Photo courtesy of Sander van der Wel on Visual hunt.
After many years, I’m finally approaching the climax of my urban fantasy. It’s been a long time coming, but as I struggle with the final chapters, I realize the journey isn’t quite yet over. My heroine is breaking into the antagonist’s hideout, ready to take him on, and based on the obstacles I’ve set up, it’s going to take a bit of thought to get everything to work out the way I want.
I’ve gone back and searched through my collection of urban fantasies and space operas for inspiration on fight scenes. This has been useful, but along the way, I’ve been reminded of things NOT to do in fight scenes. Here’s a partial list:
1. The author sets up a scenario that appears pretty much impossible for the MC to win, at least based on the author’s description, then promptly has the hero successfully fight their way through all the obstacles doing the same standard stuff they’ve done throughout the book. What the heck happened? Did the opposition go on break? And no, having the hero take some minor damage in the process doesn’t make up for this.
2. The author tosses in a battle scene simply because there hasn’t been any conflict in a while, or because it’s the only way the author can meet their word count. This is an especially common problem for writers who pump out a lot of books per year. Generic fight scenes don’t amp up the tension. Readers skim through them. At least I do.
3. The fight scenes scattered throughout the story are so generic most of them could switch places and readers wouldn’t notice. Don’t be lazy, folks. Spend time crafting each battle until it’s unique. Use the setting to set up interesting problems for the MC to solve, or that allow the MC to find novel ways to defeat the bad guys. Add some factor that neutralizes the methods that worked for the MC in previous fights. Let knowledge gained by the MC over the course of the story be used to develop new tactics.
Several examples of entertaining fight scenes can be found in Allow of Law by Brandon Sanderson. They’re fun to read and almost always do double duty by delivering important story information along the way. No one is skimming over them.
Have you ever come across fight scenes/battle sequences that leave you yawning?
ChemistKen
They can become repetitive over time. There were a lot of spaceship fight scenes in my first book and I really tried to make them all unique.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are almost at the end!
Yep, I remember that being true. It was all about your MC learning along the way.
DeleteMY books are for children, so not many fight scenes in the true sense of the word, but I know what you mean about repetition, I must avoid putting my little people in similar situations in every book! 🤭
ReplyDeleteI guess in your case you would try to avoid having the conflict with bullies be all the same.
DeleteReaders can see right through a fight scene that's there for the heck of it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't written too many fight scenes since my fantasy days. You definitely want to make sure they're unique and not just there for the heck of it.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome you're almost at the end. I don't have too many fight scenes but will remember your tips.
ReplyDeleteIf a story calls for a fight, I try to keep it short. I just don't enjoy writing fight scenes, and I know if an author doesn't enjoy writing something, readers probably won't enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteI heard a great quote recently: "Heroes are not made; they are cornered." I think a fight scene comes from being cornered. No choice but to fight and/or die. Luck or friends, or quick thinking at the last moment saves them.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
My biggest problem with reading fight scenes is my own inability to follow the action. It remains to be seen whether or not I am able to write fight scenes that make sense to other people. It's one of my biggest struggles with writing, and I've learned that it is especially important for me to incorporate the feedback of beta readers regarding fight scenes.
ReplyDelete