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Writing Fight Scenes: Professional Techniques for Fiction Authors (Writer's Craft Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Rayne Hall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 453 ratings
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Learn to craft realistic, exciting action scenes: duels, battles, riots and more.

This is the updated 2014 edition of the 2011 bestseller.
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  1. Publication date
    January 7, 2014
  2. Part of series
    Writer's Craft
  3. Language
    English
  4. File size
    1.2 MB
  5. See all details
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Writer's Craft
Writer's Craft
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rayne Hall is the author of over 50 books in several genres (mostly fantasy, horror and non-fiction), published under several pen names in several languages. She is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies and author of the bestselling Writer's craft series. Rayne's muse is a black cat, adopted from the cat shelter, who likes to sit between her arms as she types.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005MJFVS0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scimitar Press (January 7, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 193 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 453 ratings

About the author

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Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall

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Rayne Hall MA is the author of over 100 books, mostly Dark Fantasy and Gothic Horror, e.g. The Bride’s Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories. She is also the acclaimed editor of Gothic, Fantasy and Horror anthologies (e.g. Among the Headstones: Creepy Tales from the Graveyard) and author of the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for advanced-level writers, including and the bestselling Writer’s Craft series e.g. Writing Gothic Fiction Writing Scary Scenes, Writing Vivid Settings, Writing Vivid Dialogue, Writing Vivid Characters, Writing Deep Point of View.

Born and raised in Germany, Rayne Hall has lived in China, Mongolia, Nepal and Britain. Now she resides in a village in Bulgaria, where men perform the annual demon dance, ghosts and sirens beckon, and abandoned decaying houses hold memories of a glorious past.

Her lucky black rescue cat Sulu often accompanies her when she explores spooky derelict buildings. He delights in walking across shattered roof tiles, scratching charred timbers and sniffing at long-abandoned hearths. He even senses the presence of ghosts… but that’s another story.

Rayne has worked as an investigative journalist, development aid worker, museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, belly dancer, magazine editor, publishing manager and more, and now writes full time.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
453 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and useful for writing fight scenes. They find it concise and comprehensive, with examples and extensive lists of ways to incorporate combat into fiction. The book provides insight and key words to strengthen their scenes. Readers appreciate the realistic and decent fight scenes described in the book. They consider it worth the money and a good reference work. The organization is well-organized, with the chapters logically placed.

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Information qualityWriting stylePacingInsightCombat styleValue for moneyOrganizabilityYoutube links
96 customers mention "Information quality"96 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and useful. They mention it's an invaluable resource, offering helpful tips and advice. The book is described as a good reference work for beginners, with useful links and references. It provides clear explanations of writing processes, including the whys and hows.

"...and eminently readable, the book is a testament to her own personal bank of knowledge, in-depth research, and admirable attention to detail..." Read more

"...It really is helpful but like all writing resource books, they only help to a certain point, you're the one who has to sit down and write the fight..." Read more

"...is straightforward, to the point, and filled with tips and practical examples, all in a clearly written presentation that packs a lot into an..." Read more

"...The author gives wonderful advice and tips on what to use and what to avoid when writing the best fighting scene, which the scenes can be written in..." Read more

95 customers mention "Writing style"95 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing style descriptive and helpful for writing fight scenes. They say it explains basic fighting scenes like how much dialog and what kind of dialogue a hero or villain should have. The book is described as one of the best books about writing style and technique they've read in a long time. It covers most topics and is an invaluable resource for new writers, especially those handling complex fight scenes.

"...Thorough and eminently readable, the book is a testament to her own personal bank of knowledge, in-depth research, and admirable attention to detail..." Read more

"...between a gritty fight scene vs. an entertaining fight scene, to battles, and even covers the different types of fights for different genres...." Read more

"...With the doing, she learned the dynamics of personal combat scenarios and picked up a broad writer's expertise on combat psychology and the use of..." Read more

"...Author Rayne Hall has written an entire book on Writing Fight Scenes. Did you know there are two basic fight scenes?..." Read more

66 customers mention "Pacing"56 positive10 negative

Customers find the book concise and full of examples. They appreciate the explanations of each weapon, potential uses, and extensive lists of ways to incorporate them into fiction. The guide covers combat and weapons in a variety of ways, including how to use them effectively. Readers mention it's comprehensive and includes advice on how to overcome obstacles.

