Write an Action Scene in Fiction
A well-written action scene is suspenseful and taut. It pulls the reader into the action and makes him see, feel and taste everything that is happening. An effective action scene pulls together all the elements of good writing. It should have the flow and pace of a good action movie, using words instead of visual images to get the point across. There are many things a writer can do to create an action scene in fiction that will keep readers on the edges of their seats.
Instructions
1. Map out the scene. Determine all the particulars in the scene before writing it. Who will be in the scene? What will happen? Why does it happen? What type of action will it involve? Will it be a shootout, a car chase or something else?
2. Set up the scene before it happens. For instance, if there is a showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist at the end of the story, create tension between the characters that will lead to the action. Write the plot in such a way that the showdown becomes inevitable and suspenseful.
3. Don't cheat the readers. Create an action sequence based on what the readers already know about the characters. If the characters are superhuman, then show them using their skills during the sequence.
4. Put the action sequence in a setting that will make it more suspenseful, such as the edge of a cliff or in a crowded theater. Describe the setting or foreshadow it earlier in the story so that readers will already be familiar with it when the action scene begins.
5. Start the action slowly. Build up the tension before the action begins. This will make the scene more suspenseful. The scene can build with narrative description or it can involve the protagonist's interior dialogue. Once the tension reaches a level where something must happen, then begin the action.
6. Choose language and sentence structures carefully. Elevated language or complex sentences will slow down the action and make it sluggish, while direct language and short sentences will make the action lively. On the other hand, long sentences can slow down parts of the action effectively in the same way slow motion is used in the movies. It all depends on what is needed for the scene to make it effective.
7. Show, don't tell. For instance, during a car chase, use words to describe sights and sounds, such as screeching tire wheels or the roaring engines. Show how the characters react physically to the action. Make the character feel his heartbeat quicken or wipe sweat from his eyes. Don't say that the character is frightened or is hurt when he gets an punch to the jaw. Make the readers feel it.
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