Okay, I think this is the right section to put this so here goes nothing:

Alright here's the deal. I've never written a fight/battle scene. I'm about to try. The problem is that while I can see the entire thing happening in my head I have a hell of a time getting it onto the screen.

Can anybody point me in the direction of some stories with good fight/battle scenes in them? I have one story in another fandom to look over but I'd like to see how different authors write them.

I would like fights that cover one-on-one to vast number of people fighting with some running scared in between the fighting.

Or maybe a site that helps you plan it out step-by-step so that you can fill in the rest later. I'm looking for anything that will help.

It's not "THE" major battle in the story but it is important. Any help is greatly appreciated. I really don't want to mess this one up.

:wall: <---me trying to write this scene

I once had a beta give the suggestion of deciding what actions I want to take place and making a list:

1. Buffy punches
2. Spike dodges
3. Spike kicks
4. Buffy is hit and falls
5. etc....

And then use the list and turn it into actual paragraphs describing those actions. Does that make sense; did I explain it well?

Richard Marcinko's Red Cell books have a lot of fighting and weapons and stuff and are very funny.  You might check out some of the more manly writers.  Heh Heh. 

I've found that I can invision Tolkien battle scenes pretty well, but that might just be me.

Lady Yashka, you could make a post on Riters_R_Us and ask for suggestions or assistance.  Or, I can do it for you, if you don't have an LJ. It sounds like something that I should put up there anyway.

I think everyone finds fight scenes hard to write. It is difficult to do well, unless you happen to be a martial arts or sword fighting expert.  If it's a big fight scene, you can sometimes fudge by describing the overall chaos and then alternating between that and specific characters having specific encounters.  Then you only have to worry about a few minutes worth of punches, kicks, etc. at one time. :)

"I once had a beta give the suggestion of deciding what actions I want to take place and making a list:"

I will definatley be trying this. Thank you EAS!

"You might check out some of the more manly writers."

Manly writers? :lol:  Though I'll probally check those books out anyway. Thanks!

"I've found that I can invision Tolkien battle scenes pretty well, but that might just be me." 

Since the scene is for "For Whom the Bell Tolls" that is exactly the type of battle scene I've got invisioned. I can see it quite clearly I just have trouble describing all of the action. :sigh:

"Or, I can do it for you, if you don't have an LJ. It sounds like something that I should put up there anyway."

That would be great! I don't have an LJ and probally won't get one until I have a new computer. This may take awhile. Thanks for the help and the suggestions. Since it's supposed to be a pretty chaotic scene I'll probally end up doing as you suggested. I am far from a fighting/sword expert.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! You guys are great. Now I'm off to try getting that scene written. :)

Here is the first response off RRU.  This was written by SpikesKat and we all know how talented she is.

"The only advise I can offer is to not make the scene look like a laundry list of how the fight proceeds. Like anything else, I subscribe to the "kiss" philosophy. *grin*

Ex:
a.) Buffy kicked her opponent. Then punched him. Then punched him again. Another roundhouse kick. A punch. (You get the idea.)
b.) Buffy threw a series of punches and kicks that drove her opponent back.

The second one gets your point across while allowing your reader to picture the fight in his or her own mind. Well, IMO, anyway. LOL. Others may disagree and want everything spelled out for them..."

One other person had responded, but she said LJ ate the message she had spent 1/2 hour writing, so she didn't redo it.  I will post more as they come in.

Might we want to change the title of this thread to "writing fight scenes"or something? Just in case other writers want to reread it sometime and can't find it?  Just a thought.

OT - speaking of Spikeskat, did she give a hint there about when she might be posting again? She hasn't updated her site since Oct.

As for the battle scenes, I'd open up Two Towers (just go to the library if you don't have the book) and read the battle at Helm's Deep. It's a fairly short description, while still giving you the impression of lots going on.

CM

Caro,

She added several short fics just recently, as well as the last chapter(s) and epilogue of Forever Again.

She did change the layout a while back, though and I think the url for the fic/update page changed. Try here

"Like anything else, I subscribe to the "kiss" philosophy. *grin*"

Keep It Simple Stupid? :lol:  I've actually been telling myself that while I try and rework part seven of "Tolls". I think this might be the fifth rewrite? I lost count... :)

"One other person had responded, but she said LJ ate the message she had spent 1/2 hour writing, so she didn't redo it. "

:grr: Damn you LJ! I needed that! Oh well....I certainly understand the frustration and if I was her I wouldn't want to redo it either. I would however curse the computer, the internet, and anything else I could think of. ;)

Please thank her, and anyone else who responds, for trying to help. I do appreciate it.

"As for the battle scenes, I'd open up Two Towers (just go to the library if you don't have the book) and read the battle at Helm's Deep....."

I do have the books...somewhere, we moved and I still don't know where a lot of things are. Hmmmmm....I do have another book by R.A Salvatore and his Drizzt novels have big fight scenes...Thanks for the reminder! :::runs off to get book:::

Glad I could help somehow.

Thanks, deedo, for the new link. I'd only had the previous URL.

1. Buffy punches
2. Spike dodges
3. Spike kicks
4. Buffy is hit and falls
5. etc....

And then use the list and turn it into actual paragraphs describing those actions. Does that make sense; did I explain it well?

THAT was me! *grins* I write all my fight scenes that way, be they of a small or large scale. It's the best way to ensure you don't leave anything out. Write a list of what you WANT to include and then figure out what reactions/responses you need to put in there. EG: if Buffy slams a fist into Spike's face, he's going to be knocked back by it, might break his nose, curse, etc.