An article I wrote in July for TNB exploring just how much imagination we should use in our stories?

Now, my imagination is fairly ‘out there’ as I have no doubt are most people, but I began to wonder just how much spectrum do we have when it comes to writing about ‘Mythical Creatures’? One person’s imagination is another person’s disbelief and inability to conjure the enthusiasm to continue reading, surely?
So, let’s say, I’ve written a book about a monster that captures the horror of the readers – how close to ‘real possibility’ does it have to be before it tips into ‘absolutely can’t read this junk it’s impossible to comprehend or believe’ or it’s just damned stupid!?
Some mythical creatures in my opinion are fairly easy to digest. Mermaids being a perfect example. Now, I know, there will be people out there going, ‘mystical’ surely you mean ‘real’? Well, let’s just say, no evidence has ever come to light, beyond weird looking fish a few questionable skeletons and heresy, producing folklore and myth abound.
Perhaps they stem from the condition known as ‘Sirenomelia’ which is also known as ‘mermaid syndrome’ in which a child is born with their legs fused together and small genitalia. They rarely live long due to kidney and bladder complications and are extremely rare. However, it only takes one sighting to encourage the stories to circulate.

Mermaids are a rather nice notion, depending on the version you hear. A fair young maiden, with long flowing hair, who sings beautifully, enticing young sailors to their deaths. Okay, the last part, not so great, but mermaids would be an acceptable mythical creature to believe as it works with your desires and hopes.
What if I could conjure a mythical creature that didn’t play well with your brain? I think this day and age it is much harder to do as people’s worlds are opened up through the media, books, computers and travel. Yet, even I have read books that cause me to frown with annoyance as a mythical creature appears in the story that just doesn’t resonate with me. A giant worm that glowed and spat out acid venom appeared in one book which firstly, Yuk! Secondly, why? Now, don’t get me wrong, a giant worm is not out of the realms of possibility, no, it was the extra glowing and spitting out acidic venom which made me feel the writer had gone way overboard in an attempt to make me feel frightened – I didn’t, I felt annoyed.
For me, I think the mythical creature needs to remain in the realms of possibility whatever the genre. I read one book which had giant bulls roaming the world that did unspeakable acts on women, just for the fun of it. I barely got through the first chapter before I just couldn’t read anymore as my stomach lurched. Now, that could well be the writer’s intention and I wondered at who this book was aimed at, but for me, bulls can be frightening creatures due to their size and an experience I had as a child (thank the gods for fast legs and my Dad!) yet I still could not conceive the notion they are evil. Bulls have been used in a mythical context – ‘the Minotaur’. I found it easier to believe the Minotaur was a creation of myth gods and its actions were inevitable than believing they would harm women for fun.

I think writers have to seriously think about the mythical creatures they produce in their stories. Ask themselves – why is it there? Does it have purpose and if so, what? Will it enhance the story? Who will believe this creature? Of course, there will always be exceptions to the rule and perhaps in extreme Sci fi books anything goes. I guess each to their own, so long as it brings joy to your life, who am I to judge?
P.J Roscoe – Author of ‘Echoes’ and ‘Freya’s Child’