“The best way for a writer to learn what’s really involved in brawling, short of going down the pub and starting something.” – Pete, WA
Based on my successful workshops, this is a short (~12,000 word) ebook all about writing convincing fight scenes.
When I read a good book or story and then come across a fight scene written by an author who clearly knows nothing of fighting, it can really spoil an otherwise excellent experience. Most writers tend to regurgitate what they’ve seen on TV and in movies, converting that to text, which makes for a slow, unrealistic scene. We have the great advantage in prose that we can get into our characters’ heads, we can describe how things feel, smell and taste as well as the emotional content that film can never convey. We can also describe a far more realistic fight, with the kind of techniques and in-fighting that doesn’t show up on film, but is actually the real essence of a fight.
In this book I go through several sections, trying to give a description that will help writers address all these factors in their writing. Of course, the best way to know about fighting is to go to martial arts or self-defence classes. Second best is to book me for one of my workshops – I’m available, so feel free to contact me. In the meantime, I hope this short book can help. Scroll down for purchase options and to watch an interview with me on the subject by Joanna Penn.
Write The Fight Right covers:
* Footwork & Range
* Reach & Technique
* Guard & Blocks
* Reactions
* Adrenaline & Emotion
* Intent, Body Language & Psychology
and more, all for just US$2.99.
Get your copy in a variety of formats from the following places:
Or you can buy a full multi-media package including podcast, slides video and worksheet, recorded from an online Write The Fight Right seminar I did in conjunction with The Creative Penn. Learn all about that here: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/fight/
*****
Here’s what some people have said about Write The Fight Right:
“This is a very well considered, credible writing tool, packed with details that writers who aren’t themselves experienced fighters would be likely to miss. Clearly presented and well constructed for easy digestion and reference.”
“Short, concise and very informative. Written from a background that gives the content solid credibility it is something all writers who need to write or understand a fight scene (or more for that matter) needs to know.”
“Recommended reading for all writers who don’t have black belts of their own.”
“Well worth the small monetary investment – very useful material for any writer who incorporates action like this into their work.”
“Excellent, I found it factual and informative. The author knows his techniques and on all levels gives good advice to fellow writers. I have already recommended this book to others.”
Here’s an interview with me about writing fight scenes, conducted by the awesome Joanna Penn, of The Creative Penn:
You can download the podcast of the interview by clicking here.
Or watch the video of the interview here:
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[...] author, and wrote RealmShift, which I enjoyed immensely. He’s written an eBook called Write the Right Fight. Being a martial artist himself, Alan wrote it with a few basic ideas in mind, which writers can [...]
[...] http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/write-fight [...]
[...] One of Alan’s standard presentations at SF conventions is his “Write the Fight” workshop, where he takes writers through the actual physical moves of fighting and shows them firsthand what’s going on in the fight scenes they want to put into their stories. That workshop is now so popular that he’s released it as a short monograph (twelve thousand words, so about the length of a longish short story) entitled Write the Fight Right. [...]
I love that you’ve done this. I’m so going to buy a copy, even though I rarely write fight scenes… but they’ll help enormously with my scripting!! Can you blog a bit about how you wrote it? I’d love to read that too.
Thanks – hope you find it helpful. Not really sure how I wrote it, I just kinda did.
But I’ll have a think about that and see if I can blog about it later.
I’ve learned quite a bit about how to write fight scenes by reading “Write the Fight Right” and want to share it with others. I’m writing a review for my friend’s newsletter which she distributes to aspiring authors and I need to know how to credit you. Should I use the short bio you have listed under your “About Alan” link or would you prefer something else?
Thanks so much for writing this book. You’ve clarified some problems I’ve been having with one of my fight scenes and shown me how to make it better. Of course, now it’s up to me to make all the fixes!
Thanks very much – I’m really glad it helped. And yes, please feel free to take the bio from the About page. Thanks for sharing!
[...] novels. Alan is also a martial arts instructor with 25 years experience and has published “Write the Fight Right” in order to help authors write more effective fight scenes. **warning – there are a few [...]
[...] Recent publications include Murky Depths, Wily Writers, Pseudopod, Midnight Echo and a variety of anthologies from publishers like Coeur De Lion, Ticonderoga Publications, Dark Prints Press, CSFG Publishing, Seven Realms Publishing, eMergent, and Kayelle Press. Also, the non-fiction writers’ resource, Write The Fight Right. [...]
[...] Our next contributor for the Place as Person series is Alan Baxter. I eye people like Alan from afar, with something akin to awe: where does he get the energy to do it all? Writing, blogging, Kung Fu, reams of good advice… Check out his thoughts on writing the fight right. [...]