"...Thorough and eminently readable, the book is a testament to her own personal bank of knowledge, in-depth research, and admirable attention to detail..." Read more

"...fight scene, to battles, and even covers the different types of fights for different genres...." Read more

"...Ms. Hall's work is better that the lot of them. Her teaching is straightforward, to the point, and filled with tips and practical examples, all in..." Read more

"...There are several chapters on different weapons and the correct way to have your characters use them, such as swords, knives, daggers, staffs, spears..." Read more

24 customers mention "Insight"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and detailed, with great examples. It helps them strengthen their fight scenes with key words and concepts. The book covers many fight situations for writers, adjusting styles for gender and body size. It goes into refined detail on ancillary traits and unique circumstances, covering fighting from the personal to the macro scale.

"...She talks fighting from the personal (one-on-one hand-to-hand combat) to the macro scale (battles and warfare)...." Read more

"...She explains timing, training, strategy, skill, experience, psychological barriers and so much more...." Read more

"...The real gem in this book is the psychological advice, such as Chapters 18 (Make the reader care) and 19 (The inside experience)...." Read more

"...It goes into weapons, locations, types of fighters, the differences between men and women, level of training, military fighting, and even animals..." Read more

21 customers mention "Combat style"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for writing realistic and decent fight scenes. They mention it covers how the fight starts, the physical action involved, military fighting, and even animals. The book covers fight scene structure, duel, group battles, unarmed combat, and self-defense. It also covers combat from hand-to-hand, blade weapons like daggers, swords, naval fights, genre preferences in fights, and ideas to work with and make your scenes even more interesting.

"...videos of fight scenes (some famous, some less well-known) and fighting styles, as well as a list of mistakes for writers to avoid..." Read more

"...like the difference between a gritty fight scene vs. an entertaining fight scene, to battles, and even covers the different types of fights for..." Read more

"...There are a few chapters on unarmed combat and self-defense...." Read more

"...She takes us through the pre-fight, the suspense and anticipation building prior to (if the fight has a pre or building part), how the fight starts,..." Read more

15 customers mention "Value for money"13 positive2 negative

Customers find the book helpful and say it's worth the money.

"...The book's worth the price for these topics alone...." Read more

"...It's money well spent! If only my writing professors had instructed as clearly this author does!" Read more

"...Well worth the price and I will be referring to it often as my novel advances." Read more

"...I really think this book is worth the amount of money that I spent on it (very cheap and worth every penny) because it contains a lot of information..." Read more

8 customers mention "Organizability"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's organization. They find the chapters logically placed and the themes well-sectioned. Readers also like the layout and explanations.

"...There they were, laid out logically, clearly, all the why's and wherefores, and how to's of writing outstanding fight scenes, and avoiding the..." Read more

"I liked the layout and explainations. They were descriptive, yet short and to the point. It was a good read." Read more

"...Everything is in great order, the chapters logically placed and the themes giving you just the right amount of a kick to let your imagination fly...." Read more

"Very well organized. Written entertainingly but it is not sell mocking or smug. Covers just about any kind of fight you may think of...." Read more

12 customers mention "Youtube links"8 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the YouTube links in the book. Some find them helpful and mention the use of numerous videos to illustrate points discussed. Others feel the links are excessive and not useful.

"...enough, each chapter includes (where applicable) links to sample YouTube videos of fight scenes (some famous, some less well-known) and fighting..." Read more

"...What does knock out a star is the constant links to videos...." Read more

"...Because it is an e-book, it also offers links to youtube videos after it talks about certain fight scenes from movies, which was helpful since I had..." Read more

"...She cites several examples from films and provides a youtube link to each...." Read more

Obvious, and Ridiculous
1 out of 5 stars
Obvious, and Ridiculous
This book was a huge disappointment. The tips were either blatantly obvious or extremely sexist.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Eleanore T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: WRITING FIGHT SCENES (Rayne Hall)
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    You're writing a swashbuckling pirate adventure, and the hero and villain have just met on deck and drawn swords. You need a dazzling fight scene to maintain tension and reader interest, and to keep them turning pages.

    So ... how do you write that fight scene?

