Writing For All

Fight Scenes

There are a few things that take away from the emotion or realness? of a fight scene. One thing to avoid is a blow by blow description. When you write this way, as with any scene at all, it makes it seem dry and computer like. A real fight is going to feel chaotic, so make your writing a bit chaotic, that is to say, the focal lens may jump around a bit.

When adrenaline is running, you tend to notice things that you wouldn't ordinarily notice. You see little things that people do and your mind is a bit like hyper-drive because it's trying to keep you alive.

Also, try to keep the movements quickly described. In the heat of battle, your character isn't analyzing how they're moving entirely, they're just focused on protecting themselves (or another person).

Don't forget what your character is thinking at the same time as well. Are they panicked or angry? Are they planning their next move?

Something to also consider is something called "tunnel vision". When a person gets their blood flowing and their emotions high, they focus on the source of their emotion, typically anger. The longer it lasts, the more it progresses and the only thing they notice is the person/thing that they're focusing on. It gets to a certain point where you could land a jet liner behind them and they wouldn't even notice.

Anyone have any more suggestions?