#141. How To Create Believable Monsters With Randy Ellefson

“The object itself didn't cause the conflict. The person who made the choice with the object caused the conflict.” - Randy Ellefson In today’s episode, we’re going to cover something really fun—how to create believable monsters. And I have a special guest joining me today—someone that knows way more about creating monsters than I do. His name is Randy Ellefson, and he is the author of The Art of World Building. Here’s a preview of what’s included: [03:48] Randy gives us his definition of a monster, what physical or physiological deformities they may have, and whether they are sentient beings. [16:05] Randy breaks down the three types of monsters: accidental monsters, monsters by design, and monsters by evolution. [28:42] Is it more effective to compel readers to keep reading despite knowing the outcome, or to cultivate curiosity that propels the audience to move forward? [29:15] Randy shares common monster motivations, including a popular one that may lack credibility. [50:47] The idea of exploring diverse topics and genres can expose writers to new ideas and provide fresh perspectives, even for writers not typically inclined towards fantasy, sci-fi, or historical fiction. Links mentioned in this episode: Click here to register for the free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Author's Summit hosted by Paula Judith Johnson and Randy Ellefson! Randy's Website Randy's Books Randy's Worldbuilding Classes Ep. 111 - Student Spotlight: From Messy First Draft to Publishing His Debut Novel With Edward J. Cembal Read this episode's blog post here! FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author! Support the show