Writing Monsters: Exploring Creatures and Humanity in Speculative Fiction

Monsters have fascinated me ever since I was a little kid. I remember my public school library had a small section all about classic monsters, with a book for each of the big greats (Creature from the Black Lagoon and Godzilla were my favourites), delving into how they came to be, both in the real world and on the page.

I wasn't a brave kid. I was scared of a lot, and it wasn't until my late teens that I was able to endure horror movies. (The Fly and Gremlins both messed me up, but Ghostbusters really opened my eyes.) Now, I love them. I love being scared, immersed by a book, show, movie, or game. In my own writing, monsters rear their terrifying heads, clawing their way through the pages to wreak havoc on my heroes. In my Sisters of Jade Trilogy, the Sisters faced off against many beasties, and my upcoming sci-fi book The Caladrius Project incudes a monster I'm very excited to reveal.

This August, I'm going to be on a panel about writing monsters at When Worlds Collide in Calgary. This has already got my brain spinning, thinking about monsters and how I come at them as a writer. What makes them scary? What makes them last long after the reader has finished the book? What about the craft of creating a monster works, and what different avenues can we as writers use to make them come to life (or unlife) on the page?

Many monsters fall flat. They hunt our characters through grey, rainy streets and dimly lit parks but are ultimately forgettable. The ones that stick with us challenge our understanding of the world and ourselves, pushing boundaries between the familiar and the unknown. When writing monsters in speculative fiction, the key lies in how these creatures reflect deeper themes and emotions. Sure, I love a giant worm as much as anyone, but a great monster touches on more than just spectacle and gore --- especially in a book.

I'm going to share five distinct ways to approach monsters in your stories, each offering unique opportunities to explore fear, identity, and darkness.

Female Zombie Sitting on the Floor by Cottonbro Studio

What Makes a Monster?

First, I'd like to talk about what a 'monster' is. This is a fuzzy line. A big grey area. What is the difference between a monster and a villain? Is this a question of humanity, or am I just splitting hairs at this point? Does a monster have intelligence, or is it a beast? All of these are things to consider when crafting your monsters.

What starts as a monster art the beginning of a story might be revealed to be a misunderstood victim by the end. That's fine. Monsters should have some element of the unknown combined with ill intent. Or, to be clear, your characters --- and therefore your readers --- think there is ill intent.

Intent, I feel, is the key. The monster kills or terrorizes not just because they have to, but because they wants to. There is a darkness inside that they enjoy. In Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, Lestat likes to kill. Louis doesn't. In Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, the dinosaurs are just doing what comes naturally. Are John Hammond and InGen the real monsters? They didn't intend for people to die, but by their hubris unleashed terror and death on our heroes.

You'll still want to use some of these approaches when writing your fiends. How you portray your monsters matters, so let's dive in.

1: Twisting What We Know

One of the most common ways to create monsters is by taking something familiar and making it unsettling or dangerous. Take an animal or insect or something everyday-ish and make it more. Make it meaner. A dire wolf. Big spiders. A bear high on cocaine. A giant marshmallow man stomping his way through New York City.

This technique plays on readers’ expectations and turns comfort into fear. It can also take a mild phobia and really dig deep into it. These monsters are usually up front and clear. There is little mystery, unless you get into how this monster came to be. You can twist common animals, myths, or everyday objects into monstrous forms that feel both recognizable and alien.

When writing monsters this way, focus on:

• Subverting expectations: Take a known creature and change one or two key traits to make it threatening.

• Highlighting contrast: Show the monster’s familiar side alongside its monstrous nature to deepen unease.

• Using sensory details: Describe how the monster’s appearance or behavior deviates from the norm in vivid ways.

2: Altering the Self

I find this to be the most effective monster for me. The ones that really frighten me. Monsters born from humanity’s transformation tap into fears about losing control over the body or mind. This is the heart of body horror. These creatures often start as humans but become something else through science, magic, or curse. This approach explores identity and what it means to be human.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a prime example. The creature is a human creation gone wrong, embodying fears about playing god and losing humanity. Stories like The Fly or Kafka's The Metamorphosis also use this theme to powerful effect.

