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how to write a good scene

Ok, who has ever read a really good action book, but everytime a fight breaks out, it sucks? i know i haven't, That's because most experienced authors know a good way to write out a good fight scene. This course is for anyone who is trying to put a little action into their story, but can't seem to figure out how to get it to stand out and look good. I think there are 3 major steps to this process

     1. Imagine the fight in real life/movie form

     2. figure out how to describe what's happening

     3. Write it out

  Any good book/novel should be written so that a reader can close their eyes and imagine the setting, the characters, the conflict, etc. Writing a good fight is no different. Before you even pick up your pencil/pen, or even touch a keyboard, take a moment and think out what you want to happen. who gets hit when, what they say, where it takes place, etc.

     Next, you need to figure out just how you want to describe it so that the scene stands out as a good fight. this is also just like writing any other part of a good piece of literature. The better the descriptions, the easier your reader should be able to pick up on it and be able to visualize it. But, know the limit between good, creative writing that keeps your readers reading, or just saying "HEY, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS!!" and making it not worth reading.

      And finally, and i think this last step is excruciatingly simple, you just write out wht you've visualized onto paper.

Comments

Marc Marlon Villaflor

Posted 11 Years Ago Should be, you put youself into the story to interpret the visuals easily then fight!

Timeless-Chan

Posted 12 Years Ago is it better to actually get hands-on experience before you try writing action? because im no exactly the fighting type but id be willing to try out a few different things if that would help the feel of the write.

Merrick Waters

Posted 12 Years Ago Fight scenes are tough for me but it's important for the current story I am writing. It would help if I knew how to fight -.-

Amelia Dogwood

Posted 12 Years Ago Another important thing would be making sure your characters have a reason for knowing how to fight the way they do. Because if you have a normal American teenager who suddenly, without any explanation, pulls out a sword and knows how to use it it doesn't matter how well your scene is written your audience is still going to go "WTF? How did he/she learn that?" Which is why in my one story where I DO need a normal American teenager to know how to use a sword I'm having her take fencing lessens which I too am doing, it REALLY helps. Oh, and good lessen too :)

Echo Nightfield

Posted 13 Years Ago I love writting fight scenes, but I'm also a martial artist. I see how it goes and I use the technique names and describe them when I introduce a new move/technique that has been used. Would that be too confusing?

Weaver

Posted 13 Years Ago This is why all the best fantasy writers know how to actually use a sword... :) A possible drawback to doing it this way is a lot of jargon - "he used a roundhouse kick to knock his opponent down" is the one that I recall - that is specific but still not interesting.