Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Action scenes can make or break a story. They're the moments where the stakes rise, the tension hits its peak, and the reader's heart races to keep up. But nothing kills the excitement of a well-placed fight or chase more than falling into tired, predictable patterns. Clichés, while once powerful, have been overused to the point where they lose their impact. Here are some strategies to help you steer clear of those traps and keep your action writing fresh and engaging.
💥 💥 💥 💥 💥
Recognizing Common Clichés
The first step to avoiding clichés is recognizing them. If you can identify the overused tropes, you can either avoid them or twist them in new ways. Some of the most common action clichés include:
- The last-minute save: When the hero escapes at the very last second as help conveniently arrives.
- The invincible protagonist: Characters who survive impossible odds without showing any real strain or vulnerability.
- Senseless destruction: Buildings collapsing and explosions galore, but with no meaningful consequences for anyone.
- Overused slow-motion: Overly dramatic slow-motion sequences that seem more about style than substance.
- The villain's exposition dump: When the villain stops everything to explain their evil plan, giving the hero a chance to foil it.
These kinds of moments can feel predictable and rob the scene of any real tension. The goal is to bring something fresh to the table and keep readers guessing.
💥 💥 💥 💥 💥
Make Characters Feel Real
One of the quickest ways to fall into a cliché is by turning your characters into action-movie stereotypes. Readers want characters that feel real, even in high-stakes situations.
- Show the wear and tear: Let your characters get tired, injured, or emotionally drained. If they've been fighting for hours, they shouldn't walk away without a scratch. Show them struggling, making mistakes, or dealing with the aftermath of violence.
- Allow failure: A perfect hero who always wins quickly becomes boring. Let your protagonist lose sometimes. Failure not only creates tension, but it also makes the eventual victories more satisfying.
- Focus on personal stakes: Action for action's sake can feel hollow. Ground the scene in your character's emotions and motivations. Are they trying to protect someone they love? Are they driven by fear or guilt? The more personal the stakes, the more compelling the action will be.
