Two Steps Forward and One Step Back…
Feels lately like I’ve been pushed on the set of Dancing With The Stars, except I can’t dance and I’m no star. Awkward and fumbling, woe is me. lol.
I look like I might see daylight on one project and then I make the wonderful mistake of reading some of my writing to a friend over the phone, and she tells me it sounds great, but then informs me I have a plot hole. No. Can’t be. I have been over this manuscript a dozen times and didn’t see anything resembling a plot hole. Grrr.
So I go back and reread again and look at the section in question. That’s when I realize she’s right, but only because I wasn’t clear enough in my action sequence. My literary feet stumbled in the dance move.
Action scenes have always been a toughie for me. Not sure why. Maybe too many flailing arms and feet? Little to no dialogue! That’s it! My characters love to talk, and in real fights, combatants don’t do much talking. They’re too busy trying to connect a fist to a jaw, or a knee to a groin.
Now, you may hear a groan or a grunt in a fight, sometimes in the beginning, you’ll hear a few taunts, but really, after the onset—nobody talks.
If you are a writer or a reader, what is your favorite suspense book? Is there a fight scene in it? Now check out the amount of dialogue in that scene.
While you are doing that, I am going to grab another hot cuppa and start deleting unnecessary dialogue from my fight scenes. 
February 20th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
That’s where you and I differ, Cass. I love to write fight scenes. But, you’re right, there is very little to no dialogue in the midst of the battle.
If you want a second set of eyes, I’m here for you!
February 20th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Hey thanks!
Sounds like an offer I can’t resist.
I’ll bring the margaritas.
February 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I don’t mind fight scenes either, although I haven’t written a lot. You’re right about the dialogue though. If you’re fighting for your life, talking doesn’t seem necessary.
I’m doing edits at the moment. Plot holes – in these edits they’ve been small and fixable. I think I’m getting better at not having them but sometimes they sneak through.