Writing Monsters and Maniacs: A Masterclass in Genre Fiction for Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction (The Ultimate Author's Guide) - Softcover

Chase, Jackson Dean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1721887814 ISBN 13: 9781721887811

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018

Synopsis

Writing Monsters and Maniacs: A Masterclass in Genre Fiction for Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction

Create Unforgettable Monsters, Maniacs, Aliens, and Fantasy Creatures

Bestselling authors and screenwriters know that great monsters and maniacs are the key to hooking readers. You can have the best plot in the world, but without equally compelling creatures and villains, your story will fall flat.

In this ultimate masterclass, USA TODAY bestselling author Jackson Dean Chase teaches you how to craft terrifying, fascinating, and truly original monsters, aliens, and maniacs for novels, screenplays, comics, and role-playing games. Whether you write fantasy, horror, or science fiction, this book will show you how to create unforgettable creatures that drive your story forward.

Inside, You’ll Learn How To:

• Design alien and fantasy races like centaurs, orcs, goblins, and prehistoric subhuman cavemen
• Create energy-based lifeforms (astral predators, demons, ghosts) and explore how they interact with the living
• Understand what motivates maniacal villains like cannibals, human familiars (Renfield, Igor), and unhinged serial killers
• Develop artificial intelligence threats—androids, cyborgs, rogue AIs, virtual nightmares, and possessed machines
• Write terrifying shapeshifters—cursed were-beasts, genetic anomalies, and science-based transformations
• Build the undead with fresh twists—vampires, mummies, zombies, skeletons, and beyond
• Design legendary beasts and mythological monsters—dragons, mutants, and wild, untamed creatures

More Than Just a Reference—A Complete Monster-Building Toolkit

• A custom Monster Builder to help you create original creatures and villains from any world, dimension, or afterlife
• A complete list of magic spells, psychic talents, and supernatural powers to give your monsters unique strengths and weaknesses
• Over 150 plot ideas to inspire fresh, exciting stories
• Hundreds of book, movie, and TV recommendations to help you develop the perfect monster or maniac

Perfect for Writers of Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction

Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned professional, this book gives you the tools to create creatures that terrify, captivate, and thrill readers.

Expand Your Writing Arsenal—The Ultimate Author’s Guide Series

Writing Monsters and Maniacs is part of the Ultimate Author’s Guide series, designed to help writers create stronger characters, deeper plots, and more immersive worlds.

Explore more in the series:

• The Ultimate Author’s Guide to Writing Dynamite Story Hooks – Discover the secret bestselling authors use to grab readers' attention from the very first sentence
• The Ultimate Author’s Guide to Writing Heroes and Villains – Master character development, conflict, and motivation, including how to write realistic men and women
• The Ultimate Author’s Guide to Writing Apocalypse and Survival – Craft pulse-pounding apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, and zombie survival horror fiction

Start Creating Unforgettable Monsters and Maniacs Today!

Readers love to be scared, fascinated, and thrilled by the unknown. Writing Monsters and Maniacs gives you the knowledge and techniques to create creatures that haunt readers long after the final page.

Get your copy now and start building unforgettable monsters!

About this title

About the Author

Jackson Dean Chase is a USA TODAY bestselling author and award-winning poet. His fiction has been praised as "irresistible" in Buzzfeed and "diligently crafted" in The Huffington Post. 

Chase's books on writing have helped thousands of authors overcome writer's block and craft dynamite story hooks. As a ghostwriter and coauthor, his celebrity clients include actors, rock stars, and YouTube influencers.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1721887814
• ISBN 13: 9781721887811
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 180