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Published: April 04, 2011
Words: 12,700 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465871770
Short description
A fiction writer's resource for creating realistic, convincing fight scenes from author and martial arts instructor, Alan Baxter.Extended description
A fiction writer's resource for creating realistic, convincing fight scenes.Author and martial arts instructor, Alan Baxter, presents a short, ~12,000 word, ebook describing all the things a writer needs to consider when writing fight scenes. Baxter's experience from decades as a career martial artist make this book a valuable resource for writers who want to understand what fighting is all about - what it really feels like and what does and doesn't work - and how to factor those things into their writing to make their fight scenes visceral, realistic page turners. Baxter won't tell you how to write, but he will tell you what makes a great fight scene.
Tags
writing, martial arts, fight, fighting, fight scenesAvailable ebook reading formats
Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.| Format | Full Book | Sample First 40% |
|---|---|---|
| Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser) | Buy | View sample |
| Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps) | Buy | Download sample |
| Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others) | Buy | Download sample |
| PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing) | Buy | No sample available |
| RTF (readable on most word processors) | Buy | No sample available |
| LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub) | Buy | Download sample |
| Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices) | Buy | Download sample |
| Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting) | Buy | No sample available |
| Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page) | Buy | No sample available |
Reviews
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Review by:
Dave Versace
on April 03, 2013 :
Alan Baxter is a writer and a kung fu instructor, and if that sounds like a handy combination, it is. Write the Fight Right (WtFR) draws on his experiences in the dojo and the odd real-life street confrontation to help writers bring a touch of reality to their fight scenes.
Baxter helpfully breaks the book into several sections, broadly starting with how fights actually unfold in real life, and in particular showing which factors are the most important in determining the outcome (footwork, reach, training, size and – crucially – the ability to not be where the other guy is throwing a punch). The second set of chapters describe the physiological elements of a chaotic punchup – adrenaline rushes, the effects of pain, getting knocked out – and the mental side of things - how fear and anger matter, what a fighter might see and hear, the psychological benefits of training and so on. The final part deals briefly with weapons, with the take-home message that pulling a knife or a club or a sword out is an orders-of-magnitude escalation of a violent situation, to be avoided at all costs by anyone with a shred of sanity. The book is rounded out with a helpful checklist, summarising the things a writer could consider in putting together a fight scene.
Throughout the book Baxter keeps his eyes firmly on bringing these elements out in tight, well-focused writing. There’s a lot to consider but his advice is not to overegg an action scene: “Don’t try to use everything , but pick and choose things that suit the kind of fight you’re writing or the kind of environment you’re setting the fight in. Also think hard about your characters and what kind of experience they have and what sort of personality they have, which will affect their reactions and perceptions of fighting.”
Baxter has a good nose for the sorts of clichés used by writers with little to no experience of physical altercations (me included) and exhorts the reader to get rid of them. It’s all good, sound advice written in a practical and no-nonsense style. Baxter comes across as a natural teacher; his explanations are clear and his conversational language gives the whole piece the air of a convivial bar conversation. WtFR isn’t a long book – more like a longish essay – but it is a readable and useful reference work for writers whose genre fiction includes a good splash of biffo.
(reviewed long after purchase)
Review by:
ianmchugh
on May 03, 2011 :
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.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Cat Sheely
on May 01, 2011 :
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.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Phillip Berrie
on April 28, 2011 :
Recommended reading for all writers who don't have black belts of their own.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Ross Hamilton
on April 27, 2011 :
(no rating)
Well worth the small monetary investment - very useful material for any writer who incorporates action like this into their work.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)
Review by:
Sue Raines
on April 27, 2011 :
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.
Sue Raines
(reviewed within a month of purchase)