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Tagged: Writing
I write mainly Sci Fi and Horror with the odd ramble into the Fantasy genre. I’ve written and self published a handful of novels and some anthologies of short stories.
This link is to a playlist I made up of some of my material being read by a guy who goes by the pseudonym Mister Brushface. He’s awesome and all should do him a subscribe. Check it out!
Mister Brushface Productions Playlist
I’ve been thinking about using the Blogs to write stories too. I hope more people use the Blogs to post new works such as stories, art, links to music and original animated shorts, etc. I have a feeling Geeks and Gamers.com and sites like it could be the start of a cultural revolution in our entertainment. It’s time to oppose the Woke agenda of Hollywood and gaming corporations.
I’ve never tried to (write) fantasy, read the crap out of it, but for the life of me, I just can’t seem to be able to describe a damn sword fight.
Heh, I like the Glaive from Krull.
Then don’t :) give it an adjective or a simple real life sword name. “The Holy Short Sword”, “The Demon sword”, “The Dark Demon sword larger then the wielder. Engraved with intricate markings that glowed a deep red as if it was asking for more blood to feed it.”
Just start off simple. doesn’t have to be perfect for your first draft. When you go over it, you can slowly add more descriptions or maybe even remove them.
The trick is to just start. If you get stuck on a description just do something simple and move on. No need to be overly focused on it. It’s the story that matters :)
Edit.. and for some reason I didn’t notice the “Fight” at the end of your post >_<…
But the same thing applies. Just start off simple. As you go over it, add more detail. Movements, Thrusts, Parry, Slashes, and Dodges. Add some magical things if it’s a fantasy like “Plunged the sword in the ground cracking open the earth in front of them. Unsteading their opponent giving them an opening.” or something.
Just skip it if it’s bogging you down or put in a quick place holder, then move on. :) You will fix it up when you go over it again.
That fight scene in Starwars (the prequal ones), the script had just “Fight, fight, fight” for some of their fight scenes, instead of doing a proper one. It was the choreographer that made them look awesome.
I’ve never tried to (write) fantasy, read the crap out of it, but for the life of me, I just can’t seem to be able to describe a damn sword fight.
Here’s the thing about choreographing a fight scene in fantasy, there are multiple ways to do it, and sometimes less is more. When I first started writing, I went blow for blow. I did fencing in high school, so I used that knowledge to help me. Problem is, as the years went on, I began to realize while the blow for blow was sorta fun, it did not always make for a good read.
Let’s look at some of the top Fantasy authors and how they do it. There’s the Robert Jordan school of tell you it’s happening and show you nothing. I love Jordan, but he was lazy when it came to combat descriptions. He totally copped out by telling you how a fight was proceeding through the name of the stance…that was pretty much it. Some times, like with Mat, he’d give you a little more, but Jordan did not do fighting. Then you have guys like Terry Goodkind who give you the action, but no details on weapon techniques. So with him you are seeing the results and feeling the action, but you are not being privy to the nuts and bolts of the weapon swings.
In the past few years I’ve reshaped my own combat choreography to a middle ground between these two. I’ve fully embraced the show don’t tell concept of combat choreography. I have massively dialed back my blow for blow style, choosing instead to paint a portrait of the combat. Yet if it is an intense fight, ie. an important one and not simply heroes cutting down redshirt mobs, I’ll dip in and out of the blow for blow so readers can feel the intensity of the combatants’ skill. I love weapons. I’ve been a sword freak my whole life, so I love a good duel. To me, duels (with or without swords) are a staple of good high fantasy.
Fight scenes are an art form, and with all kinds of art there are different ways to do it. You have to both find what works for you, yet also find a form you are comfortable with that makes for a good read.
Because writing has no visual componenet, alot of what makes fights interesting is not the specific fighting itself. Having a character who has a strong motivation for attacking/fighting another will make the reader much more interested in the fight and the outcome. Generic hero having a blow by blow sword fight with orc number 304 is probabily going to be boring. But lets say your protagonist finds the man who killed his father and attacks the man in a rage. The other man regrets murder and reluctantly defends himself. The fight is now between a more skilled but reluctant fighter and a angry, sloppy one. This is a very basic example but I think you get the idea. What makes the fight interesting is the conflict happening outside of the fight itself.
I wouldn’t mind writing a short story, it sounds like it would be fun.
Go for it.
Only thing stopping you is your self :)
Not like it’s the 1700’s or something where writing materials are expensive. Good odds you carry one in your pocket every day :)
I have written original stuff and fanfiction in the past. I haven’t written anything meaningful or extensive for the past year or so. I dunno why. I really should just stick to one of my books, get them edited, and self-publish to Amazon or Smashwords.
I’m sure there’d be plenty of us who’d give it a read if you did.
Would you like the first volume?
I wonder about the possibility of a critique group in the book forum? I don’t know how you would protect someones story or idea though. Having gone through a story idea getting stolen my self, It really sucks. But I do like the idea.
The reality of ideas, is that they are incredibly cheap. The part that take skill and hard work is the actual writing itself. I definitely wouldn’t worry about people stealing ideas.