Writing Monsters: How to Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures to Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, an d Science Fiction

Monsters are more than things that go bump in the night...

Monsters are lurking in the woods, beneath the waves, and within our favorite books, films, and games--and there are good reasons why they appear so often. Monsters are manifestations of our fears and symbols of our society--not to mention they're a lot of fun--but each should serve a purpose and enhance the themes and tension in your fiction.

In Writing Monsters, best-selling author Philip Athans uses classic examples from books, films, and the world around us to explore what makes monsters memorable--and terrifying. You'll learn what monsters can (and should) represent in your story and how to create monsters from the ground up.

Writing Monsters includes:

• In-depth discussions of where monsters come from, what they symbolize, and how to best portray them in fiction
• Informative overviews of famous monsters, archetypes, and legendary creatures
• A Monster Creation Form to help you create your monster from scratch
• An annotated version of H.P. Lovecraft's chilling story "The Unnamable"