Physical Transformation

[Stuart Dren]

I think a character's physical transformation is almost always figuratively significant.

Could be anything. Becoming a statue, merging with a body horror hive mind, transforming into a fly, or simply gaining some muscle, or something extreme like shaving one's head. It could be a temporary state, like a were-anything (which is closer to a Jekyll-Hyde situation), or a hero's uber form. It can be quick. It can be slow, with the character's features changing over the course of the whole story.

No, I have not read the Kafka thing with the beetle or whatever, but this is a good time to flex if you have.

I find permanent transformations to be more striking/disturbing, especially when the character gives in and welcomes the new identity. All that said, I don't think I've written any stories where a character's body is changed so severely, aside from something in my WiP.

What are your thoughts on physical transformations? Do they happen in your stories?

 

[Homer Potvin]

No, I have not read the Kafka thing with the beetle or whatever, but this is a good time to flex if you have.

Metamorphosis. You won't miss much if by skipping it.

What are your thoughts on physical transformations? Do they happen in your stories?

I don't think so. I just wrote about a guy getting cut in half by a ten-story tall combine harvester shaped like a spider, but I don't think that's what you have in mind. I think I had an MC who was losing a bunch of weight for *reasons* while also losing his mind, but I ended up cutting the weight part because it made no sense.

I have no beef about reading it so long as it's relevant and interesting, but that goes for anything. I don't read a lot of horror and don't write any of it, so it never comes up in my toolbox.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

It was not until this topic that I realized... physical transformation is NOT something I like in storytelling. I hate body horror, I'm not a fan of shapeshifters, I can't watch Magical girls (Puella Magi Madoka Magica being the exception). If you have a team of superheroes and one of them can grow or shrink chances are they are my least favorite (at leas far as powers go). I do not like physical transformation.

Body's changing in stories is unsettling (in real life too, but what you gonna do)

I guess technically they have made their way into my stories, mostly werewolves, because they are genre staples, like if I do a standard fantasy story I'll have elves and stuff, if I do an urban fantasy I'll have werewolves. I do not focus on the actual transformation, I'm more of a "poof" he's a dog, cause again... body's changing... gross.

I have ONE non-werewolf story about physical transformation. Story about a high school for 'freaks, mutants and monsters' there was this short, fat ugly slug girl, she was considered gross and unpopular except for one nerdy kid who was her friend, then she whatever it's called when a insects get a cocoon. She burst out a beautiful tall slim attractive butterfly person with shimmering wings. Everyone likes her, at first she remains friends with the nerdy kid, eventually she has to decide if she will remain with her old friends or join the new cool kids.

Not super deep, and if anyone can name the specific piece of media I stole this idea from... I mean I used as inspiration, I'll give you a cookie.

Oh wait, I said it's my only non-werewolf story about transformation... I lied.... there is a werewolf in that story.

Physical Transformation really freak me out.

 

[Stuart Dren]

No sign of the Southern Reach fans yet.

I don't think so. I just wrote about a guy getting cut in half by a ten-story tall combine harvester shaped like a spider, but I don't think that's what you have in mind. I think I had an MC who was losing a bunch of weight for *reasons* while also losing his mind, but I ended up cutting the weight part because it made no sense.

I have no beef about reading it so long as it's relevant and interesting, but that goes for anything. I don't read a lot of horror and don't write any of it, so it never comes up in my toolbox.

The guy getting cut in half lost a lot of weight quickly. Actually that touched on something for me. I've read a series where one character loses a few fingers as early as book 2. Impairment is significant and no less thematically heavy. If it's sci fi or magic they might get cool prosthetics. Though something tells be the guy who got reaped in your WiP isn't going to pull a Darth Maul comeback in some extended universe fiction.

It was not until this topic that I realized... physical transformation is NOT something I like in storytelling. I hate body horror, I'm not a fan of shapeshifters, I can't watch Magical girls (Puella Magi Madoka Magica being the exception). If you have a team of superheroes and one of them can grow or shrink chances are they are my least favorite (at leas far as powers go). I do not like physical transformation.

Body's changing in stories is unsettling (in real life too, but what you gonna do)

I guess technically they have made their way into my stories, mostly werewolves, because they are genre staples, like if I do a standard fantasy story I'll have elves and stuff, if I do an urban fantasy I'll have werewolves. I do not focus on the actual transformation, I'm more of a "poof" he's a dog, cause again... body's changing... gross.

Do you find the cursed nature of werewolves compelling, or is that more peripheral to them being just a nice dash of exotic to the story?

Physical Transformation really freak me out.

They freak me out too, which can be pretty captivating in a morbid way. Or I guess just a stay-away kind of way.

 

[Naomasa298]

I had a girl who becomes beautiful.