Anyone care to give a writer some tips?

[bushwacka666]

Hey all. Some of you may or may not be familiar with my two fics that I've posted here in the past: "Soul Quest" (of which I only posted the first 12 chapters out of the 30 written), and "The History Books" (of which I posted the first two volumes, "The Zord Wars" and "The Aftermath"). But I guess whether or not you've read some of these other fics is really superficial data.

Anyways, I'm busy working on a new fic right now, but lo and behold, I'm running into the same hurdle that I always come across. I'm very much hoping that you guys could help me out on the subject of - monsters.

What I'd basically like to know is how you guys go about coming up with various monsters that attack the Rangers in your fic(s)? I have to admit that my imagination and creativity is lacking when it comes to thinking up monsters. So I wonder how you manage it?

What sort of things do you consider? What do you use/where do you go for inspiration? How do you try to make them interesting to the readers and try to maintain that interest?

When I list negative points about my fics, I'm afraid that the monsters are always one of the first things that comes to mind. Therefore, from one fic writer to another, I would greatly appreciate any help, hints and tips that anyone could give me.

Many thanks in advance.
b666 :)

[Sparky Ranger]

Cheat!

3 easy steps.

1) Pick the appearence of a former monster.

2) Give this monster the name of a DIFFERENT former monster

3) Give this monster the powers of yet ANOTHER DIFFERENT former monster!

Easy!

[RedLightning]

In my fics I either use former villians that have returned through time travel or magic... "Heroes and Legends" is an example. Or I like using Rangers as villians "Quantum Power" is like that (both are up here somewhere... probably a few pages back) I'm working on one now that takes place in the past so I'm using alot of the villians that Zordon mentioned when he talked about the other warriors that fought evil simmilar to the rangers of today. So I usually have something to go on, which makes it easier to write.

[greenstranger]

remember lord zedd, he could make a monster out of anything, nothing was scared, so just look around your house for ideas you'll get there.

[OriginalRanger]

I think a good idea would be to really research world mythology-the selection of creatures there is very rich, and could provide terrific inspiration for potential Ranger adversaries.

A good startup site: the Encyclopedia Mythica: http://www.pantheon.org/

[Clu-less]

1.) One, you could just have a badass villian that can basically kick the Rangers asses without help from a monster. In my fic (I've done enough cheap plugs, so I won't bore you with another), the head villian Maria can kick some ass.

2.) As stated before, just pick an already made monster, give it new powers and a new name.

3.) When you're writing, just look around you. If you see a blue phone, start toying with the idea of a monster that radiates radiation through two huge blue speakers on his shoulders. If you see a water bottle, think of a monster that can poision water supplies.

4.) Use a head general like Ecliptor or Vilamax or Deviot. They always kicked ass, and having them comeback would make sense, given the right story.

5.) If all else fails, wing it. Think of something ridiculous and run with it. Fact of the matter is, most of the time more people look at the plot and not the monsters.

[Butt Mouth]

When one is writing a story such as the ones featured on this website, it is important to make sure that your enemys are actually something to be feared.

Let's look at the facts.

Most Power Rangers badguys follow a similar trend.

They wave their arms about and get a starnge glint in their eyes. They then start shouting "I will rule the UNIVERSE...MUhhahahahaa"

Forget that RIGHT now.

You must make the reader understand these chracters and actually fear them. Makre sure that if your chracter gets anywhere close to achieving it's objective, lives will be lost and the human race (or whatever you use) will suffer.

Also, make your villian realise that ruling the universe is not an entirely good idea.

Firstly, the sheer size of the thing is daunting enough. The universe is comprised of infinate mass. Total domination cannot be achieved.

Secondly, it would devilishly hard to administor.

and Lastly, wiping out everyone to rule the universe would render any value it once held as real estate nul and void because in theory...you woul have no one to sell it to.

Forget what they look like, that comes much later. What do they want...that is key. And why do they want it?

Then make them as grand or small as you like. but don't create another set of Monsters of the week like PR does...it's boring and makes okay TV...BAD FICS.

I hope this helps

-Kallan

[Storm Warrior]

1. Do not write like this
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22807

2. DO write like this
http://www.rangerboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21775

[bushwacka666]

Everyone: thanks a whole lot for you help. It really is appreciated. You've given me a few things to think about. Thanks also for the tips with the more 'main' villians, but I've got those sorted. It's purely just the monsters that I'm having trouble with.

Any more help and advice from anyone would still be greatly welcomed, but thank you to all that's assisted me so far. :)

[AbaBlack]

What I do, for the two fanfics that I am working on now, is, wherever I am sitting down, writing the chapters, I look around the room, and find something in there, that could have grand powers, and then think of a good name for it. Another way, that I sometimes have monsters, is I use the Rangers powers against them. Like in Ninja Storm, Tori is water, so you could use a water monster to go up against her.

There is my, probably useless help, tell me if you thought it was good!

[NiGhTRanGeR2003]

What I do is think of a special power they have and give a name that tells his powers. If you are not trying to have monster without any sepcial powers and just want them to just be plain powerful you should probaly give them a theme that the monster is based such as animal or vechiles. I ussually give my monster special powers because it is more intresting. In you have trouble thinking of powers just think of old power rangers shows. Change monster's powers a little.

[Sparky Ranger]

And of course you're not forgetting the customary 'evil rager'storyline. Whether theybeserious evil rangers or just like season 1's putty's in disguise. It's always a good fall back option if you really can't think of anything else.

[bushwacka666]

lol, the 'evil Ranger' option is always an easy one to think up though. I've gone down that route in my fic "Soul Quest" (well, sort of), and I'll be doing something similar this time around.

The problem with this fic is that the really crucial and major developments won't happen until later in the fic, which I why I need to try and fill in on the earlier chapters. For this particular fic, there won't be a lot of opportunities for storylines that relate to a particular Ranger. Therefore, I have to try and fill up the fic through some other means.

Again, you guys have given me some good ideas to think about, (I can't believe I didn't think about the "using Ranger's powers against them" thing!), although damn my living room for not having a lot of interesting items in it - maybe I'll have to start burrowing in the attic! :D

I'm going to try and finish writing the second chapter right now. There's just a normal run-of-the-mill monster in there for now, but in the future chapters I'll try to expand.

Thanks to everyone - you've all been a great help! :) (But if anyone feels they can add something of use, then please keep 'em coming!)

[Clu-less]

You don't need something interesting. Just look at a can of soda and say "Sodacandanoid" or a CD and say "Comdisc" or something.

[Fictional Fan Failure]

I'm writeing a Role Playing Novel, you can find it