And Action!

For a girl that loves words, I am all about the action. I can get through a story that is dry, or straightforward, but it’s the cinematic ones I live for. If the tale pops off the page and turns into a movie right before my eyes, I’m hooked. To simplify: Good dialogue pulls me in, but action keeps me turning the page.

Action doesn’t have to be a cityscape chase scene that ends in a grand explosion either. It can be as simple as a tension filled stare down between mortal enemies or the stomach-turning glance from a prospective lover. Rule number one: don’t over think it. Getting yourself too wrapped up into the scene can make it complicated and dilute the importance. And although action seems like a complex dance, there are only a few important pieces to remember:

Intersperse Dialogue: A hunk of text isn’t very welcoming, but cut with a few sets of dialogue or inner thoughts and it becomes approachable.

Sensory Description: Of all places, don’t forget your senses during an action scene. This is where it counts. Tell the reader the noises, smells and feelings of your big event.

Structure: Action requires a rising event, climax and a falling event just like the rest of your book, only much smaller. This structure makes the action in question well paced and flow in your story.

Give a Show:  You should try to always avoid telling the story, and that’s no different during an action scene. This is where your showiness can shine!

• Don’t say: We stared each other down.
• Say: His eyes burned through me from across the room.

Essentially, action scenes are miniature stories. A new chance to thrill the reader and keep them begging for the next whirlwind event. Not only will your scene heighten the tension but it will propel conflict and plot. Use action to your advantage to keep those readers interested.