 Action/Adventure: January 15, 2025 Issue [#12938] |
This week: What is Normal? Edited by: Leger is 21!  
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What is Normal?
In Freytag's description of narrative structure, a story needs these things: Exposition - Rising Action - Climax - Falling Action - Resolution. In writing action - adventure stories, your character will probably encounter several bouts of rising action before the climax is revealed. If your character is strong, they will overcome some of the obstacles and continue. In writing this action, think about not only the dialogue in the situation but their personal response to danger. Not every character will charge into a volatile situation and conquer their fears. Some may cower behind a rock and reassess their strategy.
When involving your characters in action, it is crucial to understand the body's response to fear. Built into our human genetic code, is a "fight or flight" animal response mechanism, once used to deal with threats to our survival. When such a threat is perceived, a part of our brain called the hypothalamus kicks a series of nerve cell firings and chemical release (adrenaline) into action and gets the body ready for response - running or fighting.
These patterns of nerve cell firing and chemical release cause our body to undergo a series of dramatic changes. Our respiratory rate and pulse increases. Blood is shunted away from our digestive tract and directed into our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for running and fighting. Our pupils dilate and tear production is inhibited. Tunnel vision can occur. Hearing loss could be a response. Our perception of pain diminishes and our immune system mobilizes with increased activation. Flushing, paling or sweating can happen.
It is also helpful to know that the rational mind begins to bypass what we would see as "normal" and begin to perceive everything around us as a threat. If the body cannot react, for example - in a car crash, inappropriate fight reactions might occur as the body needs to respond to the stimulus from the adrenaline. Males tend to react more with a "fight" response and females tend to activate the "flight" response and turn to others for help, or attempt to defuse the situation – 'tend and befriend'. During stressful times, a mother is especially likely to show protective responses toward her offspring and affiliate with others for shared social responses to threat.
Stress response can also be a result of mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, in which the individual shows a stress response when remembering a past trauma, and panic disorder, in which the stress response is activated by the catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily sensations. The trigger for these can be a myriad of things, smell, a sight, even words.
Knowing how your character's body should respond in a "fight or flight" situation is important, whether you decide to twist that response in your scene or use it to enrich your description. Using the right responses will give your story authenticity and your character more dimension. Write on!
This month's question: What are some of your typical character responses? Any clever responses?
Answer below  Editors love feedback!  |
| | | The Amulet (E)
Yasmin a young girl receives an Amulet from a dying sorceror Chapters 1-3
#2331639 by Dragonbane  |
Excerpt: Amarin hurried through the morning mist, one hand clutching his left side, blood oozing from the wound. He stopped listening. For now, he had lost his pursuers.
Excerpt: The Dread Not turned into the long channel that protected the port city of Zarin from the ravages of the sea beyond. The wind picked up and waves swept across the deck of the heavily laden ship--the smell of salty brine replaced that of rancid body odor. Below deck, Captain Darius and his first mate spoke.
"Captain, begging your pardon, but this is the first time you've come to Zarin, seeing as you're a new captain and all."
Excerpt: Whenever the locals’ ambition sufficed to scythe the grass and rake the dirt, the passage of night wiped away their efforts more surely than death itself.
Squelch, squelch.
It was like the sound of some lonely, ambitious man slowly going mad.
Excerpt: Jess, look at the woman up ahead of us running as if her hair was on fire."
"Watch out." Sarah leaped over the stiletto shoes the woman tossed behind her.
"Think she's in trouble? Like maybe we should call 911, or Mom?"
Excerpt: "I do not believe in the Kobayashi maru scenario," JJ said to puzzled faces. Realizing they did not get the analogy he continued, "You know Star Trek, the unwinnable scenario, Captain Kirk beat it by reprogramming the computers... anyone?" Dead silence. JJ rolled his eyes.
Excerpt: "Do you understand what you need to acquire?" Asked the black-robed wizard impatiently.
"Yes, I remember." Answered the slack-jawed assistant. "I need to acquire, don't tell me, dragon scales to make eggs."
"No. For the hundredth time, no. You need to bring me three White dragon eggs. Unbroken this time. Now repeat what I said."
Excerpt: I rushed into my room, teeth grinding against each other as I dug into my closet.
"Alright, slow your roll, what happened?" Savannah asked.
"I can't stay," I walked past her and packed my knapsack.
"Wait, you're leaving?" Lilac tilted her head.
"If that witch thinks I'm gonna live like a princess, then she can kiss Logan's dust."
Excerpt: Skip's birthday party was interrupted by a knock on his door. He had been summoned by the Council of Rabbits. It wasn't a big surprise that the council had called an emergency session. This had been happening more frequently these days. The Winter storm had every rabbit on edge. A typical winter in Bunny Burrow usually lasted 3-4 month however this one had been going on for over a year and it showed no sign of stopping any time soon.
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This month's question: What are some of your typical character responses? Any clever responses?
Last month's "Action/Adventure Newsletter (December 18, 2024)" question: Are you an observer, to get ideas for characters and dialog?
Ms. TerrifyingTuber  : Sometimes I can't help it. My brain can't turn off other people's conversations. I don't willingly eaves drop but I've accidentally overheard a lot of things.
Was it for research? No, I'm just weird.
S 🤦 : While I don't holiday much, i think the regulars at the pub are aware that they and their conversations could well end up in my stories. Some play up to it, some add an, "Not for a f'n story!" in their conversations, and some encourage not=regulars to do and say things just for me.
It's weird being known as "the writer."
tj is ready for spring!  : I enjoy observing people but most of what I see would only work if writing a comedy.
Jaycin Alexis  : I suppose so, but I didn't consciously realize it until reading this question. I'm an observer to get ideas for my art though, which sometimes translates into my writing. So yes. Yes, I am.
Hand-zo : Sort to speak, I suppose.
When I write, I just listen. Then I write down what the voices tell me. I'm just lucky, and they're grateful and cooperate.
Mousethyme  : Most definitely. I have little games I play with myself to ease my anxiety on the bus. I picture what someone else would look like with a different hair color or style; or maybe what a man would look like with more or less facial hair. As far as dialog, I fill in words for conversations I really can't hear. Most of the time that comes out as comedy though.
writebeforedawn  : I observe mostly to compare what I’ve written to reality, to see if I’ve gotten it right.
T.J Shepard : yes
{suser:bus45man80): Yes.
{suser:hollisfrances}: Yes
Thanks to everyone for your responses! L~
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