Creating epic fantasy creatures is a valuable and fun part of world-building. Creatures, monsters, and the like add to your world and make it unique. They present problems, and sometimes solutions, for your main characters, and construct a creative fantasy world that pops. If you are new to fantasy writing or just want some ideas for world-building, here are three tips for creating fantasy creatures!

Tip #1: Use Nature as Inspiration

Sitting at your desk and letting your imagination take over is a completely viable way to come up with creatures for your world. But if you really want to make your animals fun, step into nature to find inspiration. Many great storytellers have done this, including some of the great movie makers. Remember those old movies with giant insects as the villains?

While you don’t have to use a giant insect in your story to create suspense, you can find a lot of great ideas from creation. Grab your notes app, or a pen and paper, and step out into your backyard. If you can’t find inspiration on the surface, check under a few rocks. There is always something crazy looking around that can spark a great idea.

Tip #2: Add a Touch of Realistic Detail

While you are outside getting inspiration, make sure you pay attention to the animals’ physical changes based on where they live. While you don’t have to be accurate to our real-world science, working some realistic details into your creatures can make them stand out and create curiosity in your readers.

For example, rabbits with large ears live in the desert, and rabbits with small ears live in colder environments. This is because large ears help dissipate body heat while small ears help retain body heat. Details like these create believable creatures and really bring your fictional world to life.

Tip #3: Know Your Why

Knowing some of these more realistic details about animals leads me to my third tip. Know your why. Know why you are putting each creature in your world and your story. Are they just there to expand the world-building? Make sure they fit into the ecosystem. Are you using them as a plot device? Make sure they have all the qualities you need to move the plot forward and have a clear purpose. Are they a character? Make sure you know what kinds of idiosyncrasies they might have.

Knowing these facts, and more, about your creatures will help them feel deeply integrated with your storytelling and your world. Every animal in the real world has a purpose. They each play important parts in our ecosystem, either for it or against it (if it’s an invasive species). Knowing why you have an animal in your world or plot not only helps them fit your story but also helps them feel like they fit your world, adding to the believability.

Have Fun Creating Your Epic Fantasy Creatures!

Whether it’s a massive beast, a tiny insect, or something in between, have fun with these tips for creating fantasy creatures! Leave a comment and let me know what real-life animals inspired your fantasy creatures.

Photo credit: Canva AI image generator.