Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Action!

I read Kelly Komm's award winning novel, Sacrifice, and was struck by how seamlessly the action scenes were woven into the story. And there are LOTS of action scenes...sword fights, monster slayings, hiding, fleeing, and falling in love... whew!

What tricks did this author use to bring these scenes alive with just her words?

I asked Kelly if she'd share her secrets and she kindly agreed to write this guest blog. Thanks, Kelly!

Leap Through Your Story with Action Boulders
 
Many writers find action sequences to be an annoying leap from boulder to boulder in the middle of their flowing fable. They run over them quickly, trying not to slip, or attempt to cross their story stream without even touching them. Most often, they amp up the current around the boulder, covering the poor stones and hoping no one notices. Many don’t—but those that do, remember. They caught a glimpse of an anomaly within the stream, and they want more. Action is a lifeline in a story; the nail-biting chase, the epic battle, the courageous save, even the hopeful getaway all provides for an interesting tale. It’s an opportunity for so much in a story. Here are a few tips that keep those boulders above the rising waters.


Act. It. Out.
This may sound absurd, but hey, you’re a writer. You’ve already punched the “crazy” ticket to take on such a lifestyle. So get up. Grab your kid’s Mario Kart wheel and drive your getaway car. Leap onto the couch with that blow-up sword from the local fair and confront your dragon. Barrel up the stairs; will you outrun your psychopath? Acting out your scenes is THE most effective way to bring honesty to your story. You want your protagonist to fight off a half-dozen ninjas? Step into his slippers. How do you hold your samurai sword? Do you growl, or scan frantically for an exit? Are you sweating? Is there broccoli in that one’s teeth? The options are endless when you physically imagine your tale from the point of view of your characters. Imagination is one thing, but to enact your ideas gives you a unique sense of ownership.

Opportunity Knocking
Action scenes give you a unique opportunity to share back-story, comedic relief, a key element, or even aspects of your character’s personality that you may not otherwise reveal or even know about. Nothing uncovers the true colours of someone the way a desperate situation does. To reference a movie, If Indiana Jones wasn’t thrown in that train car full of snakes as a teen, would he have developed his notorious fear of the slithery serpents? Or how about Harry Potter? Would the history of Harry’s scar have been as effectively remembered if he’d acquired it from Voldemort in passing versus the dramatic, action-packed nursery battle of wizard legend? I know when I wrote the first sword-fighting scene in Sacrifice involving my heroine and her guardian, Garick, I discovered a side of him I hadn’t even known about. It turns out play-fighting brings out a sarcastic side of Garick—not to mention the fact that he HATES to lose. How would you react in a new, high-action situation? Chances are you don’t know what your characters will do either. Throw them into the fray and see what happens.

Paint It with Words
Jane ran. She jumped over the wall. It was high. She landed poorly and broke her ankle. The villains caught up.

Yawn.

Action scenes are different from most other types of scenes due to several factors. One of my favourites: DESCRIPTION. With action, you’re usually painting a visual scene with minimal inf0rmation and dialogue, so let your brush lead you. Wear out your thesaurus! Shimmer! Shriek! Stroke! Snuffle! Savour! Infuse your story with every detail and really embellish. Get to know every angle of your story; editing is for reigning in, after you know exactly what each scene should look, sound, feel, smell and taste like.

Another factor: ELEVATION. If your story has a requirement of action scenes, chances are you have an exciting story in the works. Ensure your tale is moving forward in every way it should be. Nothing hooks a reader like ending a chapter with a breathtaking cliff-hanger.

One more: SHOW, DON’T TELL. And I mean that literally. Not sure how to reveal your hero’s feelings for your heroine? Nothing says true love like armed bank robbery for the funds to buy an engagement ring. Now you’ve got a new twist. Especially if your heroine’s new job is at the bank. Action scenes can often cause accidental brainstorming, even if it is just for you.

Are those boulders beginning to earn a more scenic spot in your story stream? A last tactic: explore the action boulders in stories you found particularly effective. What was it that drew you in? Why, and how? Now, pick up that pen and dive into that river! Lasso the biggest boulder you can and let it anchor you through the rapids of your flowing fable.

Kelly Komm is the Canadian author of Sacrifice, an award-winning young adult fantasy novel. For more information, please visit www.kellykomm.com  


Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer www.eileenschuh.com

Action!

I read Kelly Komm's award winning novel, Sacrifice, and was struck by how seamlessly the action scenes were woven into the story.  And there are LOTS of action scenes...sword fights, monster slayings, hiding, fleeing, and falling in love... whew!

What tricks did this author use to bring these scenes alive with just her words?

I asked Kelly if she'd

Leap Through Your Story with Action Boulders

Many writers find action sequences to be an annoying leap from boulder to boulder in the middle of their flowing fable. They run over them quickly, trying not to slip, or attempt to cross their story stream without even touching them. Most often, they amp up the current around the boulder, covering the poor stones and hoping no one notices. Many don’t—but those that do, remember. They caught a glimpse of an anomaly within the stream, and they want more. Action is a lifeline in a story; the nail-biting chase, the epic battle, the courageous save, even the hopeful getaway all provides for an interesting tale. It’s an opportunity for so much in a story. Here are a few tips that keep those boulders above the rising waters.


Act. It. Out.

This may sound absurd, but hey, you’re a writer. You’ve already punched the “crazy” ticket to take on such a lifestyle. So get up. Grab your kid’s Mario Kart wheel and drive your getaway car. Leap onto the couch with that blow-up sword from the local fair and confront your dragon. Barrel up the stairs; will you outrun your psychopath? Acting out your scenes is THE most effective way to bring honesty to your story. You want your protagonist to fight off a half-dozen ninjas? Step into his slippers. How do you hold your samurai sword? Do you growl, or scan frantically for an exit? Are you sweating? Is there broccoli in that one’s teeth? The options are endless when you physically imagine your tale from the point of view of your characters. Imagination is one thing, but to enact your ideas gives you a unique sense of ownership.

