From Childhood Nightmares to Creative Fuel
- JP de la Rama
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Why I Create Monsters
"The monsters that once terrified us can become the stories that define us — if we’re brave enough to create from the fear."
INTRODUCTION
A few weeks ago, I shared a commitment:
This year, I’m going all-in on finishing my original IP and bringing Zamora to life.
That means more focus on storytelling…
More pages done…
More sharing the lore, the process, and the inspirations that shaped my creative world.
And those inspirations run deep — all the way back to childhood.
Just the other day, during one of our cozy movie nights, I showed my daughter a short clip from my all-time favorite movie: ALIENS.
Her reaction?
Pure terror.
Hands over eyes.
Full panic mode.
Followed by:
“I don’t want to watch that again, Daddy.”
It was adorable. And familiar.
Because once upon a time, I was her — a kid terrified of the unknown.
Except… that fear eventually became something else.
How Fear Becomes Creative Identity
As a child, the nightmares stayed with me.
Those dark corridors…
The creatures that lurked unseen…
The feeling that something bigger and more terrifying existed beyond our understanding.
Most kids move on from that.
I didn’t.
I became obsessed.
Those “monsters under the bed” became…
My curiosity
My artistic direction
My narrative purpose
That fascination evolved into a love for horror, sci-fi, and the kind of creatures that haunt you long after the credits roll.
It shaped my passions…
My storytelling voice…
My entire artistic career.
And now?
That spark lives on inside Zamora.
Aliens.
Demons.
Cosmic dread.
Monsters that represent the worst fears and darkest truths about being human.
Because the best monsters aren’t just frightening — they reveal something about us.
Use Your Origins as Creative Ammunition
We all have that defining spark — the origin story of our creativity.
Maybe it was a movie.
Maybe a book.
A song.
A childhood moment that tattooed itself on your imagination.
Artists tend to lose touch with that spark over time.
Deadlines, algorithms, bills, the noise of expectations…
It pushes us away from what made us start.
But here’s the secret:
Go back to what scared you.
Go back to what made you curious.
Go back to what made you feel alive for the first time.
That’s where your originality lives.
That’s where your IP is born.
That’s where the world will feel something real from you.
For me, it was Xenomorphs and nightmares.
For you… Who knows?
But it’s time to remember.
Because passion isn’t invented — it’s rediscovered.
If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear:
What childhood obsession still influences your art today?
Reply and tell me — I’m genuinely curious.
Monsters made me the artist I am.
What made you?
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