Advice on Writing a Short Story

[conchshellthegeek7]

So. I'm currently working on a short story. I can't tell you what it's about because I'm paranoid someone will steal my idea, but I can tell you it involves an English painter, a Japanese programmer, and a Scottish pirate...and zombies. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to write a fight sequence, though. My question is: do you have any advice as to how to write a description of an action-packed zombie battle?

EDIT: I was under the impression when I first posted this that "FanFiction.com" was a seperate website for original work. This was incorrect, and I have taken the necessary "FAIL" procedures. It is not a work of fanfiction.

Also: I have all the details of story worked out. I've got the characters, their flaws, the villain's motivation, the romantic aspect that works in later, and which characters walk around carrying miniguns (don't ask). All I need is how to write a fight scene.

One last thing: I recently realized that this may not be a "short story" per se. It's really more of a SHORT story, as in a story that's longer that a "short story" or an essay, but shorter than a novel. Just in case you care.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Show, don't tell.


Its great advice. Don't just plainly say whats going on.

 

[Davrel]

English painter, a Japanese programmer, and a Scottish pirate

I can't be the only one who thinks thats a great start to a joke.

Do they, perchance, walk into a bar?

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Well the most important thing about a short story is that it must be short and must have a story.

Calumon: Jack's got dizzy from drinking something. He calls it 'Russian Water'.


Calumon: But a story, Yay! I like stories, and yours sounds so fun! Can I read it?

 

[The Cheezy One]

im doing this now on deviant art based on STALKER. enjoy (if anyone cares) http://mattwensley.deviantart.com/

try to make your character flawed, as no-one gives a damn about prince charming

talk about all the senses. try to make someone think "oh yeah it would stink, i didnt think of that", but dont just list them at will

go into description, but try to keep things moving

make it interesting, but dont try and be too arty ie "the stars looked like angels, falling from heaven under a dark heath" bollocks. no-one looks at the stars and thinks that. writing so could distance you from the reader

 

[ma55ter_fett]

Don't go into great detail with the fight sceens, and use plenty of dialog to avoid a wall of text, for instance.

He fired a burst of rounds and three more zombies fell.

"I only have a few rounds left" he cried

"Go, I'll cover ye!" spat the scot as he unloaded both barrels of his shotgun into a zombies face.

 

[The Cheezy One]

Don't go into great detail with the fight sceens, and use plenty of dialog to avoid a wall of text, for instance.

He fired a burst of rounds and three more zombies fell.

"I only have a few rounds left" he cried

"Go, I'll cover ye!" spat the scot as he unloaded both barrels of his shotgun into a zombies face.

shakespeare himself could not have phrased it any more eloquently
seriously, thats good advice

 

[Sevre]

My advice is to keep them short and succinct, reading a long fight scene is hell.

Also to quote Pimppeter

Show Don't Tell.

It is the first rule.

 

[reg42]

Don't go into great detail with the fight sceens, and use plenty of dialog to avoid a wall of text, for instance.

He fired a burst of rounds and three more zombies fell.

"I only have a few rounds left" he cried

"Go, I'll cover ye!" spat the scot as he unloaded both barrels of his shotgun into a zombies face.

It depends on the overall writing style.
If you're a visual writer I'd advise throwing a lot of parts of speech and imagery, as dialogue writing does work, but it doesn't create as much of an impact. But don't start throwing in a whole bunch of imagery half way through, as it'll just seem out of place.

 

[sighmoan]

To be honest, I'm not sure a fight scene is really the way to go in a short story. I'm not the greatest creative writing authority but I've been around short stories enough to know that they occasionally require a couple of hoops to get right. It might be better to not write a fight scene and simply imply or insinuate that there's been one - i.e. "'I think that's the lot', says the scot as he fired another shot into an ostensibly perished corpse, among the gang that arrived soon after they awoke that morning" - or it might be better to do that with at least part of a scene - "After nearly an hour, he gasped and proclaimed, 'Aye lads! Makes ye wonder where this bleedin' horde o' zombs' arrived fr'm'" - so that you'll not write extensively only to create the sense that there's been a lengthy fight.

If I were you, I'd sit around to think for a long time about what the fight means in the story as a whole, try to formulate a way in which that particular meaning would take shape in the text and flesh it out from there if need be.

 

[azncutthroat]

Try a "conflict of interest" situation in which the protagonists make a decision that the reader can not only relate to, but also provokes a response from the reader (i.e., the reader will react in a "I would've made the same choice," or "I would've done something else." manner)

The best kinds of short-stories are thought provoking and are as much an insight into the characters as the readers themselves.

 

[Piecewise]

Fight scenes are overall difficult to convey in text simply because writing in not the sort of medium that easily conveys complex movement. The best writing works in generalities and allows the reader to fill in the blanks. Your words should guide the reader's imaginings like carefully placed stones in a river.

