How to create a monster. An easy-to-follow guide for bringing imaginary monsters to life.
- Neil Mach
- Mar 26
- 4 min read
Brutish massiveness is not the sole characteristic of monsterness.
To be a monster, an entity doesn't have to be physically large or even physically present. Take a moment to reflect upon this truth. For example, I might have a "monstrous" urge to do something bad, but you can't see my urge. Moreover, despite the animal's enormous size, an elephant is not inherently a monster, even though it's certainly huge. Indeed, people suggest that most elephants are kind and gentle. My argument is that monsters are not necessarily monsters just because they're substantial or conspicuous.
I think that monsters just need to be awful: like this headache I'm nursing!
So, how would you begin to create a monster? Here’s an easy-to-follow guide for bringing imaginary monsters to life.
To prove a monster is truly dreadful, it must be:
Unnaturally evil (as exemplified by Vlad the Impaler)
Dreadfully repulsive (like Gollum in Lord of the Rings)
Outrageously bestial (like Dr Jekyll's transformation into Mr. Hyde)
Or it could be all of the above
Don’t forget that a monster doesn’t have to be tangible. For instance, who among us hasn’t been tormented by jealousy? This emotion is often called a “green-eyed monster". Describing this green-eyed monster isn’t simple, yet you can sense its tentacles when it latches onto you and before it consumes you!
And, don't forget that monsters can be regular humans. The tabloid press often calls serial killers “monsters” despite their human appearance. This is probably because such individuals frequently lack the 'expected' morality and integrity that's normally associated with typical human behaviour. The tabloids might have the folkloric concept of a monster in mind when they describe serial killers as monsters. What's the folkloric concept?
The Folkloric Concept of Monsterness
Most ancient tales agree that:
A monster is a debased and morally corrupt individual of the species it represents
Or, that a monster is an altered or inferior individual of the species it represents (e.g., Uruk-Hai orcs).
Or, that a monster is disturbing deformation of its former self (like Quirinus Quirrell)
Or, that a monster is malevolent supernatural being, or a repulsive unearthly creature (like the one in Ridley Scott’s Alien)
Or, some combination of them all
Definition of the word "Monster"
The word “monster” in modern English originates from the Latin “monstrum,” which itself stems from the Latin verb “moneo.” The original meaning of "moneo" is to remind, warn, instruct, or foretell. However, modern English employs the stem-word to describe what is perceived as strange, unnatural, or hideous.
As Tina Marie Boyer wrote in her piece “The Anatomy of a Monster” (2013): “Monsters do not emerge out of a cultural void; they have a literary and cultural heritage...”
As you start to shape your monster, it’s wise to recall Tina's words and think about the monster's literary or cultural heritage. I also recommend you reflect on the evolutionary path that shaped your creature into its present terrifying appearance and horrifying conduct (Gollum/Sméagol’s history in Lord of the Rings serves as an ideal case).
A classic monster can be powerful, brutal, and insatiably hungry, yet does this descriptor fit a panther? A panther is what a panther is: being scary, merciless, strong, and veracious comes naturally to the panther... that’s how the creature evolved. A panther might appear monstrous to us (because we’ll likely be his supper), but he won't be monstrous to another panther, or to an elephant (or even an ant.) So it's worth bearing-in-mind that a creature’s ‘monstrousness’ is defined by the observer. For example, the same ant that wasn't terrified of the panther might be scared-out-of-his pants when faced with a grasshopper!
A panther’s unique traits define its natural ability to hunt for meat, to feed itself and to feed its family. Therefore a panther needs to be strong, cunning, secretive, fast, and equipped with claws of steel and swordlike teeth! Though, if a panther turns “rogue”, possibly due to hunger or some other uncontrollable urge, it might become genuinely monstrous.
How do you define monstrosity? To sum up, what eccentricities must a monster possess before it can be labelled such? How do you develop your fantasy monster? How do you bring a truly monstrous monster to life?
It doesn't matter if you're describing a serial killer, an orc, or a dragon, I think you should include at least one of what I call the 'required monster traits' before you can be sure your creature is truly a monster. Use this checklist:
Perversion: Is your creature's conduct abnormal, deviant, promiscuous, or warped?
Corruption: Is your creature's disposition impure, unhealthy, debauched, or regressive?
Degeneration: Is your creature profligate or psychopathic?
Distortion: Is your creature's behaviour insane, manic, ravenous, or unquenchable?
Abomination: Is your creature cannibalistic, unsanitary, depraved, or cruel?
When creating a monster, be sure its chemical composition includes at least one of the 'required monster trait' perversities. Good hunting!
Words: © Neil Mach
Neil Mach is a prolific English author known for his clean urban fantasy fiction (like his popular 'Moondog' series) and his historical fiction works. Neil is also a well-known public speaker, and a creativity advisor. Neil has a background as a rock journalist. He frequently shares his expertise on writing and the music business, particularly rock music history, and has written over 20 books, and he often addresses writing workshops. Since its launch in 2019, his extremely popular Myth & Magic podcast has provided enthusiasts of fantasy literature and fantasy art with over 125 hours of audio enjoyment.
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