Bethany’s Best: Fight Scenes & More

Each month I take a moment to pause and share a few things I’ve found to be helpful and fun along the adventure of living and writing well.

I hope you find them to be enlightening and encouraging!

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Article Round Up: Writing Fight Scenes

Writing good action scenes in our stories can be incredibly hard. We want a fight that is dramatic, thrilling, maybe even with a few great one-liners somewhere in the middle. Our plot may depend on an epic showdown between good and evil and we don’t want to sell our story short.

Here are some articles that talk about realistic fighting techniques (for those of you like me with limited weapon experience) as well as other factors to keep in mind when writing fight scenes. Because really, it’s not actually all about the weapons. The best fight scenes have something deeper going on along with the trading of blows.

May your fighting be magnificent! 😉

How to Narrate a Riveting Fight Scene – Mythcreants

• This post helps us to make sure that our fight matters and has the greatest possible stakes, bringing our scenes past good into great.

Realistic Fighting Abilities in Fiction – Dan Koboldt

• Great information and insights from an expert, this post goes over several topics that are often overlooked in fiction such as fatigue, muscle memory, and how that fits in with character development.

8 Things Writers Forget When Writing Fight Scenes – Lisa Voisin

• All of these are great points, but #7 regarding how adrenaline affects characters in a fight was my favorite. Spoiler: The adrenaline doesn’t help.

Why Your Novel’s Hero Should Fight a Good Guy – Better Novel Project

• Our fight scenes shouldn’t all be predictable or clear cut. Forcing our characters to choose between bad options and potentially even fight with a friend can increase the tension and the stakes of our stories.

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Book Review: Writing The Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Note: Links for this book are affiliate links which means if you purchase something I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry, I only recommend things I actually like! For more info see my site policy.

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass shows up on a lot of recommended to read lists, and for good reason. In it, Maass teaches from his extensive experience what takes a novel from being “good” to being “great.” And isn’t that what we all want?

While some aspects of the book may feel outdated- it was published in 2001 and the publishing industry has changed somewhat since then- much of the book provides wisdom and advice that is timeless and true. Maass is teaching writing craft that is at the core of all great stories.

Writing craft topics covered are:

• Premise
• Stakes
• Time and Place
• Characters
• Plot
• Contemporary Plot Techniques,
• Multiple Viewpoints, Subplots, Pace, Voice, Endings
• Advanced Plot Structures,
• Theme

We all have room to improve our writing craft and this is a good book to guide us on our way and inspire us to push ourselves and our writing to the next level.

Happy reading and writing!

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Recipe of the Month: Taco Spice Mix

Because tacos are amazing!

Rather than needing to head to the store to get a spice mix, now I can just make up my own whenever I want. Love it!

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Self- Care Homework:

Think of 5 things (or more!) that you are thankful for. Try to continue listing one more thing you are thankful for each day. It’s amazing how it can change our mindset when we take a moment to be grateful!

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Writing Prompt:

Write a description of 3-5 different colors using all of the senses *except* eyesight.

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Pure Cuteness: Monkey and mirror <3

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Quote:

“Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.”

– Lisa See

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Happy writing and joyous living to you all! Feel free to send me a note with any questions or to say hi anytime! 🙂