I will be tweeting some highlights from the Making Monsters with @seananmcguire class today with the hashtag #makingmonsters.
Monsters are a benchmark of F&SF. You'll want to base your monster's abilities according to which genre you're working in. For example, not a lot of room for adorable in horror usually. #makingmonsters
Seranan's talking cryptozoology to begin with, and starting with a favorite animal, the naked mole rat.
Three tweets in and I already forgot the #makingmonsters hashtag. Seanan's talking about developing a monster by using the path form follows function.
Every science-y creature Seanan has created, she has consulted multiple scientists about, sometimes as many as 20.
Another way is to go from form to function. For example, what if mermaids are real?
I keep forgetting the #makingmonsters because I am enjoying Seanan's talk so much I keep getting distracted.
She's walking us through the lengthy process of developing her mermaids, and it's fascinating. 🧜🏽♀️ #makingmonsters
Lots of good ideas for finding scientists to consult with, which Seanan says is part of making your work awesome. She says read a few pop science books on the subject first. #makingmonsters
That initial research helps you phrase your questions in a meaningful and informative way. #makingmonsters
We're doing a writing exercise for a bit that start w- I just discovered hawks can see magnetic fields, which I think is so nifty.
Whoops, that should have included the phrase "starts with wikipedia".
I believe this class is about to spawn a flock of deadly butterfly stories. 🦋 #makingmonsters
"You can turn any biological thing on Earth into a thing of horror....and that is genuinely delightful." #makingmonsters
In looking at an animal, look at the stories you're being told about them, and who benefits from those stories. #makingmonsters
Now we're moving along, post break, to xeno-biology and creating alien creatures. #makingmonsters
In creating aliens, we have to get over our form prejudices. For example: bipedal with breasts. As a side note: usually nipples = the common number of offspring in a litter + 1.) #makingmonsters
Some books Seanan suggests looking at for good aliens: A.C. Crispin's Starbridge Academy, Amy Thompson's The Color of Distance, Becky Chamber's series. #makingmonsters
(Class did include a brief stint of admiring Thomas in his sweater. I love the way these classes often showcase everyone's cats.) #makingmonsters
Another book Seanan has recommended (killer mantis shrimp) - Warren Fahey's Fragment - amzn.to/2PEs8rA
One question is how to research effectively, Starting with a few pop science books will at least give you bibliographies and recommendations + some basic overview stuff. #makingmonsters
(Seanan, btw, is a terrific teacher - checks on students, asks for questions, tells people what's happening, entertaining and informative. Confirms I am smart for asking her to do this. ;) #makingmonsters )
Wrapping things up with a Q&A ranging from mermaids to apes to parasites - #makingmonsters
If you enjoyed this, you might want to check out some of the other upcoming classes, including teachers like Ann Leckie Rachel Swirsky, and Fran Wilde. kittywumpus.net/blog/academy/
No time for a live class? Many of them are on-demand; new ones coming soon. catrambo.teachable.com Also the live classes have 3 free slots for people who couldn't otherwise afford them.
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