Opportunity Knocking

Action scenes give you a unique opportunity to share back-story, comedic relief, a key element, or even aspects of your character’s personality that you may not otherwise reveal or even know about. Nothing uncovers the true colours of someone the way a desperate situation does. To reference a movie, If Indiana Jones wasn’t thrown in that train car full of snakes as a teen, would he have developed his notorious fear of the slithery serpents? Or how about Harry Potter? Would the history of Harry’s scar have been as effectively remembered if he’d acquired it from Voldemort in passing versus the dramatic, action-packed nursery battle of wizard legend? I know when I wrote the first sword-fighting scene in Sacrifice involving my heroine and her guardian, Garick, I discovered a side of him I hadn’t even known about. It turns out play-fighting brings out a sarcastic side of Garick—not to mention the fact that he HATES to lose. How would you react in a new, high-action situation? Chances are you don’t know what your characters will do either. Throw them into the fray and see what happens.

Paint It with Words

Jane ran. She jumped over the wall. It was high. She landed poorly and broke her ankle. The villains caught up.

Yawn.

Action scenes are different from most other types of scenes due to several factors. One of my favourites: DESCRIPTION. With action, you’re usually painting a visual scene with minimal inf0rmation and dialogue, so let your brush lead you. Wear out your thesaurus! Shimmer! Shriek! Stroke! Snuffle! Savour! Infuse your story with every detail and really embellish. Get to know every angle of your story; editing is for reigning in, after you know exactly what each scene should look, sound, feel, smell and taste like.

Another factor: ELEVATION. If your story has a requirement of action scenes, chances are you have an exciting story in the works. Ensure your tale is moving forward in every way it should be. Nothing hooks a reader like ending a chapter with a breathtaking cliff-hanger.

One more: SHOW, DON’T TELL. And I mean that literally. Not sure how to reveal your hero’s feelings for your heroine? Nothing says true love like armed bank robbery for the funds to buy an engagement ring. Now you’ve got a new twist. Especially if your heroine’s new job is at the bank. Action scenes can often cause accidental brainstorming, even if it is just for you.

Are those boulders beginning to earn a more scenic spot in your story stream? A last tactic: explore the action boulders in stories you found particularly effective. What was it that drew you in? Why, and how? Now, pick up that pen and dive into that river! Lasso the biggest boulder you can and let it anchor you through the rapids of your flowing fable.

Kelly Komm is the Canadian author of Sacrifice, an award-winning young adult fantasy novel. For more information, please visit www.kellykomm.com



Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer http://www.eileenschuh.com/
mind letting us in on her secrets.  She kindly agreed to write this guest blog for me.  Thank you, Kelly!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Share my Life

I understand that there are some lonely and bored folks out there, so I invite you to partake in my life.  I have lots of activities and fun I'm willing to share with you.

First, someone could offer to do my late-night volunteer shift on Friday. You can have fun scouring the streets for crime.  Since you won't get home until 3 in the morning, I will need a different volunteer to take my place at Saturday's Farmerettes' Fun Spiel.  Don't worry, you don't need to know how to curl, I'll pay your entry fee, your first game is at 10 am and they'll feed you and give you a prize.  If you find you like curling, you could take my place for the last two league games of the season.

I need someone who likes animals to arrange a vet appointment within the next month for annual checkups for my two dogs.  Also, if you don't mind, could you take the Pom in for a grooming, please? (I'll pay all bills.)

Someone who likes toddlers could pick my grandson up from Day Care a couple of evenings in the coming weeks.  Contact me, and after a criminal check, I'll give you the pertinent info.

Among my writer friends, there must be someone eager to finish my novella.  We only need about 5,000 more words to wrap it up.  If you don't have your own ideas on how to end it, I do have a rough outline you could work with.

If you're better at blogging than penning novels, could you cook up something short and sweet for Criminal Minds at Work?  I'll give you credit.

If you like making people happy, I could do with someone to run my trivia contest.  http://www.eileenschuh.com/did-you-know I'd even let you draw the winners and notify them.  This would be a  joyous, rewarding opportunity and might improve your feeling of self-worth.

For those with secretarily aptitude, could someone book me the best flight to Denver in October?  I'm going there to promote my very first published novel, SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT at the Mile High Sci-Fi Convention.

I'll keep my nail and hair appointments, but if you're feeling a bit insane, you could sit in for me during my Psychiatrist's appointment....oh, wait.  I better keep that one, but I'm willing to give up my spot next Thursday with the Urologist.  I'll just buy another year's supply of Depends until I can get back on the list.

Although I want to keep my trip to Yellowknife at Easter, I could be bribed to release my tickets to the Elk Point Dinner Theater on April Fool's Day.  And for a good bottle of white wine, someone could jump on my ATV and muddle through the puddles at the Ashmont Quad Rally the following weekend.

I really need someone to type up the minutes from last night's executive meeting.  As a follow up, would you mind playing secretary for me at the General Meeting at the end of April?  Also, if you wouldn't mind, could you research the feasibility of changing the name of our society?

If you like parties, please volunteer to cook a gluten-free birthday supper for my middle daughter on the 14th.  I'll pay you extra if you clean up afterwards.

I think that about covers things (for now) until the end of April.  Thanks, guys.


Eileen Schuh, Canadian writer http://www.eileenschuh.com/