With Halloween fast approaching, many writers will be thinking about creating a memorable spine-chilling story to entertain their family and friends. The main element of any horror story, of course, is the villain who brings terror to the other characters. As you decide on the characteristics your monster will have, try to be creative. You can stay with the tried and tested werewolves and zombies, or develop your own unique monster. Read on for some of my tips to create your own monster simply and at lightning speed.

Creating Your Monster

The first thing you have to consider when creating your monster is to give them the same three dimensional apects that you would for any other character. Your monster must have more to their personality than just to cause terror. They must also have a back-story, beliefs and values like everyone else. Here are a few points to consider when you begin to build your monster's horrifying profile.

Monster Profile

First, decide what you are going to call your monster. What does your monster look like? Do they have any distinguishing features that would make your reader remember and fear them? How do they speak? Are they are a traditional monster or a character that has suffered certain events that have pushed them into acting violently? What do they do to frighten their victims? Whatever your choices are, make sure they logically fit into your story. If your monster has been disfigured, how did this happen? Where does your monster live when it is not chasing its victims? Are there only certain characters whom the monster tries to capture because they trigger a specific emotion that is related to their past?

Strengths And Weaknesses

Technically, your monster can have many strengths to their character, the more the better, actually. The monster's strengths will be the main aspect of your story that will move the plot along at an engaging pace. Here a few things to consider. Do they have any special powers? Can they make themselves invisible or are they extremely powerful. These strengths must seem impossible to conquer. To build tension and keep your reader engaged, your monster must seem invincible. As far as weaknesses are concerned, there should only be one main weakness that your protagonists can use to thwart them. How does your protagonist discover what these weaknesses are? Your monster must act in an unpredictable way; this will make them more terrifying. Try to think outside the box of the 'normal dagger through the heart' and 'gunshot to the head.'

What Is The Monster’s Motivation?

Your reader must know very little about the monster's motivation to begin with. Slowly the protagonist will uncover more of what the  monster wants to achieve, and then gradually try to find a way to defeat it. They will discover where it lives, what they want to achieve, what their strengths are and then finally what their weakness is. The protagonist will then create a deathly plan in order to defeat it. They will try several times, of course, but fail. (This will be the conflict within your story) So what does your monster want? Does it want to destroy the world? Maybe it has a horrifying past and now is seeking revenge? Or has the protagonist accidentally destroyed their habitat and has drawn the monster out of its hiding place?