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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7945
Action/Adventure: November 02, 2016 Issue [#7945]

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Action/Adventure


 This week: Tools
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
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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

Hello writers and readers of action and adventure, I am Annette Author Icon, your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Tools


Do your heroes use tools?


Not all action/adventure heroes use weapons.


Many action/adventure stories rely on armed heroes. Whether in books or in movies, the heroes seem to be equipped with ever-expanding arsenals. There are, however, heroes who despise weapons and prefer to use tools. Sometimes, a weapon becomes a tool.

One such hero, who despises guns but uses tools, is McGyver. And I'm talking about 1980s McGyver. In one of his episodes, he is at the top of a nuclear reactor and needs to open a valve that is stuck. If the valve stays stuck, the nuclear reactor will blow up and Southern California will cease to exist. While duct tape can't help him here, he somehow got hold of a gun earlier. He breaks it down into its parts and uses it as a lever to open the valve and save the day.

When you write an action/adventure hero, consider if knowing how to wield gigantic guns and rifles is really such a cool skill, or if you hero should also know more useful things. Such as how to dress a wound, build a zip line across a wide canyon, or carve a musical instrument that will make a specific sound to open a door to freedom.

And don't forget to let your hero learn. He or she doesn't have to fall into the world fully formed. Learning a new skill involving a specific tool makes him/her more well rounded because having the ability to learn is the highest skill of them all.



Editor's Picks

VERGIL'S VICTORY Open in new Window. (E)
Vergil had something to prove.
#1844330 by dogpack saving 4premium Author IconMail Icon

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#2100609 by Not Available.

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#1877118 by Not Available.

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#2100574 by Not Available.

 
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From Alaska to New York Open in new Window. (E)
This first chapter gives a peek into the alternate universe New York.
#2100861 by Opal Anne Rochel Author IconMail Icon

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#2100483 by Not Available.

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#2098678 by Not Available.

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#2088154 by Not Available.

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#2078201 by Not Available.

 
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Red Tails Open in new Window. (13+)
Flash Fiction. Prompt: hat, job, nose
#2084523 by flyfishercacher Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

For my last Action/Adventure newsletter "Casting Your Action/Adventure StoryOpen in new Window., I got the following replies:


Detective Author Icon wrote: I try not to "cast" characters in my head but sometimes a character just appear in my head as being portrayed by a certain actor/actress. For the characters that I've cast in my head, it generally helps me describe what they look like. I try to describe the character well enough to conjure an image of what the character looks like in the heads of my readers, even if it doesn't match who I've accidentally cast in the part.

It's a good idea to describe your characters. I noticed in my own writing that I always had a very clear idea as to what my characters look like, but the reviewers said they didn't know.

dogpack saving 4premium Author Icon wrote: Now that I have better insight into describing characters, I will need to work on developing them more with details about their looks, body language, and whatever else can be woven into the story. I appreciate very much the thought, details, and work you invested into the news letter.

Thank you for your kind comment about my newsletter. I agree that it's a good idea to have a clear image of your character and to describe them.

Monty Author Icon wrote: A fine News Letter that I enjoyed reading as I thought of a past saying, Oh Lord it's hard to be humble *Smile*

Thank you! *Bigsmile*

Elfin Dragon-finally published Author Icon wrote: Thank you for featuring my stories "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window. and "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window., it was very much appreciated. *Smile* On another note...with actors portraying our characters. For me it's a little difficult to come up with specific ones since I'm working on fantasy. I think I gather a little bit of several actors/actresses and put together the features I'd like to have for my characters. It seems to work for me.

Fantasy is definitely a different aspect to character description. In a way, it gives you more freedom too.

Quick-Quill Author Icon wrote: Cynthia Whitcomb who has written some very famous screenplays says always picture the actor in your mind playing that part as you're writing. Often the role will go to that character since they feel it was WRITTEN FOR THEM. There are some who just always wanted to play that type of character. In her workshops she has coached others who have written award winning screenplays.

She must have been so lucky to work with the actors. As lowly unpublished writers, we are going to have to roll the dice and put in there whom we want. Whether it works out or not.

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