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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1076-.html
Action/Adventure: May 31, 2006 Issue [#1076]

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Action/Adventure


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  Edited by: darkin
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Action and adventure are with us from the time we first start walking. Every step takes us closer to that new frontier, somewhere we've never been before. Each year brings us a new adventure, loaded with plenty of fun and excitement.

Maybe that's why action and adventure movies are so popular, they remind us of those magical times from our childhood.

My name is Darkin, and I’m your host this week for the Action/Adventure Newsletter.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

The Fight of Your Life.


I love a good fight scene. Nothing gets the adrenalin rushing better than the hero and villain battling for the prize. But every move, every punch thrown and blocked, can be a writer's nightmare. Are your hero's feet in the right place, is your villain close enough for the fatal blow to even hit him? You have to be sure where your characters are during their final conflict. Otherwise your reader isn't going to keep reading.

Action-packed

You want a scene that gets the blood flowing, for your reader as well as your characters. Make them sweat, make then work for their prize. A fight scene that's over in a couple of blows isn't going to reward your reader. And a scene that takes 40 pages of text isn't going to be believable. Make your action parts long enough that the average person thinks "yeah, I could do that if I had to".

Fancy Footwork

It's important to know where your characters are during the fight. You want your hero and villain to be within range of each other. You need to keep track of when, and where, they move during the fight. Are they in an open area, or an enclosed space? Remember the things around them can be used as weapons against each other.

Reactions

When one of them lands a blow, don't forget to let the reader see the reaction. Did it knock the villain on his backside; make the hero's lip bleed? How did the recipient of the blow react? Did they fall, stumble, or just say oaf? The reaction to the fight is necessary to show the reader what's going on.

The Five Senses

There is more to life than just sight. Don't forget we all have 5 senses to experience our world. So do your characters. Use those senses to give your reader a good view of the battle. Was there a sound associated with the blow, or was it just a punch to the midsection? Give the reader the sights and sounds of the fight, as well as the touch, taste, and smells.

The Climax

There is always an end to a fight. Who wins is important to your reader, as much as how they win. Does the villain try to cheat, only to be defeated by the hero? Or does he run away, to plot his next attack? You need to be sure of how you want your fight scene to end.

One suggestion is to map out how you want your fight scene to play out. It can be as simple as dots on a piece of paper. Red for your villain, blue for your hero. Be sure to map out any spectators to the fight as well. Does the villain come alone, or does he have helpers? Also, mapping out where everything is before you start the fight makes it easier to remember just where that rock was...or that chair the hero uses to knock the senses out of the villain*Smile*

Knowing what you want to do in a fight scene is as important as having enough action.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!

darkin


Editor's Picks

Here are some short stories I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!

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#1072963 by Not Available.


Ghost Train Open in new Window. (13+)
Pursued by a train that needs no tracks.
#656527 by Wenston Author IconMail Icon


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#833237 by Not Available.


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#1112815 by Not Available.


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#1061276 by Not Available.


 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Thank you for allowing me to stop by and share my thoughts. If you have any comments, or questions, feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you!


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