Action Feedback (I don't know how to write it)

[Parade]

Hello, so I am currently making a story called Urban Valor, and I need help with how to write Action. I would like to say I am proficient at imagery and emotions, but I don't have a clue for the combat scenes, my brain teh and the words just don't match at all.

I am reaching out to ask for examples or ideas on fight scene creations, they are turning into the biggest stump for my story currently.

For context: in my story, every person has the ability to create a superpower for themselves, and it can be literally anything, ranging from controlling gravity, laws, and elements, to turning your farts into a gas compound of whatever you want when you release them. My main character that ive made is using the law of equivalent exchange and restrictions to create contracts, this is to increase his power potential. each power I give has a limit within their power tier. for example a tier 1 (steet level) strength superpower can make him lift about 350 pounds with ease while a tier 4 strength superpower can destroy an entire city. and I do have ability/move sets but I have no clue on how to introduce them really? and this is a virtual reality world using a system.

What I'm looking for: how do you structure your fights? arms, legs, body weight shifting, sweat, muscles contracting, BOOM, SWOOSH

IF you would like to read my story to help understand, it is https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2249744/urban-valor/

 

[Eldoria]

Here are some practical tips for writing action scenes (especially battles):

First, describe the chaotic environment as the atmosphere at the beginning of the narrative. You can describe dust, blood, corpses, sunlight, or any object to depict the tension of the battle. The goal is to draw the reader's imagination directly into the tense battle scene.

Second, map your characters' positions in space and time (3D). Where is the protagonist on the battlefield? Where are the relative positions of the MC's comrades standing around him on the battlefield? Where will the enemy attack?

Narrate the spatial map so that readers can picture the battle scene spatially in their imagination. So, each attack can be identified from a direction without feeling like it suddenly appears.

Third, use the battle pattern:

Action -> Reaction -> Effect.

This pattern will make it easier for readers to understand how the battle unfolds intensively. For example:

An enemy slashes (action). The MC blocks with his sword (reaction). The sound of metal clanking (effect). You can simply vary the pattern to make the scene more lively.

Fourth, focus on the impact of the fight and use choreography sparingly. Don't focus too much on the fighting movements.

You don't need to describe every attack in detail, as that will actually lose the tension, distracting the reader than the intensity of the fight itself.

Fights are more thrilling if you focus more on the impact and the stakes. It's more thrilling to read about a protagonist being slashed and bleeding, struggling to hold his sword, than to narrate 100 beautiful sword moves.

Fifth, note every wound; each wound should have a real impact on the character. If the protagonist is slashed in the left shoulder, he will have difficulty lifting his sword with his left hand. Ignoring this point creates a plot hole, an inconsistency in the world's internal logic.

Finally, I've included the chapters on the fight scenes for reference:

Vol 2 Chapter 19: The Mist Misses the Rose

Vol 2 Chapter 69: The Final Battle Among the Wounded

Vol 2 Chapter 74: The Battle Under the City Wall

Vol 2 Chapter 84: Facing the Forgotten Face of the Past

Regards.

 

[Rosica]

Here are some practical tips for writing action scenes (especially battles):

First, describe the chaotic environment as the atmosphere at the beginning of the narrative. You can describe dust, blood, corpses, sunlight, or any object to depict the tension of the battle. The goal is to draw the reader's imagination directly into the tense battle scene.

Second, map your characters' positions in space and time (3D). Where is the protagonist on the battlefield? Where will the enemy attack?

Narrate the spatial map so that readers can picture the battle scene spatially in their imagination. So, each attack can be identified from a direction without feeling like it suddenly appears.

Third, use the battle pattern:



This pattern will make it easier for readers to understand how the battle unfolds intensively. For example:

An enemy slashes (action). The MC blocks with his sword (reaction). The sound of metal clanking (effect). You can simply vary the pattern to make the scene more lively.

Fourth, focus on the impact of the fight and use choreography sparingly. Don't focus too much on the fighting movements.

You don't need to describe every attack in detail, as that will actually lose the tension, distracting the reader than the intensity of the fight itself.

Fights are more thrilling if you focus more on the impact and the stakes. It's more thrilling to read about a protagonist being slashed and bleeding, struggling to hold his sword, than to narrate 100 beautiful sword moves.

Fifth, note every wound; each wound should have a real impact on the character. If the protagonist is slashed in the left shoulder, he will have difficulty lifting his sword with his left hand. Ignoring this point creates a plot hole, an inconsistency in the world's internal logic.

Finally, I've included the chapter on the fight scenes for reference:

Vol 1 Chapter 5: The Slave Traders and the Shadow of the Bloody Executioner

Vol 2 Chapter 19: The Mist Misses the Rose

Vol 2 Chapter 69: The Final Battle Among the Wounded

Vol 2 Chapter 74: The Battle Under the City Wall

Vol 2 Chapter 84: Facing the Forgotten Face of the Past

Regards.

You learned a lot from @Louhi and @MFontana feedbacks. Now you are skilled enough to give a feedback of your own.

For the OP, read this:

[Help me] As a reader, how cinematic do you think the fight scenes in this chapter?

Feedback on Fight Scene Visualization Can you rate how visual the fight scenes in the following a chapter are in your mind as a reader? Please answer by selecting an answer option based on the scale provided, with or without providing a reason. The visual scale is explained below: Scale...

scribblehubforum.com

Plenty of helpful tips about action scenes there.