What I Know about Writing Action Scenes

Now here’s something that I need to work on. It’s probably not my worst area in writing, but it needs help. If you’ve read any of my past short story exercises, you'd notice that many of my scenes lack any real tension-filled, or knuckle-whitening moments. They may be close, but not quite there. I definitely chalk this up to inexperience on my part.

So, as always, what do I do? I research, research, and research. This time, to try something different, I’m going to list what I know about action scenes, and see if maybe you can fill in the rest. Call it a cry for help.

What I know:

• Pace is everything.
• Sentences should be short and sweet.
• Descriptions should be kept to a minimum. When it’s time to end the scene, these come back into play.
• The characters’ actions should be in terms of action and reaction. He shot, she ducked, etc.
• Use carefully chosen, action filled words – think action verbs here.

These are some of the points that I know off of the top of my head. And, as always, knowing is much easier than doing.

Can you think of any others that should go in the above list? Let me in on that vast amount of knowledge that I know you have!

Comments

[Bob]

Believability is high on the list. Act the scene out, in your mind if not physically, step by step, to make sure that what your characters do is physically possible and reasonable in the circumstances.

[Jillian]

Yep, that's me...the SPAM QUEEN!! Muhahahaha.......

Seriously, this blog template is different than most of the others, which have the comment line AFTER the main post, not on top.

So...it's not me. Honest. It's like those dang card swipers at all the retail stores....they're all different! Do you know how many times I've swiped my card the wrong way at WalMart? All because Publix has machines that go the OTHER way.

Hmmm...that was a pretty mindless ramble, wasn't it?

[1ConfusedWriter]

Are you trying to spam my comment section, Jill?!

I'm glad I put that notice up. Before then, the comments were all over the place. It made for some interesting reading. :)

[Jillian]

Dang...

I was being very arrogant and "hmmphing" to myself about the little red warning about making sure you are commenting on the correct post...

...and then I commented on the wrong post.

[Jillian]

Ahhhh...

20. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Absolutely! :)

AMADEUS made the cut, too....that was my all-time favorite movie of the 80's (saw it 3 times in the theatre -- that was before the days of DVDs for rent!).

Interesting post -- thanks!

[1ConfusedWriter]

I've never been called a ho before.. ;)

I just get the feeling that my 'action' scenes are still a bit too choppy. When I can get back to it, I'm going to try and repair the ending of my last short story.

One thing is for sure, the 'bad guy' didn't get enough detailed attention. He just didn't seem scary enough, and so Jack's fright almost felt forced to me. Hope that makes sense.

Anyway, thanks for the comments!

Vic

[Bryan D. Catherman]

Don't over do it. Nothing kills a good action scene faster than going too far, adding too much, and taking it beyond where it should go. This happens all the time -- great action turns into unbelievable, video-game slapstick. Keep it simple.

[Jillian]

Hey ho...

Very helpful info. You know, one thing I'm really passionate about is pacing. Bad pacing -- either too slow or too fast -- can destroy a really good scene or chapter (in which case, I guess it's not so good after all). Believe it or not, my non-writer hubby is the one who first clued me in to my pacing. I was reading the first draft of the first chapter of my first novel (can you IMAGINE how horrid THAT was???) to him, and, in reference to something that happened at the end of the chapter, he said, "I wouldn't reveal that yet. It's too much information, too soon."

Yep. He was right.

So pacing really does work both ways.

As for action, I've got one chapter in my first novel that I call my "Indiana Jones" chapter. LOL Being a girlie-girl, this sort of thing stretches me. I do love it, though.