Every protagonist needs an enemy and if you write fantasy fiction a terrifying monster can fit the role perfectly. Think about how memorable Sauron from “The Lord of the Rings” is, possessing a relentless power of his own and joined by other deadly helpers, including the ringwraiths. One of the most chilling things about these particular baddies is that they were once human and represent the depths to which people can fall. They also seem indestructible at first, heightening the danger of Frodo’s quest.
So how can you create a monster as effective as these? Start by thinking about what would be a good fit in your novel. Perhaps the monster is the opposite of the protagonist in every way, or perhaps it is similar, representing something the protagonist could have become if they had made evil choices. Give the monster and/or species of monsters a name. Think about what they look like. Their appearance could be something easy for the readers to imagine, such as a giant hound or dragon, or you might need to describe them a number of times so that readers can picture them.
How did your monsters come to exist? They could have evolved or perhaps started out as humans and changed as the result of becoming cannibals or using evil magic. If they were once human, how do they now view that life and their past family? Do they regret what they have turned into or love it? Voldemort is a good example of someone monstrous who was once human, who is an interesting and complex character as well as being a horrific challenge for Harry to face. Other monsters might take different forms, such as sea monsters or ogres.
Think about the character and intellect of your monsters. Are they clever – capable of solving problems that stop them hunting or building a home – or do they rely on simple instincts to keep them alive and fed? Can they speak to each other or to humans? Monsters like Voldemort and Dracula can outwit many people, while ones like the chimera and hydra from Greek myths are dangerous creatures with little recognisable intelligence.
Are there differences amongst your monsters such as each gender – if they have more than one gender – being a different size or colour? Do they have their own culture or just exist to kill and/or destroy the culture of others? If there is more than one of them, how do they interact with each other? Perhaps they are so vicious that they even attack each other, or there could be a contrast between them being nurturing and loving to each other and turning into ruthless killers towards any other species that enters their territory.
Think about their environment. Where do they live and in what ways does it suit their needs? For instance, perhaps they are lizard-like creatures, such as dragons, that need the hot environment of a desert to survive. Maybe they live in an area with other species that they hunt for food.
Do they have to kill to survive, enjoy killing or gain nourishment or power from killing? Perhaps they only kill specific people, such as those who enter their territory or take something they consider theirs. Think about the method they use to kill. Do they use some kind of weapon or ability, such as a club or a magical skill? Are they evil or just trying to stay alive?
Perhaps you want to create monsters that don’t kill. In that case what do they do that makes them frightening? Perhaps they make people go insane. Medusa, from Greek myths, could turn people to stone while a fox spirit from Chinese myths could sometimes possess a person, making their host do terrible things.
If you only want to have a single monster, was it created by someone and, if so, does it serve that person? A golem or hell-hound might do the bidding of an even more powerful enemy that your protagonist will have to defeat.
What traits, strengths and weaknesses do your monsters have that make them interesting enough to hold your readers’ interest? Perhaps they have a back-story, as a vengeful ghost or wendigo would, that explains what made them the way they are.
Are folktales told about them by nearby groups of people? Perhaps these exaggerate how fearsome they are or have only limited information because few people survive glimpsing them. In myths monsters are often well-known and thought to be impossible to kill, such as the Nemean lion Hercules has to overcome.
If you can create a unique and deadly monster that seems impossible to destroy, or an entire species of them, it will give your novel an epic feel and make your readers thoroughly invested in what happens, worrying about the danger to the protagonist.
I hope this article gave you some useful ideas. It’s one of a series that’s based on the free templates from my book, “Writing Fantasy (The Ultimate Guide and Complete Reference Book)” (U.S. link). You can get the link to download the entire set of twelve templates in the Book Samples section.
