Charley–I have no doubt you will be a fine rhino–one we will all do our best to emulate! Go Charley!