The best way I've found is to describe it as though you were seeing it, not as though you were controlling and creating it.

Also, when in doubt, just use "said" it may seem less creative but said is an "invisible word" and keeps the reader focused on dialog. You shouldn't have to tell your reader that the character is "grumbling sarcastically", it should be clear from the actual dialog.

The rule of "show don't tell" is also useful and extends into character and scene description. Don't tell us in excruciating detail what a character is wearing because that doesn't matter and your reader is going to envision them however they want anyways.

Oh and here, tips from Vonnegut because he is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyQ1wEBx1V0&feature=player_embedded

 

[bobknowsall]

So. I'm currently working on a short story. I can't tell you what it's about because I'm paranoid someone will steal my idea

I wouldn't get too worried about that, mate. If someone's going to steal your story, they'll steal the finished product. It's awkward enough to write down your own ideas, so why bother writing down someone else's?

OT: Writing fight scenes is a tricky thing, but with a bit of practice it can be quite rewarding. The best tip I can give you is that you should be sparing with your description of the characters' actions. For example, instead of saying "Jim drew his baseball bat back, then gasped as he swung it forward, crushing the zombie's skull", just write "Jim crushed the zombie's head witha well-aimed swing". Readers can fill in the gaps when you're writing a fight scene, so you should pay more attention to describing their surroundings and how they interact with them.

Also, the golden rule of writing fight sequences can be summed up with the acronym KISS[/i] (Keep It Simple, Stupid). The longer the fight sequence is, the slower it will seem. And slow action scenes will bore your readers out of their skulls.

 

[bobknowsall]

Show, don't tell.

I think that the above phrase gets tossed around a little too much when talking about writing. It is a good rule of thumb, but sometimes telling is an awful lot more efficient. Its main problem is that the story doesn't progress while you are telling. Each approach has its merits, but I would agree that showing is usually the superior approach.

 

[MurderousToaster]

If you want to write a fight sequence, try and keep the sentences short if you want intensity. Otherwise it will seem really slow and slightly stupid.

 

[Quaxar]

Is there a chance to apply as beta-reader? Because from what I've heard it sounds pretty neat.

English painter, a Japanese programmer, and a Scottish pirate

I can't be the only one who thinks thats a great start to a joke.

Do they, perchance, walk into a bar?

Don't be silly, what would a Scottish pirate do in a bar?

 

[Kermi]

Is there a chance to apply as beta-reader? Because from what I've heard it sounds pretty neat.

English painter, a Japanese programmer, and a Scottish pirate

I can't be the only one who thinks thats a great start to a joke.

Do they, perchance, walk into a bar?

Don't be silly, what would a Scottish pirate do in a bar?

Anything he goddamn wanted.

 

[JayDub147]

Try not to have too many characters. It can be easy for readers to lose track of the significance of too many people, especially when all they have to remember them by is their names. Plus, it allows you to flesh out the ones you have left even more.

EDIT: In regards to your specific query about fight scenes, just try to keep it simple.

Unless, of course, you're writing a comedy and are trying to make it as ridiculous as possible. In that case, I'd suggest lots of exaggeration.

 

[Flying Dagger]

I think you've packed too many ideas in. Sounds like some god-awful fanfic. Oh it is fanfic.
Not my sort of thing really. I tend to go for longer novels and books over short stories off a screen. I think you are probably searching in the wrong place for writing advice though, It's either something you have, or you don't.

The key is to read a lot of books and steal their ideas.

to the question you ask? map out what happens in your head, write it all down, choose what order to put it in, make sure you switch characters fluently* and make sure you have it as you want it before leaving it. It may take a few tries.

*here's how I would do it*
Jack was knee deep in blood and shouting in scottish tones to the wind, this was the sort of battle that thrilled his spirit, brought his old body flairing to life and ignited a fire in his remaining eye.
He waved his hook at the oncoming horde and let out a bellowing laugh and he cut his way through, the adrenaline rush of battle obscuring all memory of his comrades, Leaving him oblivious to the challange facing Johnson, who's delicate hands were more suited to holding a paint brush rather then the battleaxe he currently flailed, But there had been no time to find a more suitable weapon, and in this day and age, where would you find a rapier? He was lucky to have a weapon at all, considering Peng was using a keyboard filed down to a sharp side. Peng was in way over his head, and he knew it, He shouted for help, but his comrades were either too caught up in saving themselves, or retribution. He never saw the zombie who's hand struck him down, and saw only through a haze as he was dragged, semi-conscious away from his friends... and away from salvation.

Yes peng is a crap name but this was just off the top of my head. The trick is to leave a lot up to your audience's imagination, If they can picture the style, armour, weapon and mood, they will fill the blanks in with images you couldn't hope to conjure.