Wicked Wednesday - and action!

They're fast-paced. Things are going to happen faster than your protagonist can process them, especially with beings who have supernatural speed. Use short sentences and dynamic verbs. They will convey the urgency and intensity of the situation. No big descriptions. Only key details.
Know where all the characters are at all times. Blocking is vital. Don't try to describe everything. Tighten your POV. The action must be mechanically believable and written with precision. Your reader can easily lose track of what's going on if they can't visualize where the characters are in the scene.
There's a lot of witty banter in paranormal romances. Don't let the dialogue take away from the narrative tension. The less the better.
Make sure you use the psychological tension to your full advantage. How is your protagonist feeling? The panic, surprise, and horror. How do they react to the pain? Keep the stakes high. There's also a heightening of senses when the adrenaline starts flowing. Use them to your advantage in crafting a gripping scene.
Remember that every action causes a reaction. (Newton's third law of motion!) There must always be a follow-through on every level.
Not all action scenes need be fights. There's the chase, the challenge, and the infiltration scenes.
How are you with writing action scenes? What do you do to help you write them?
Published on June 12, 2012 23:00
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