    Or you've got a heroine who knows some self-defense moves that she feels compelled to use on an overeager drunken patron at the bar she owns.

    What do you put on the page that will make that scene come to life?

    This is why you need Rayne Hall's fantastic book, WRITING FIGHT SCENES, in your writing craft library.

    Hall answers questions just like the ones I posed above with practical, step-by-step tips and guidance. She talks fighting from the personal (one-on-one hand-to-hand combat) to the macro scale (battles and warfare). Also included are chapters on specific weapons (swords, knives, staffs, clubs, firearms) and genre requirements (how a fight scene in a romance is different than a different than a fight scene in a thriller).

    If there's a subtopic Hall doesn't cover in the work, I have no idea what it could possibly be. Thorough and eminently readable, the book is a testament to her own personal bank of knowledge, in-depth research, and admirable attention to detail (she even discusses the different types of fight scenes, how the location of a fight scene matters beyond giving it a few words of description, appropriate dialogue, pacing, and more).

    As if all that were not enough, each chapter includes (where applicable) links to sample YouTube videos of fight scenes (some famous, some less well-known) and fighting styles, as well as a list of mistakes for writers to avoid (e.g., pausing mid-fight for the hero to gaze around him at what else is going on, as if his entire attention would not be completely absorbed in his own opponent).

    I cannot recommend Hall's book highly enough as an addition to every writer's repertoire. You'll never again wonder how to reduce a highly intense, high-action fight scene to black words on a white page.

    # # #

    Author: Rayne Hall
    Title: WRITING FIGHT SCENES
    Series: Writer's Craft Book 1
    ASIN: B005MJFVS0
    Purchase here: http://amzn.to/1zNkH5h

    Disclaimer: The opinions I have expressed are my own.
    One person found this helpful
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  • jennee thompson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Resource
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I don't know how many of you have noticed but it's November. And for most writers it means its NaNoWrimo time. During this time, there is a lot of pressure to put words on paper but like most writers, we still can't seem to grasp quantity over quality when it comes to this writing challenge. So, it is during these spurts of writing that great writing advice can seem beyond helpful.

    Writing Fight Scenes by Rayne Hall is one of those helpful resources. It covers basics like the difference between a gritty fight scene vs. an entertaining fight scene, to battles, and even covers the different types of fights for different genres. Not only was this book a helpful tool but one that I could continually use as a reference as I attempt to explore more fiction writing.

    Because it is an e-book, it also offers links to youtube videos after it talks about certain fight scenes from movies, which was helpful since I hadn't seen the all the movies that were mentioned. However, writing a scene and watching a scene are very different and I would have loved to have a few more techniques on how to give my readers better visuals instead of telling them to imagine that one scene from A Princess Bride.

    It really is helpful but like all writing resource books, they only help to a certain point, you're the one who has to sit down and write the fight scene, but if you need a little encouragement, be sure to check out this book by Rayne Hall.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great how-to book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    As one who's benefited greatly from Rayne Hall's writing instruction in various venues and forums, let me say that it's great to see this work available in publication. Like most writers and writer wannabees, I have a bookshelf filled with books on the craft. Ms. Hall's work is better that the lot of them. Her teaching is straightforward, to the point, and filled with tips and practical examples, all in a clearly written presentation that packs a lot into an economy of wording. You can fill a shelf with books like I did, enroll in countless writing classes, attend conference after conference, and not come up with information as beneficial to your development as a writer as you'll find in one of her courses, and now in the first of what one hopes will be a series of instruction books.

    Writing Fight Scenes grew out the author's early personal struggle with exactly that, writing fight scenes. When she looked for guidance, she found none. A voyage of discovery ensued, a voyage that began with studying famous fight scenes in literature, observing structure and analyzing the writer's techniques. This was complemented by hands-on martial arts training taken for the experience alone (she claims no personal expertise, noting that the highlight of her real self-defense accomplishments consisted in bashing a would-be lecher over the head with an oar.) With the doing, she learned the dynamics of personal combat scenarios and picked up a broad writer's expertise on combat psychology and the use of weaponry. When her subsequent fight scenes began to sizzle, she was invited by other writers to share what she'd learned, lessons compiled here and used in the curriculum of one of the online courses she teaches. Anybody writing stories that involve fighting who seeks to make their writing better will benefit greatly from this rich volume.

