Fight Scenes: Throw a Punch Into Your Sentences

Fight scenes have a mixed audience. Some readers want vivid detail and an impact which they will not forget. Yet some readers want to skip the chapter and hope their beloved character is not too damaged. Whether you love it or not a good fight scene is crucial for some characters. This is especially true for fantasy stories. If you name aloud a few fantasy stories (or movies) you will almost instantly visualize a crucial fight scene. The hero confronting the villain. The villain challenging an un-experienced hero. The lover instigating an argument to bring out the truth. Fight scenes, both verbal and physical, can be exhilarating.

They can be a challenge for the author.

There are a couple of things you should remember: The story must continue, your character reveals themselves through action, the reader must believe your story, and the confrontation must matter or your reader will not bother turning the page.

A scene, just like a story, must end--and have meaning. Fighting for the simple sake of fighting is excruciating and numbing. Too much action and your scenes become blended together and your reader, as a grocery cashier, moves on to the next scene.

If your character is hesitant to fight--it tells the readers something about your character. If your character relishes and dreams about the next moment he can hear his fists smash into his victim's ribs--it reveals a trait about your character.

Take a moment to read the prior sentence: "If your character relishes and dreams about the next moment he can hear his fists smash into his victim's ribs." Did you visualize anything? You should have. Your imagination is powerful. I did not have to give you exact details. I did not have to tell you which fist was used but you created the scene in your head. Keep this in mind when writing a scene. Too much detail can take away the momentum in your scene.

Which brings to mind the concept of pacing. How you write the scene will immerse the reader in the experience. Short, quick, and powerful, words will help you. Be an active writer. Use active language (i.e. verbs). The villain was not beat up. Your character, the hero, ran up to him and bashed him repeatedly with a staff. The hero stopped. Looked down, and spat. "It's over." Then walked away.

Do you see? The language and verbs made the scene occur quickly. Yet it was a powerful scene.

When you set up your scene you may use a moment to describe what is happening. Think like a cameraman and use your lens to place your characters and paint your setting. Then let your characters confront each other to deliver an outcome which your reader, and you, will enjoy.

Did I mention outcome? Yes. I did. Confrontation leaves its mark. Scars and bruises. Tears, anger, hatred, or fear. This brings to the front two things. First, emotions are a crucial aspect of conflict and showing the reader your character. Second, conflict is grounded in real human behavior whether you enjoy the thought or not. The emotion and realism make emotional and experiential connections between your character and reader.

To make the above connection stronger you must consider your reader's desire: a story they want to read. Don't stop interest in the story by creating a scene which is not polished. Do your research if you are uncertain about the details. You might try visualizing action movements before writing.

If you want to learn more about fight scenes take a moment and read some of the provided articles.

Learn about it: 
5 Essential Tips for Writing Killer Fight Scenes
7 Tension-Building Tips for Writing Action Scenes
Believe It or Not: How Not To Write Action
Here’s How To Write a Damn Good Fight Scene
Blow-By-Blow: Writing Action and Fight Scenes—5 Tips
How to Write Realistic Fight Scenes