Writer Sense

How to Write Battle/Action Scenes

Friday, February 5

Action scenes are the bread and butter of a story. It gets the reader's heart pounding and can easily move the story along or introduce a new conflict.

Identify Weapons
Whether it's a fight scene, an escape, or an all-out war, your character probably needs a weapon.
It could be their fists, a sword they carry around everywhere, a pitchfork, or even a rock.

Figure out the current setting and utilize it. For example, if they're fighting in a stable, they could toss hay into their enemy's eyes, beat them back with a pitchfork or a whip, or maybe frighten a couple of horses into running into them.

The Action
You can do so much more fight moves than thrust, and parry. Not every second of the scene is trying to kill the other guy while defending themselves.

Add unexpected twists, like another person showing up, a fight in a bell tower, a rickety assault atop an old bridge, unexpected weather.

However, NO CHARACTER SHOULD END UP COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. I don't care how good a fighter he's supposed to be, he needs to get dirty. You don't have to maim him, but give him a few near-death experiences, a slice on the cheek, or bruised ribs.

The Resolution
How is the fight ended? Does the foe run home with his tail between his legs? Does authority show up and stop the fight? Is he overpowered? Is it ended with a death?

What is the result of this scene? You can't just throw it in because it's cool.
Do they get captured? Is an evil defeated? Or does his begin a long-standing hatred between two of the characters?

How to Write Escape Scenes

Monday, February 1

I don't know about you, but my characters always seem to get captured. Which is fine. The only problem is that you have to eventually get them out of trouble. There're three ways your characters can escape; Action, Planning, and Outside Help

Action
This type of escape scene usually happens on the spur of the moment.

The character either has a chance for escape that he can't pass up (noticing that the guard is not only fast asleep but that they also left the keys within reach), or the character is forced into action (They'll be executed in the morning.)

Either way, the character makes things up as they go along. They have next to no plan and must rely on their strength, their cunning, and dumb luck to see them through the ordeal.

Planning
In this case, the character has been meticulously planning his escape for some time. (Think The Count of Monte Cristo.)

They might have been gathering resources, possibly befriending the guards, slowly digging an escape tunnel, or mapping out their prison.
Your character has a set date on which to make their escape.

But keep in mind that NO PLAN EVER SHOULD WORK PERFECTLY.
For example; if their plan is to knock out the guard and then run out the castle via the kitchen exit, have their way stopped by someone. Have the guard wake up at the last minute and raise the alarm. Make them change directions and plans.

At this point, we start veering toward an action escape. (It's okay to mix the two together.)

Outside Help
This technically should fall under planning, but I think it's noteworthy enough for its own blurb.

In this scenario, the character has somehow made contact with someone outside the prison. They agree to help him get out. The two plan together and set a date. This plan of course, is thwarted at the last minute.

There can also be outside help without the rescuer and prisoner ever meeting. Someone could just show up and rescue them.
But this form of escape desperately needs a motive.
Why do they help them out? Are they a friend of the family? Do they rescue them because they're the heir to the throne? What does the rescuer get out of it?

Picture by darkness-in-the-lens.deviantart.com

Character Ideas: Men Part 1

Friday, January 29

20 pictures of random men, whether to help you create a character, or put a face on one you already have.

For some reason, pictures of men are so much harder to find...

Plot

Monday, January 25

If you're trying to untangle a plot or get your ideas in order, I have a suggestion; talk.

Get a voice recorder and spout whatever random musings pop into your head.

At first, it's a little weird talking to a machine. But after a while you really get into it and ask questions and voice ideas that you never considered before.

I personally tried it a couple days ago, and it honestly helps to clarify what direction my story is heading and where I need to improve the frail plot strands.