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Stuck on Your Writing? > I could use some advice on a fight scene

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message 1: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments I am trying to write a fight scene and I can't seem to figure out how to do it.
The main character has to save her brother that was kidnapped by the bad guys. But the main character is soo out numbered and I am not sure how to go about writing it.
I could use some help


message 2: by L.E. (new)

L.E. Fitzpatrick (l_e_fitzpatrick) | 10 comments Write it out without any frills so you know exactly what is happening and how the fight unfolds i.e. - she hits the first guy, he falls down, she turns and a hundred others face her.

From there you should be able to see the key moments in tension as well as the bits you can gloss over. I always think a fight scene should be chaotic but make sense. Sort of like a smashed piece of glass, all the parts still fit together even though they're in bits on the floor.

Does this help?


message 3: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments L.E. wrote: "Write it out without any frills so you know exactly what is happening and how the fight unfolds i.e. - she hits the first guy, he falls down, she turns and a hundred others face her.

From there yo..."


It does help some thank you


message 4: by Irene (new)

Irene (wingdesilverii) | 2500 comments Trisha wrote: "I am trying to write a fight scene and I can't seem to figure out how to do it.
The main character has to save her brother that was kidnapped by the bad guys. But the main character is soo out numb..."


Hey Trisha! I tweaked your title so it is more specific, if we let you all title them as "I need help" or "Help!" it would all get very confusing!

Now, as for your question. Besides actually writing the scene, there are a lot of things to consider, is your MC skilled in fighting? How skilled are her attackers? Do you want to be realistic here? I would figure out how you want things to play out and then L.E's advice.


message 5: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments Irene wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I am trying to write a fight scene and I can't seem to figure out how to do it.
The main character has to save her brother that was kidnapped by the bad guys. But the main character ..."


Ok about the title

She is not skilled at fighting, the bad guys are skilled with hand to hand and since I am writing about Werejaguars I need the fighting to be as rea as I can get it. My thing is I am not skilled in fighting and I can't seem to figure it out it's like my brain froze


message 6: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments D.L. wrote: "Trisha, in your scene, how many bad guys is your main character facing? Is she facing them all at once or individually? Is she going to be stealthy or face them head on? Does she have any 'weapons'..."

She is fight at least 4 she had to face them or they said they will kill her brother they are in a warehouse like building in late evening there are no guns or knives but there are scraps of metal and a chair her brother is tied to


message 7: by Irene (new)

Irene (wingdesilverii) | 2500 comments Trisha wrote: "Irene wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I am trying to write a fight scene and I can't seem to figure out how to do it.
The main character has to save her brother that was kidnapped by the bad guys. But the m..."


If you are going to be realistic, they aren't going to "wait their turn" like you see in the movies. They are going to all jump her at once, over power her, and do whatever with her (take her to their boss, kill her, ect). I don't know your character's temperament, but if she has never had to defend herself she will most likely panic, giving them the advantage to grab her. If they are a lot of them they will just swarm her and grab whatever they can of her, preventing her from struggling and getting loose.

What sort of outcome are you looking for with this?


message 8: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments She has to win or the series will end before I am done( I know duh) she does have someone outside the building to call for help so in the end she will not be alone but she has to start alone


message 9: by Annalise (new)

Annalise Grey | 2 comments I'm a fan of distractions such as molotov cocktails or other explosives. Plus they can do some real damage to somebody in a small area (without destroying an entire building). Is your MC good with traps? As in, could she use some snares or booby traps to help her?


message 10: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments Annalise wrote: "I'm a fan of distractions such as molotov cocktails or other explosives. Plus they can do some real damage to somebody in a small area (without destroying an entire building). Is your MC good wit..."

No she has no fighting skills of any kind. The only other fight scenes she was in she passed out from blood loss while other fought


message 11: by Irene (new)

Irene (wingdesilverii) | 2500 comments Trisha wrote: "She has to win or the series will end before I am done( I know duh) she does have someone outside the building to call for help so in the end she will not be alone but she has to start alone"

I was about to say what Annalise said, but start with that if you want this to be more or less realistic have your MC be crafty/clever.


message 12: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments Ok thank you all you have been very helpful


message 13: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments D.L. wrote: "What ages are you looking at? is your MC a youth? are the captors adult male? It would be difficult to have a realistic fight scene in this scenario, especially if she has never really fought befor..."

It's an adult book both the MC and her brother are over 21
I will think about what I need to do.
Thank you for your help


message 14: by Irene (new)

Irene (wingdesilverii) | 2500 comments Trisha wrote: "D.L. wrote: "What ages are you looking at? is your MC a youth? are the captors adult male? It would be difficult to have a realistic fight scene in this scenario, especially if she has never really..."

Oh, and not to mention, the natural frame of your MC will play a role here. Being female she is going to naturally have less upper body strength (unlike males) and if she is light especially framed that makes the likely hood of her having any sort of muscle mass even less, and she will be easier to overpower.

The best advantage she has is to act quickly and play on the fact that they will most likely underestimate what she can do (especially if you make them cocky).


message 15: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments Irene wrote: "Trisha wrote: "D.L. wrote: "What ages are you looking at? is your MC a youth? are the captors adult male? It would be difficult to have a realistic fight scene in this scenario, especially if she h..."

Your right, I am taking her size and cockiness of the BG in to all of this


message 16: by L.E. (new)

L.E. Fitzpatrick (l_e_fitzpatrick) | 10 comments Slick dialogue too! That's always great for a fight scene.


message 17: by [deleted user] (new)

don't say too much or go in detail. trust the reader's imagination


message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

throw in something funny suddenly...


message 19: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments Thank you all


message 20: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments I was thinking I might post what I have so far if anyone wanted to see it


message 21: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments D.L. wrote: "Sure, I'd be willing to have a look. Or you can PM me if you'd prefer. Or not :-)"

I sent it to u


message 22: by Trisha (new)

Trisha Jones (authra) | 1074 comments I am about the third of the way through the fight scene and I think it's ok


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