“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!

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.