This week: Keep it Short & Exciting Edited by: StephBee  
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“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart
Action: the state of doing; organized activity to accomplish an objective.
Adventure: An undertaking of a hazardous nature; an unusual or exciting experience.
Action/Adventure stories can be very exciting, but there are several technical elements to consider when actually writing the story. In previous newsletters, I’ve talked about the “Core Four,” Action/Adventure tropes, themes in action/adventure, and “Ya Gotta Have These” - required plot points that make an adventure an adventure. Today I thought I’d tackle the technical aspects of writing an action/adventure story.
I’m StephBee and I’m your Action/Adventure Guest Editor this week.
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When it comes time to write your story, one of the main things to consider is pacing. With action/adventure we expect a lot of action, but too much action is overwhelming to a reader. You need time to catch your breath, regroup, and then go back on the action/adventure trail again. Starting your story in the middle of the action is a great way to hook your reader, but you’ll need some down time for your hero to heroine to recover, and your reader to take a breath. When it comes time for those action scenes, consider short, concise sentences that deliver quick visuals.
Example: John sprinted away from the truck. He pumped his arms. Sweat dribbled off his brow. He raced onto the pier, not bothering to look behind him. Gritting his teeth, he dived into the water, free of his captors.
When writing your action or adventure scenes, always try to keep an active voice. What’s active voice? Basically, the subject (your noun) is acting (your verb). In the above example, John is sprinting. Passive voice has a tendency to disinterest the reader. A hint you might be using passive voice: look for the word “was” or “is.” Example: John was watching TV.
Before you write your action or adventure scene, visualize the scene. know how the scene is suppose to go before you write it. Be as specific as you can. Little details like a dart watch might mean a lot as the scene unfolds.
Tap into the five senses to help your main character depict what's going on around them.
Establish your main character’s goals early. Once defined, the reader looks forward to the adventure the main character is going on. After all, it’s the journey that the reader wants to invest in. Show your main character's emotions and reactions to the events around him, but don't get excessive with that description. Balance the action with brevity.
Every action should have consequences. Without consequences, there’s no excitement and readers look to the genre for excitement.
Question for you: What’s your takeaway after reading this newsletter?
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Feedback from my last Action/Adventure Newsletter “I Need a Hero” dated: 27 NOV 2024:
Quick-Quill 
I grew up when comic books changed from something horrible that would wreck your brain to something acceptable as art. I read the superheros but moved to the girly type; the Archie and such.
Yes, I remember those days when comics would ruin your brain. They only grew my imagination.
Beholden  
Thank you very much for including my short story, Escape, in your Editor's Picks section.
You’re welcome
As regards comic book characters, I did read comics when very young but had no particular favourites. Later, I discovered The Adventures of Tintin and have loved them ever since. For me, it was the artwork more than anything else (Hergé is so precise and detailed in his drawings) but the stories were imaginative and engrossing too. Not quite what you meant by comics, I think, but how else can you classify them? Graphic novels? Not quite that either.
I do think comics grew as an art form, starting in the 80’s. My favorite books were drawn by George Perez and John Byrne. For me, they were really realistic artists and it gave the material emotional punch. In the 90’s I grew to like Jim Lee’s style of art and I liked the art in the Spawn comics by Image.
Monty 
I believe George Reeves was the first Superman. Comic books were all great, had no real favorite. Good always triumphed over evil. Thor and that cane that became a wicked hammer was a great addition.
That’s what I loved about comics. No matter how bad it got, good always triumphed over evil. It’s a simple message, but a powerful one, too.
S 🤦 
I loved horror comics as a kid. I got given a heap of old EC horror titles, and read them all. To this day, they still inform the pulp fiction quality of my writing. Even today, a book like Death Note (manga, but same deal) is amazing (and far better than any televised version). And I have started to collect compilations of old EC comics. As far as comics themselves as we know them - Silver Surfer and Conan comics were favourites when I was a teenager, and I really got into the Death of Superman and Batman Inc series. Elseworlds and What If comics are also still great fun. And who can forget Asterix & Obelix comics? So many... under-rated and under-appreciated art-form.
I once found a stash of old comics in my grandmother’s closet of my uncle’s comics from the 50’s that weren’t hero centric. They were interesting. I always preferred the heroes. I agree – comics are a underrated and under-appreciated art form.
Damon Nomad 
Thanks for the excellent newsletter on an interesting aspect of action-adventure and comic books, aka graphic novels. I love to write espionage action stories, but the market for short stories seems to be dominated by science fiction and horror. Mixed genre with science fiction and action-adventure is a lane I am trying my hand at now.
You’re welcome. Graphic novels were just starting out in the mid 80’s. My earliest one is “The New Mutants.” Good luck with mixing genres. I’m always intrigued with science fiction.
While preparing this newsletter, I asked a question on my newsfeed: Who is your favorite Action/Adventure Hero or Heroine? Here are some of your answers:
Patron Of Lost Clauses 
Allan Quartermaine I actually enjoyed the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Ichabod Crane 
Toss up with me. Indiana Jones and (early)James Bond.
HollisFrances
Clint Eastwood; High Plains Drifter, John Wayne; The Searchers, Charles Bronson; Hard Times, Jason Statham; Homefront, Wesley Snipes; The Book Of Eli, Liam Neeson; Taken, Harrison Ford; Indiana Jones
Detective
Indiana Jones has been a long time favorite of mine.
Kit 
Such a tough choice! Ellen Ripley from Aliens, John McClane in Die Hard... Hermione Granger!
🌻 pwheeler ~ love joy peace 
Firefighters and other emergency response people. They're real-life action heroes.
Dave Ryan
Probably Ripley from the Alien franchise, as she's not a Mary Sue but instead a believable character acting in a broadly rational way (except when risking her neck rescuing a cat!) when confronted by an extreme situation.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in and answered my question on the newsfeed. I really appreciate the feedback!
StephBee is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. You can find her novel, “The Wolf’s Torment” available on Amazon in print and kindle. Can Mihai save his family from a werewolf who haunts them?
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Action/Adventure: February 19, 2025 Issue [#12975]
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