Compared to modern tellings of the romantic monster, the version of monsters I tend to favor (Yes, I'm biased) is the horrific tales of monsters. Monsters aren't exactly lovable in some stories. What is a monster?

Four of five meanings of monster defined by Merriam Webster:

1a: an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure.  b: one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character.

2: a threatening force

3a: an animal of strange or terrifying shape.  b: one unusually large for its kind.

4: a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty.

Understanding what a monster is, helping you, the writer, define the monster in your own way. Here is my list of what you can do with the idea of a monster:

1. Play with the appearance of the monster. Whether it's ugly or handsome, a monster can be defined by action and behavior. An ugly being can be the sweetest character or the most beautiful is the cruelest. And I highly recommend balancing or explaining the monstrous appearance, having too extreme of an appearance can be ruined without a reason.

2. A monster can be threatening. Explaining how it or she/he is threatening will give your story some weight to the seriousness and helps gives ideas for how you can lead the story to its climax.

3. Similar to 1, play with the behavior of the monster. Although monsters sometimes are born evil, they will show the behavior of these tendencies beforehand. A sudden unexpected behavior without a reason for it can kill a story.

4. Don't be afraid to change the behavior of monsters to fit the story logically. Making someone or something turn good is a positive story arc. Making a redemption story is within the possibility. A monster turn hero is one way to make a good story. But remember to give the monster a reason why.

And the opposite is a good idea too. A character turned evil is a negative story arc. A person turned monster is a way to create a villain. Sometimes the friend of the protagonist becomes the antagonist. Various reasons add up to make this result. But do not be abrupt, give the reasons some time apart and let it accumulate and stew over in the character's mind.

The idea of Creepypastas had intrigued me. And a monster can be a creepypasta. However, I'm not one to indulge in the idea of the Slenderman mansion. If such a mansion existed, it would be easy for it to be found and destroyed:

1. Its large size makes it hard to hide it. The best hideout is one you can hide inside it without being found. A mansion makes it a target for anyone against creepypastas. Especially if the area of the killings points to it.

2. Being a mansion, it takes some upkeep. Yes, someone must take care of it. Without upkeep, the building will rot out and pieces of it crumble. Tracking supplies to the mansion will make it easier to find it. Even the caretakers make it a threat. This leads to 3.

3. Captive familiars and Creepypastas can turn against the mansion. If an organization manages to "convince" a character to reveal the location, the full force of the organization could launch a surprise attack and burn down the building. After all, self-preservation is one of the key parts of some Creepypastas and associates.

4. Targets of non-associated Creepypastas. It gives an incentive to make kill the inhabitants to further their own recognition. This is the most likely scenario. Not every Creepypasta will be happy with this mansion. Because it reveals that Creepypastas exists and made it harder for them to hunt. The Creepypastas are the most successful when they can get away with their crimes. An unknown one is more dangerous than a known. Reason: Known Creepypastas can be countered and researched.

A mansion makes it easier for them to be caught. I, for one, wouldn't be surprised if the mansion is burned by a traitor.

Anyways, these are my ideas of monsters and why a Slenderman Mansion is a bad idea.