On Writing Fight Scenes
Someone asked on the FFML recently for advice on how to write fight scenes. Several people responded, and I thought some very good advice was offered. I have trouble writing them myself, so, for anyone who cares, here's what was posted:
On Fight scenes:
Imagine you are there... and you are fighting. What would go through your mind? How would you react? Imagine the dirt on your skin, the blood in your mouth, the sweat on your brow, the pain in your knuckles from punching, the ache in your limbs as you grow tired. To simply chart out the actions of your characters is to make the fight two-dimensional. Give the characters depth by exposing their thoughts and feelings, however fragmented by fear, pain or hatred, to the reader. And last but not least, try using foreshadowing to make the reader feel that they know what will happen, but draw the fight out to a conclusion that might also surprise the reader too
--Andy Skuse
Use as few words as possible. Don't be concerned with describing every twitch and muscle contraction. Fights have to move fast, or they will end up being contrived and cheesy. Keep away from long thought phrases during battle, because this is silly as people in the heat of combat don't typically have a lot of time for profound consideration of events. You may, however, stretch things a little when depicting a fight between very unequal opponents.
Strikes and evasions should be compounded into a single sentence. A single offensive should not exceed one paragraph.
Use technical-flavored language. Shallow kick, open-palm strike, draw out, palm-edge, pushing blow, follow-through, initiative, etc.
--The Guy Under The Bridge
Agreed, with the exception of the desperation moves.(like the HiruShutenHa) Well, in that case you would do the paragraph giving short descriptions of the opponents attacks and of Ranma dodging along the spiral path, and then end it with the final uppercut. If you were doing a dragonball type fic it would also be appropriate that if Goku was forming his Geiki Darma you could take an entire paragraph to describe him connecting to the world and drawing the energy of all living things. The thing about the desperation moves is that they are meant to be dramatic fight stoping techniques so embelishing on them is appropriate, and in keeping with how they are animated.
--Brendan
Dialogue.
Before, during and after a fight can be very useful in making a good fight. It adds suspence, intensity and overall gives an idea or reason why they are fighting.
Write about the combatants feelings or thoughts and not just their moves. It helps the reader if they could get into the characters heads.
For the fight itself.
Always keep in mind the position of the characters and their relation to each other. You wouldn't want to confuse your reader. Giving a clear picture of where each of them are and what they are doing really helps.
For special moves, especially if it's a new one. I try to give as much detail as posible on its effects rather than the reasons behind the move. For me, a good explosion gives much more entertainment value than having to go into any lenght of detail on how it's done and the theorys behind it. Though it doesn't hurt to give them early on before a fight. ^_^
--Kiwi Noriega
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