Verago

How do you like to introduce a creature into your stories?
I know not everyone here writes fantasy, but, if you don't...how do you
-like- things introduced to you when you read them?

Like, do you just come out and say, the <monsterX> attacked <insertperson>, or do you say something like ,"the character thought it met the description of the mythical creature, <insertcreature>, that he'd heard of long ago"...or what?
Of course, I don't actually use the latter of the two ideas I mentioned, but if I had to pick which was closer to what I actually prefer to do, that would be it.

I guess this is essentially just another "Share Your Technique" Thread.


Choose your poison.
Ethanael.

RebelGoddess

I've had that problem multiple times in my novel and I've found the best technique to be casually mentioning it and then, one or more chapters later, going deeper into the description.

Since my novel takes place in another dimension I run into this problem all the time.

If it's a monster just attacking for a chapter or so, I'd say name it first and then, maybe a few paragraphs after, describe it.

If it's a reccurring species or something, I'd use the trick above (the one with the chapter interval).

Good luck!

Racheal

__________________
Writing is life.

Writers' block doesn't exist. It's actually called work avoidance procrastination.
-Jasper Fforde

Lord Raiden

Using suttle, indirect, or direct introduction of a charecter or element will depend a lot on the situation. Gradual or gentle/suttle introduction of a charecter is good in a lot of cases. Sometimes an indirect way is better where you don't directly mention the charecter but hint at them for a while before putting a name to them and bringing them to the forefront of the story. The difference between suttle and indirect is that suttle introduces a charecter with name and charecteristics fairly quickly with little suspence, but is done in the background. Indirect is charecter introduction done in the foreground without directly introducing them. Direct introduction is self explainatory. Each depends on the situation. I don't think you'll find a single situation that spells out the rules for doing this in black and whilte. I think you have to kind of play it by ear for almost all introductions.

__________________
My personal writing section
My Linux teaching and tech site, Raiden's Realm

Hodge

"The beast looked like a cross between Roseanne and Cher after having downed a bottle of vodka on an empty stomach. John decided that this must be the mythical beast he had always been warned of as a child, the 'Roafemwomar.' He hoped the slave he had just thrown the beast would sate its appetite until he could escape."


Describe it first, then give it a name. Most mythical creatures aren't consistently described anyway. A European dragon is different from a Chinese one, and Chimera now applies to many different creatures—not just the Greek mythological one.

__________________
Science

Talia_Brie

I was going to say something inflammatory, like, "You should introduce all your monsters during the prologue," but I didn't think that'd be as funny in words as it was in my head.

Looks like I was right.

Hodge is spot on. Introduce your mythical creatures in context, and with the understanding that your characters know what they are. Your explanations of their characteristics and 'powers' can therefore be implied.

__________________

Verago

Nice one Hodge.
I've used most of the techniques described here...except for describing them all in the prologue...