Writers' Hotline

Action/Battle Scenes ~ @le_Muslim_MAN

le_Muslim_MAN is one of the rare Wattpad authors who writes action, and writes it very good. His book 'Empires of Faith' is an absolute masterpiece if you need to get away from romance. 

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How To Write Action and/or Battle Scenes:

1) Imagine it to the fullest. Imagine the whole scene. Think of where every character is in relativity to each other and in their surroundings. Think of how they'll move and interact and make sure it's sensible and realistic.

2) Act it! I know it feels silly but sometimes you really have to get into it. You have to be the character for a moment, go through the motions to see what's doable, how it would be done, and what could come next. That way you'll see someone's not going to turn a back flip as they fly forward from a punch. 🥴 

It really helps you, gives you an in-depth perspective of what your characters are seeing and feeling, and helps you translate that into writing for your readers to see and feel.

3) Be creative. Don't make everyone fight the same way or do the same repeated moves over and over. Make the entire fights different (unless there's a specific reason for similarities). Use different words (don't just say stab stab stab or punch punch punch), and don't always tell us what the characters' actions were, sometimes tell us the results. 

Let us feel the action and be there to experience it. Use details. Tell us about the sweat and heavy breathing, the blood and the stinging, the pain or the pleasure, sometimes even the characters thoughts as they go through everything. 

Don't leave as a straight-forward, "Fulan punched Fred. He punched him again. One more time he punched him. Fulan won the fight." 

Give us something like, "Fred reeled back in agony as another quick jab from Fulan knocked the wind out of him. Before Fred could gather himself Fulan came forth with another powerful punch, this one connecting with his jaw and sending him tumbling over backwards, spitting blood from his mouth. Fulan gave a smirk, he knew the fight was just about over. 

As Fred struggled to pick himself up from the dirt and dust, Fulan casually walked over, his breathing calm and easy unlike his opponent's. Fred stood up off the ground, his legs were shaking, his eyes were squinted, and he gritted his teeth in anger. He just knew he could beat Fulan, but it seemed he was sorely in the wrong.

As Fulan came nearer Fred dug his feet into the ground, taking his stance and raising his arms to defend himself. Fulan took two heavy steps before he charged forward swinging out a right hook. Fred blocked with his left and grabbed onto Fulan with his right. He pulled Fulan in and bashed him in the face with a headbutt. 

Fulan stumbled back, his nose dripping blood now. He twitched his nose and blinked away the spots in his vision before he clenched his fists and put up his guard. Fred gave a smirk, wiping the sweat on his brow and taking a stance of his own, having gained a second wind. 

The two lunged at each other, pounding each other's bodies with a flurry of punches and kicks. Fred surprisingly held the upper hand in their nearly even fight, until one mistake was made. Fred swung a punch straight for Fulan's left eye but his arm was grasped and he was pulled on only to have an elbow jammed into his face. Still holding on to Fred's arm, Fulan drove his knee straight into his stomach. With Fred doubling over on anguish, Fulan laced his hands together and slammed down hard on Fred's neck. 

Fred hit the ground with a thud, a heavy boot stomping down on his back shortly thereafter. 'Game over,' Fulan declared triumphantly. Fred was defeated and Fulan emerged victorious."

4) Include fights and loads of 'em but don't make them senseless. Surprisingly, there can be a such thing as too much fighting. 

Surprising I know.

 But if the story doesn't call for it don't force it. Let everything flow along within reason. Even characters who hate each other don't have to fight literally every second they meet. If they do, it takes away from the building tension and the excitement. 

Make the fights good and interesting, make 'em each different and unique. Don't let them get stale and repetitive. Make it so that when we get to them, we're excited and on edge throughout the whole sequence. Keep 'em interesting and don't make them predictable or one-sided, especially not major clashes. 

Those have to be an epic struggle where the victor triumphs in an awesome way, not just wham, bam, body slam, you're done. 😛

5) Lastly, have fun with it. 

As I said when I mentioned the acting, you got to get into it. You got to feel the excitement and the rush. You got to feel your heart racing as you mentally (and sometimes physically) go through the actions of each character. 

Have fun and don't force it. Let it flow and let the awesomeness glow. Put all the details you need, if you need to get a little gory and such, go ahead. 

A little blood, some lost limbs, deep cuts, gashes, stinging wounds, squirting blood, and broken bones won't hurt anyone but the character . . . unless you overdo it. Moderation is also important. But hey, if it is fun being detailed, I said have fun, so . . . have fun.