Writing Action Scenes...

[shadowkat]

This shouldn't amuse me, but it does. There is actually a Fiction Writers - Phrase Book -- it includes action phrases to kick your writing up a notch.

I kept thinking as I read through the description and the sample, isn't this sort of similar to plagiarism? I mean a writer's style is supposed to be distinctive, right? We're supposed to come up with our own phrases for this stuff not use someone else's? Why bother writing if you can't come up with your own distinctive style? What's the fun in that?

Although it does explain why a lot of action writing and genre fiction writing styles are starting to read the same. Almost as if these writers are following some sort of formula?

Examples from the book:

Axes

* The ax cleaved, death riding in its wake. (oh dear)
* The ax made a ruin of his chest.

Bonus tip? What kind of sword is it?

"While technically swords are swords, different types of swords exist and they are used differently in battle."

[Actually, I thought it was an ax.]

Broken Glass

* The broken bottle was better than no weapon at all. (stating the obvious)
*The stained glass exploded in a rainbow of death.(LOL!)

Chainsaws

* The chainsaw shaved off his head. (how about sawed? Shaved sounds a bit too easy for a chainsaw.)
* The buzzing blade savaged her nice soft throat. (hmmm, a bit wordy)

Knives, machetes...
*He took an electric carving knife to her screaming face. (ugh)

Don't people read? I mean you can pick up this stuff just reading books. If you want to know about swords, google swords. Seriously?

I've been watching action scenes of karate, judo, and various television series on youtube to write a fight scene between two characters, who are sparring, with no real intent to harm each other - but need to work off needed tension. It's quite useful.

Comments

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

All of these read absolutely terribly to me.

"shaved off his head" really doesn't work.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I just can't imagine using those lines for action sequences or a reader not laughing or rolling their eyes while reading them.

[kerkevik-2014.livejournal.com]

This reads like a spoof; it also reminds me of a comment complaint I have about cars - that they all ;look like they've been designed in the same wind machine. Will books start to seem like they allcome from the same self-help book?

This would not be of the good.

kerk

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Read like a spoof to me as well...some of the lines are hilariously bad.