Structuring Your Fight Scene

Structuring Your Fight Scene

adapted from <Writer's Craft> by Rayne Hall

Suspense

Show your characters gearing up, readying themselves.

The pace is slow, the suspense is high (use suspense techniques)

Provide information about terrain, numbers, equipment, weapons, weather.

May have dialogue as the opponents taunt each other, hurl accusations, or make one final effort to avoid the slaughter.

Don't start too early - we don't need to see the hero getting out of bed, taking a shower and having tea.

2. Start

Fighters get into fight stance: knees slightly bent, one leg forward, abdominal muscles tensing, body turned diagonally, weapons at the ready.

Each side will usually try to be the first to strike, as this will give them advantage.

The movements in this section need to be specific and technically correct.

3. Action

This section may be quick or prolonged. If prolonged, no blow-by-blow descriptions are needed.

Focus on the overall direction of the fight

Make use of the location to make characters jump, leap, duck, hide, fall, etc.

Mention sounds of weapons

4. Surprise

Something unexpected happens: building catches fire, a downpour, relief force arrives, staircase collapses, bullet smashes into the only lightbulb and everything goes dark, hero losses his weapon, etc.

Add excitement, raise the stakes.

5. Climax

Both sides are tired and wounded

The hero is close to giving up, but is revived with passion

Move to the terrain's most dangerous spot: narrow swining rope-bridge, a roof-edge, sinking ship, etc.

Don't rush the climax! Hold the tension

6. Aftermath

The fight is over: bes buddies lying dead, bandaging, reverberating pain, etc.

Use sense of sight and smell

The hero may experience nausea, shaking, tearfulness or get sexually horny

Fight scene length

Historical/adventure/fantasy: 700-1000w

Romance: 400-700w

|| So there’s a detail that’s SEVERELY underrated about Koyuki, and I personally love it?? Like she’s so gentle and sickly, but let’s not forget that THIS GIRL was the one to propose to Hakuji. Not the other way around. Plus, girls being the one to propose is a pretty recent development in society, but back during that era?? That’s gotta be basically unheard of (especially since Gotouge seems to stick really close to the cultural relevance of the eras in KNY)!!

Maybe that was more of a follow-up thing after Keizo gives her and the dojo to Hakuji, but my personal headcanon is that those memories were somewhat out of order (they showed up in order of ascending significance to Hakuji) and that it was Koyuki who started it by proposing to Hakuji, then the following day Keizo said that he could have his daughter and his dojo. So yeah, this girl has the guts to ask him to marry her. I THINK SHE’S REALLY NEAT.

Some writers: *meticulously plan out every plot point and the tone and meanings before they start writing*

Me:

KNY SPOILERS

i can’t help but imagine what could’ve happened if Akaza (Hakuji) didn’t get turned into a demon and Kyoki and Keizo didn’t die

i feel like Hakuji would’ve become a demon slayer at one point, since he knows how to fight (very well, might i add). and maybe he’d end up taking on a tsuguko

he’d probably also gush to anyone he encounters, whether it be another member of the Corps, a random person, or even a demon, about his wonderful wife

Hakuji, pulling photos out of his pocket: that’s my wife, Koyuki. she’s the most beautiful, loving, kind, and amazing person i’ve ever met. and here’s my father-in-law. i love that guy

Shinazugawa Brothers - I Even Ate Demons

Koyuki manga colouring