Questions tagged [monsters]

For questions about things that go bump in the night. Questions about real or imaginary monstrous creatures, how to describe them or incorporate them into works of fiction.

Monsters are a staple of the and genres, but also appear in 's literature and various other works. From the monster under the bed to the bogeyman, this tag covers any creature that could be described as a monster.

Questions with this tag should focus on the elements of including a monster in a story, or the physical description of monsters. Questions about creating monsters are off-topic. Some example questions:

  • How can I make the monsters in my children's story less scary?
  • How do I make a monstrous character relatable?
  • What are the advantages of keeping the monster unnamed in a horror story?

Related tags:

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Source ideas for monsters in a fantasy novel?

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to go to get some ideas on different types of monsters that can be created for a fantasy novel? I'm not talking about different variations of zombies or vampires, but rather something more unique and…
Steven Drennon
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Monsters of psychological horror

According to Wikipedia, psychological horror is Psychological horror is a subgenre of horror and psychological fiction that relies on mental, emotional and psychological states to frighten, disturb, or unsettle readers, [...] and it often uses…
Liquid
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Can I assume readers will root for my protagonist in a man vs. beast story?

I am writing a short Sci-Fi story centered entirely on the man vs. beast narrative where the protagonist attempts to escape an unstoppable, bloodthirsty creature for roughly 15 pages. From the first word to the last, there is action galore with…
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How should you use sexually deviant monsters in fantasy?

terror is a real and powerful thing. A monster is ever-so-slightly scarier if it violates you in some way. there have been many of these types of creatures seen in myths and fairy tales. This goes beyond the cliche succubus concept, and includes…
Incognito
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What can a fight scene prove about characters?

My story begins with a woman minding her own business and is forced to fight for her life; against a grotesque (but unseen) creature. The creature is too strong for her, she isn’t strong enough to defeat the creature but she starts hitting it…
Edmund Frost
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How do I write about monsters in the 21st Century?

Hollywood and 20th Century Fox used to make movie monsters with organic slime and grotesque puppets, back when CGI was something unheard of that was slowly being practiced. But there were also written books, such as The Thing From Another World and…
Edmund Frost
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Is there a website that tells you which D&D creatures are under copyright protection?

I use D&D as a source of inspiration in my writing, but the problem is sometimes I use monsters I see in the Monster Manual in my stories. Is there a way to know which ones of them are under copyright protection, so I can protect myself by not…
user36239
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How to suddenly introduce a scary character, but include description?

I have a scene in my story where the main character (the story is told from his POV) opens a door and there is a monster in the room. I want a sudden introduction, to show how shocked the character is, but I also want to give a description of the…
Ryan Krage
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Can monster/beasts be in a psychological horror

I am working on a psychological horror with an extra element. Monsters, and I don’t mean ghosts. My characters will face suspicions, distrust, paranoia and emotional disturbances. They will deal with these issues while trying to stop and survive…
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Am I just a coward, or will my reader be a coward too?

So I was trying to write about creatures that would vomit maggots, and then a different creature would lick it back up and vomit it out again to keep the meal going around. There was loads of maggots everywhere, and these huge flying beasts, these…
Featherball
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Why an ancient vampire sleeping for centuries under some castle in Europe would come to Brazil?

A vampire has been sleeping under a castle in Austria for centuries. But now the castle became a tourist attraction. It's really annoying. And the taste of the blood of the people on the region didn't change. Why would he come to Brazil?
Payuka
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