Want to join in? Here's this week's Author Aerobics challenge. Answers to the challenge will be posted on Friday. If you use this writing prompt, post a link to your entry in the comments below, and I'll update this post with links to yours. Everyone's welcome!
Action Challenge
Not every story needs an action scene, but it's impossible to go on without writing one. Perhaps there are no explosions, fist fights, or car chases in your writing, but are often still be moments of movement and chaos: Susie enters the living room and, mom and dad are arguing, Billy's throwing a tantrum, and Grandma's looking for the remote control. Paul's lost in the streets of Paris, and he's going to be late for his flight.
The challenge of writing an action scene usually boils down either clearly describing everything that is going on at once, or restraining the description of the action to suggest larger events.
This week's challenge: Write an action scene (1000 words or less). The theme "light".
This week's stories:
- Just Like Me by T.S. Bazelli - Things get heated in the Demetriou household.
- Bright Hands by Stephen Watkins - In Taruth's hands, the light becomes a spear, a shield, a wire trap.
- Grian Cloch: Stone of the Sun by Aidan Fritz - Caen's wings burned as he descended too quickly. They called them Gods, but he knew the truth.
AAAAGHH!! Not an Action Scene!!!! I'm not very good at these. One of my "Beta Readers" (I put that in quotes because he no longer reads my stories…maybe I should take a hint? lol) complained that my story didn't have enough action. And they were right I think…
This should be interesting.
Do you do these theme groupings on purpose? Red…apple…desire? Fireworks…light?
They are also one of the banes of my existence! Hence the need for practice :) It should be interesting indeed.
And no, hehe the groupings emerge subconsciously, I swear!
It's a writer thing. lol
Hmm. There's a long-running debate I have with myself. Am I good at action? Is it one of my strengths? Some days I say yes. Some days I say no. Maybe it's time to find out?
Maybe it depends on the day ;-)
That's funny Stephen, because your flash stories include action quite regularly! I would have thought it's easy for you :)
Yeah, I definitely gravitate to action scenes. I just question whether I do them well. Do I get the pacing right? Do I get the feel of it right? Those are hard things to know for sure, but they're pretty crucial.
From what I've seen, sometimes there's so much going on it's confusing, but other times you handle it quite well. hmm. That doesn't help does it?
It doesn't hurt either - but it does point out that I haven't quite mastered action scenes, yet, either.
that sounds like a cool challenge.
Thanks!
I'd argue last week's entry had more action than this week's, but there is still action in: Grian Cloch: Stone of the Sun.
Well... I managed to write something during the lunch break.... barely. Not my strongest work, but there you go, thems the breaks when you catch a computer bug.
Bright Hands
I love the short blurbs you add for the entries.
I enjoy writing them. :) I think of the blurbs as little teasers to come read.