Indie Authors Monthly Magazine For Authors and Readers discussion

Hi, guys! So, I'm trying to write actions scenes for a story that I'm hoping to post on fictionpress, but it's just not coming out. I always end up telling the reader what is going instead of showing. How can I avoid this and how should I approach writing action scenes? Action is my weakest area of writing and I just want to get better at it.


Thanks,
Serena

One of the best ways to show, not tell, is to use the five senses, so it's not just what you see. Can you smell the sweet scent of the roses blooming outside the window? What a contrast to the acrid scent of sweat and blood. And speaking of sweat, can your character feel it running down her spine, soaking her shirt. Can she feel the silk of that shirt cling to her body, outlining the shape of her muscles as they flow through the lessons she's been so meticulously taught. What does the clashing of swords sound like. What does a punch sound like as it connects with a body and what sound does the receiver make? Do you hear conversation in the next room. What does that sweat or blood taste like?
Conversation is another way. Real fights are pretty silent, but you'll notice in movies, the combatants always talk. That's because those action scenes are pretty boring without sound.
Hope this helps.

It does. I'll approach it that way and see what I get. Thanks!

I agree with Jacqueline, but I also found How to Write Fight Scenes very helpful in both use of words specific to weapons and using the environment to help with the scene/action: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fight-S...
Good Luck

Serena,

Assuming your local library is large enough, there will be books that focus upon both basic and advanced technical writing and narration skills and styles. They will include specific examples of how to best narrate different scenarios, including action sequences.

If the library does not have them, the local book store will.

I never thought about looking in writing books. I usually don't use them. Thanks guys!