    In addition to the combat scene material, Ms. Hall throws in a couple of gems that will benefit ANY writing: 1) tips on dialog and pace, and 2) the use of Euphonics, word choices that subtly set a mood within a reader's subconscious. The book's worth the price for these topics alone.

    Bottom line? If you're writing scenes involving fighting, you can't afford to be without this book. If you're writing anything else, buy the book for the section on Euphonics alone.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Linda Blackshaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must for writing fight scenes
    Reviewed in Australia on February 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loved the easy to read format of this book and the blunders to avoid when writing a fight scene. I had the book on the shelf until now. I have a one-on-one fight scene plus a huge battle scent to write to finish the fantasy I'm writing.
    I enjoyed this book and its usefulness and will be looking at purchasing some of the others.
    Highly recommend
    Report
  • Andreina Grieco - Genie in a Bottle Blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all the fantasy writers
    Reviewed in Italy on January 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I find this book very useful for the revision of my fantasy book. Now I have a lot of tips to start rewriting all my battle scenes.
    I appreciate the absence of useless ramblings or small talk that fill a lot of writing books. The advices are straight to the point, schematic and well organised. Also the video links provided are very good to visualize fight tecniques

    (Sorry for my english, I'm Italian)
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book that delivers exactly what it promises
    Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It's a fantastic book that delivers exactly what it promises. It provided detailed in-depth understanding and steps on how to write realistic fight scenes. It was amazing to learn how a skilled and non-skilled person could use them and make it a believable not only for me, but my readers. I immediately reread what I thought was my best fighting scene and found so many flaws and best of all was following the five step blueprint outlined in the book helped me improve my fight scenes. Now I am not talking about copying what Rayne so skilfully outlines and gives you in examples, but learning the skills and adding to them to make them your own. This is an awesome resource for writers. Now I think the whole series is absolutely amazing and eagerly bought the whole writers craft series.
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  • Moziny
    5.0 out of 5 stars For fight beginners priceless
    Reviewed in Germany on September 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very helpful, if you never fought yourself whatsoever but need to write fight scenes in your piece of art to make it work. Although it mainly serves a fantasy writer you can also find information on realistic fighting. I loved particularly the way, the author manages to bring across the feelings and thoughts that can or cannot cross a fighter's mind, pointing out typical errors that have been made by non-professionals.

    Sometimes the book hangs on to stereotype clichés, like for instance the take on female fighters, I believe today even a female fighter can be bad-ass. But still the book helps to concentrate on the basics and comes with lots of useful links and examples.
    Report
  • Nina
    5.0 out of 5 stars Totally worth it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    For less than a cup of coffee this book offers you a handy reference and tips & tricks to write (better) fighting scenes. The kindle version comes with proper intergration, not one of those lazy ports. So the table of contents works (yay!), links work, etc.

    The book covers a range of topics, from how to fight with specific weapons, to how to write a battle scene, to psychological barriers, to name a few. Yes, okay, the chapters are quite short and there's a bit of repetition here and there, but with 34 chapters on a huge variety of fight-related topics, I actually think this is a good thing! After all, I don't need to read the advice on nautical battles if I'm just after some tips on unarmed combat. In particular, I loved the "blunders to avoid" section at the end of each chapter, although some of them are quite noddy.

    The only bit of the book I wasn't so keen on was the male/female stereotyping. For example, there are two chapters, one on female fighters, and one on male fighters. On the whole, I found the advice about physical differences helpful. However, the male fighter chapter "aims to help female writers write about male fighters". Because apparently if you've got a "feminine upbringing" you will have a tendency to write pre-fight dialogue that goes like this "It's your fault, because if you hadn't first done this-and-that, I wouldn't have had to resort to so-and-so, and then the bad thing wouldn't have happened." Whereas men apparently would just say "Take it back."

    To be fair, Rayne does qualify it by saying "the suggestions in this chapter are generalisations, applying to most but not all men. Your hero of your villain may be different." But it's still mildly irritating. I'd suggest you read that chapter with a humourous tone in mind where every sentence is intended as a joke and then it's a lot more palatable.

    So why still give it 5 stars? Oh, come on, it's less than 2 quid! Great reference with proper kindle support for that price - totally worth it!
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