Action Sequences

[auburnnothenna]

ACTION

You can have too much action.

Don't worry, it's not a problem for most of us. Certain people have heard me say, over and over and over, ad nauseam, I hate writing action scenes. I don't think I'm alone. So, because I hate them and try to avoid them, I work hard to include them

Comments

[dagnylilytable]

Auburn--

You rule. I am printing this and putting it somewhere, even though I have no space in my dorm room, because this will help me immeasurably in fixing up that trilogy that will never be finished, even though it's done.

[vaznetti]

Very useful essay--thatnks for taking the trouble to write it out.

I've also found it helpful to block a scene out before writing it--especially a combat scene. That way I feel that I know where everone's arms and legs are, at any given moment; that's also a good point to send it off to someone who knows more about martial arts than I do, although I haven't done that in quite some time.

[eretria]

I'm going to have to print this out and learn it by heart, methinks.
Damn, woman. I may learn to write action after all ... Thank you!!!!!

[rez_lo]

And see, Rez, I wasn't mean. But if you ever say someone has sapphire eyes...

LMAO! Smackdown expected and deserved, I promise.

Outstanding primer, Auburn! Thank you! I s'pose I'd better shut up about my own sqirms of dissatisfaction with that part of the scene from Cynara; it's nice to know it read decently. Speaking of the intersection of action scenes and research, I should mention that I ran that bit past Riane, who's been involved in Tae Kwon Do for years and was able to say that there was nothing absurd about the moves themselves. Which, simple as the scene is, I couldn't really have determined for myself.

What occurred to me, reading your essay, was how broadly your observations can be applied to scenes that supply action without being outright combat spectacles. Apologies for stating what's probably painfully obvious, but I like the idea that "action" means more than "fight."

The catacomb scene in Knives is a perfect example. It's a pivotal scene in the development of the plot; there's plenty of danger and plenty of

quid pro quo

[auburnnothenna]

Now I've done the action essay, I think you should write an nice LJ meditation on writing smut. Because I'd rather have a root canal than try to write it most of the time. Much as I hate action scenes, I loathe my efforts at sex scenes more.

Tell the world how to make their stuff sing the way Home Before Dark does.

Speaking of the intersection of action scenes and research,

It's ironic that you bring up the catacomb section of Knives. That's a perfect example of research sparking a scene. As soon as I read about the monastery library and the catacombs, it just screamed for something involving Rambaldi. I think it took me two weeks to get it right, because it wasn't part of the plot to begin with.

And I do have a broad interpretation of action. It's what the characters do rather than what their thinking or feeling. And what they do can establish character just as well as peering into their heads.

[ms_pie]

Wow. Excellent post Auburn. I need to add this to my memories so I can reference/read whenver I feeling like bailing on an action scene :)