Writing About: A Fight

Nothing is more thrilling than a fight whether it’s on a movie screen or in a book. But writing one is not nearly as easy as witnessing one. First, you’ll need to decide what kind of fight you want to write. There are four options you can choose from:

·   hand-to-hand combat

·   sword fight

·   gun fight

·   a fight with supernatural powers

Of course, you could do a mixture of all four as I have, but that is also four times more complicated to write.

After you decide what type of fight will be in your book, you need to know how to create action through writing. This can be done with action-reaction, revealing prose, action verbs, fast pace, and exciting dialogue. 

For a more in depth lesson visit: How To Write Action

When you understand the methods to show action, you need to do some research to learn how to give details to a fight. This can be achieved by talking to professionals in the art of combat and weapon specialists. If you do not have these resources at your disposal, the next best thing is to use the Internet for a crash course, or to study books that you can find at the library.

Along those notes, I highly recommend reading fictional books with an abundance of action to find out the author’s secrets. Many fiction crime novels (mysteries, suspense, etc.) have fights of all kinds in them. Once you read them, you’ll have a much better grasp on how to write fights. And I can guarantee that you will enjoy reading them, too.

TIP: Before you begin writing the fight, plan out key moments. This will make the process of writing the fight much easier.

Once your research is done, it’s time to write the fight. Picture the fight in your head and write it out the best you can with as much prose as possible. (Does your character smell gunfire? Taste blood? Hear the whistle of a blade?)

Who are the key players in the fight?

What causes the fight to start? (Tell us why the characters are fighting, lead us up to the action. Most likely, the answer to this will be a good portion of your story.)

Do they use weapons? (Guns, swords, daggers, fists, supernatural powers?)

What do they do in the fight? (Describe every move, every hit.)

Every movement in a fight is followed by another movement like a dance. When one character hits another, show the reaction of that hit. Does their opponent stagger, bleed, or fall?

·    How does the atmosphere aide or complicate the fight? (Describe their surroundings.)

·    Are words exchanged? (Are curses spat at each other? Are threats exchanged?)

·   Describe the pain your character feels from the hits he receives, and his thoughts.

·   Finally, how does it end? (Who wins? Who loses? Describe the physical damage.)

TIP: I find that listening to rock really helps when I am writing fights. It speeds up my heart rate, my mind, and my words.

Writing a fight may not be easy, but it can be fun.

SHARE: Your tips for writing a fight.