How To Write A Fight Scene
The general 4 rules you need to follow to make a fight scene work is called WIEECC
Weight, Investment, Environment, Emotions, Characters, Composition
The first thing when it comes to writing a fight scene is that we usually get so hung up on what’s happening. Who’s throwing the punch and who’s swinging a sword or pulling the gun, we forget about the fight. Fighting is something with emotion and reason. Your fight scene should be more about the characters and what’s happening internally and externally. The first intimidating mistake writers make when writing fight scenes is that we forget those components even exist, and the correlation the emotional has with the physical. Your reader doesn’t need to understand it, so much as they need to feel it.
Weight refers to the literal amount your character weighs. It’s highly important. How fast are they moving? How many hits could they really take? Can they dodge? Can they administer hefty blows? This also refers to attacking. If it’s a fast attack it generally has less energy behind it, because the are moving a lighter object or body part, making it faster and weaker. However, a heavier attack or blow will do more damage, but the victim maybe able to brace or block it faster. It’s something very real in combat, and height also feeds into this point. If a character is tall, the smaller character generally will have a disadvantage, or emotionally feel weaker. Unless specific circumstances are meet, smaller people lack confidence in fights, even if they are trained.Tall and short people will also aim for different places. Keep that in mind while you write.
The fight is much more than the fight itself. It’s like a kiss almost, it’s not what’s happening on the outside, it’s how what’s happening on the inside affects
Something we commonly forget in the thick of the action, both you and your characters, is that the world around them suddenly didn’t disappear. It still exists. Your characters will usually forget about the wall behind them in a fight, and ram into it. If you’re writing fantasy the cliche trick of destroying the wall behind a victim as they duck is classic for a reason. It’s that dawning moment of comprehension where you think “thank god that didn’t land…” If they have a fight where they are moving around an area, SKETCH OUT THE AREA. Know where your characters are fighting. If they are moving, they become hyper-aware of their surroundings, are more likely to use those surrounding to their advantage. An extra ledge to jump from or on, cornering an opponent, the works. It depends on where they are. Just remember that even though your characters are so honed in on the fight, doesn’t mean you can be too, and that wall or dumpster will still be there when the tussle commences. Use it to your advantage. WHat ground are they on? Are they alone? What’s the lighting like? ALl are critical questions to ask if a fight is to happen.
Emotion in a way is the main selling point of a written fight. Because things can’t happen like they do in a karate movie, we have to capitalize on something entirely different. THe emotions. Why does the main character feel like the world will end if they lose? WHat are they fighting so hard to protect? Do they use that to overthink the fight? How much does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Emotion can control physical response. They are two sides fo the same coin. THey are far more likely to lash out blindly when frustrated then level-headed. Know that experienced fighters very rarely lose their cool on a battlefield, it’s important to note that. Think of your characters battle- fistfight experience, then use that yo guide the emotions of the fight.
Your character themselves are a huge indicator of them in a fight. FIght are very personalized. Depending on a few variables, your characters will fight wildly different from others.
Do they have training or experience?
Do they trust themselves?
Spontaneous thicker or planner?
How well can they read their opponent?
All of these variables will change the way your character fights. THink about matching their personality with a fighting style. Educate yourself if your character knows what they’re doing, don’t if they have no idea what’s happening! Match your character in that sense.
Composure can be a surprisingly defining factor in a fight- and it all has to do with intimidation and how put together your character is. You’re automatically going to be afraid to fight a person larger then you, and fear puts you at a disadvantage because it’s a mental reaction that you can do very little to control. You will be afraid of people who have a track record of success, or somebody who you know has a weapon or heavy training. However, it’s also a matter of who is afraid of YOU on the battlefield. You generally want to target people who are afraid of you, knowing that they will put up less of a fight, and are generally easier enemies, seeing as they are unsure if they can beat you.
Weight, Investment, Environment, Emotions, Characters, Composition or WIEECC are the fundamentals of writing a compelling fight scene.
Writing these are hard, so be sure to get lots of opinions, and remember that nothing you do is wrong!
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