Aliens Quote by Will Shetterly
“Unless you're writing for a humorous effect, elves or space aliens and all creatures who aren't human should at least be as strange as, oh, the French.”
About This Quote
The quote suggests that non‑human characters should be portrayed with distinct, unconventional traits, not merely as caricatures.
In simple terms: Non‑human characters need unique strangeness.
Key Takeaway
Make alien or mythical beings truly odd.
Themes
creativity
character design
humor
stereotypes
Mood
playful
critical
Type
advice
creative
When to use this quote
- writing fantasy
- comic writing
- character development
- role‑playing games
Key Concepts
world‑building
cultural satire
imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you give a non‑human character a truly original trait?
- What makes a cultural stereotype funny or offensive?
A Different Perspective
May alien cultures feel forced if they mimic human quirks.
![“And how deeply do I let business considerations affect [screenwriting] choices that might otherwise be more or less esthetic? . . . Do I choose the upbeat rather than the downer ending because I know it will score better at the preview? Can the idea be sold in a single sentence? Can it compete…” quote by Edward Zwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/972/edward-zwick-24586_aliens_and-how-deeply-do-i-let-business-conside_302984.jpg)
![“Maybe [aliens] have been in our lives a lot longer than we want to admit. People have always seen strange things—elves and fairies—and now we don't. Now we see them, right?” quote by Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31d/thomm-quackenbush-2029_alien_maybe-aliens-have-been-in-our-lives-a-lo_125269.jpg)