Key points for writing monsters that alter the self:

• Show the transformation process: Readers connect more when they witness the change and its impact.

• Explore internal conflict: The monster struggles with its new form or instincts.

• Use symbolism: The transformation can represent real-world issues like addiction, illness, or alienation.

3: Revealing the Unknown

Some monsters come from the dark corners of the psyche or the unexplored parts of the world and/universe. These creatures embody fears of the unknown, the unseen, or the subconscious. Writing monsters this way taps into primal anxieties and mystery.

Creatures from other dimensions. Beings of pure darkness and malice. Nightmares coming to life. People who died, touched the other side, and then returned different. These monsters are generally more memorable when their existence stems from something connected to your heroes/main characters.

H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horrors are perfect examples. His monsters are often indescribable and beyond human comprehension, symbolizing the vast, uncaring universe. This approach challenges readers to confront what they cannot understand. Clive Barker's cenobites are another good example, though I feel the idea of the cenobites is much more compelling than any of their appearances in book or film.

To write monsters that reveal the unknown:

• Create ambiguity: Let the monster’s nature or motives remain unclear to build suspense.

• Use atmosphere: Darkness, silence, and isolation enhance the sense of the unknown.

• Connect to human fears: The monster can represent mental illness, trauma, or existential dread.

4: Losing Control

As much as the 'Altering the Self' monsters scare me the most, the 'Losing Control' monsters are generally my favourite. This category focuses on monsters that emerge from within, where a character loses control over their darker side.

Unlike altering the self, which is often caused by external stimuli, losing control is often the manifestation of something already inside, exploring duality and the battle between good and evil inside a person.

Classic examples include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and werewolf stories. These tales reveal how the monster is not just a creature but a part of the human psyche, making the horror intimate and relatable.

When writing monsters about losing control:

• Show internal struggle: The character fights to suppress or accept their monstrous side.

• Use dual identities: Separate personas or transformations highlight conflict.

• Explore consequences: Losing control affects relationships and morality.

5: The Regular and Mundane

Not all monsters need supernatural traits. Sometimes, the most terrifying creatures are ordinary people who commit monstrous acts. Serial killers, abusers, or those driven by dark desires show how evil can exist without fantasy elements.

These generally aren't my cup of tea, and I feel these are the hardest to pull off as actual monsters and not simply villains. My wife disagrees, and thinks these are often the worst monsters.

True crime fiction and psychological thrillers often use this approach. Writers like Thomas Harris with Hannibal Lecter create chilling villains who are human but monstrous in their cruelty and cunning.

Writing monsters in this vein requires:

• Psychological depth: Explore motivations and mindset behind monstrous behavior.

• Realistic details: Ground the story in believable settings and actions.

• Moral complexity: Show how society and circumstances contribute to monstrosity.

Silhouette of Person with Hands on Glass by Ron Lach

Best Practices for Writing Monsters

The best monsters utilize a mix of these elements. Most zombies incorporate all of these, both in their undead and the survivors' reactions. Vampires for sure touch on 'Losing Control' and 'Altering the Self', and some would debate 'Twisting What We Know' too. Pennywise from Stephen King's It directly uses 'Twisting What We Know' to great effect in the story, though the monster itself comes from 'Revealing the Unknown' (and uses that against his victims too).

Sometimes the monster isn't really the big thing chasing our heroes around, but instead is revealed to be the person or agency that created the thing. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, for example. But in this, as a writer you can place these different attributes on both the monster and there creator, making a more complex and compelling story.

You can add gore to any of these. Or not. Gore without some connection to your characters is just spectacle. For me, that's the key. Making your monster have some deep connection to your characters. Have I always gotten this right? Hell no, but it's a good thing to keep in mind.

Whatever way to you choose to write your monster, keep these tips in mind to make something truly unforgettable and disturbing.