Trying to write a fight scene for a book is way different than blocking one.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

As many know I am writing two stories. One is a syfy romance, the other is a a bit of twist to many vampire stories. It is a fight scene in the vampire book that is really driving me nuts. I know what I want, if I was doing this for filming, it would be easy. But, to write it in book form is really driving me nuts. I am worries it is either to long or not enough for a visual picture.

I really do believe that there are times it is easier behind the camera than behind the keyboard.


The scene is three men, one with a bat. They are against a female vampire. The men are the aggressors, the vampire is interrupting them beating up someone.

[frogmarch]

1. Stephen King said that

Last edited Sat Jan 12, 2013, 10:41 PM - Edit history (1)

when writing an action scene (which would include a fight scene), think in terms of action/reaction all the way through the scene, and avoid lengthy descriptions of the characters and setting while the action scene is taking place.

Here’s an example off the top of my head:

The zombie sprang from the bushes. Jane let out a yelp and jumped back, but the zombie was upon her, its rheumy eyes bulging as it knocked her to the ground. Sam leaped from the boulder and straddled the zombie’s back, putting a choke-hold on its neck. The zombie let out a roar and grappled with Sam’s hands. Jane scrambled out from under the zombie...etc.

Stephen King said to make sure to describe the setting and all the physical elements of the scene before describing the action. In the example above, the reader should already have been told about the characters, the bushes and the boulder, along with what it was that had led to the action scene.

I use King's advice whenever I'm writing an action scene, and it's always worked for me.

Your vampire fight scene sounds cool!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. I think some of my problem is to that she is not a good guy.

She is doing something good. It is NOT in the nature of her beast. I have wrote her to be well....

The only reason she is, is due to the fact that the young man in question did her, if she was human, a solid. She is confused as to why she is helping in the first place.

It is way easier if I write a scene for her to do this for pleasure. But this one is needing to be done for a good reason and she needs to hurry to get the kid to the hospital. the scene and the characters are waring with each other.