Honestly, this blog was supposed to be about my thoughts on the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, plus the Christmas special. But I need to rewatch them before discussing the storyline and how, in my opinion, the best out of the MCU. So I want to concentrate on my next book, Savage Rebellion, planning.
So this week, I brought the needed card paper for my version of the Snowflake method with fantastic coloured pens for each part of the arcs. Each coloured pen will represent the main protagonists, minor characters, supporting characters, book arc, local worldbuilding, antagonists, over-arcing series and worldbuilding of Favinonia. This time I decided to do two A2 card papers to have room for everything.
As this will not be too much spoiler (as I will post the raw chapters later), the first few chapters will concentrate on a tournament. These sections will mean action galore, trash talk and describing sword stances. I have done some research on different styles of weapons. I did have to admit that it concentrated on basket-hilted swords for Lone Solo, bastard sword for Joan Stillwater and arming sword for a particular minor character named Dirk Creswell.
In my experience, less is more when it comes to combat; give enough to paint the picture and allow the reader to envision the scene with their imagination.
Here is a little raw excerpt from book two, Savage Rebellion:
So, what is cut one again? Something in the corner of my eye, oh, that is his sword. Angling my shield, it defects. Counter a with an upper attack to his cheek. Damn, he deflected and back into defence. Step back and regroup!
“That is it, boy. Stay in the Hanging guard; targe forward.”
So many guards and cuts, Lone tried to remember his training. My old skills might have been brutal but effective. Protect the head but be ready to defend against any other angle.
As Dirk stepped towards Lone, he swung at his opponent’s head. Hang on, he not going for a strike at my head. Lone quickly thought Derek was going to my side using a feint!
Lone shifted back and then switch-stepped to make a small thrust. Knowing that Dirk will move to block it. Lone quickly flourishes into cut one, a diagonal downward towards his left side.
Bertude calls out. “First blood, winner Lone Solo!”
This is using actual names of strikes and guards from the basket-hilt sword. As much as I enjoyed thinking about different cuts and guards, it may be too much.
Here is a street fight from my published novel, Lake Merrin:
Seeing an opening, Lone lunges, smashing the side of the thug’s head with a hammer-like strike. He falls to the ground in a stunned heap. With a deep growl at the other two, Lone hoped to scare them off. They counter Solo’s growl with intimidating noises, akin to alley cats fighting over a five-day-old fish.
“You fell for another sucker punch?” Lone gloated over that white-back.
They are not impressed by that line. Drawing my knife… no time to think. Attack. Ratface jumps over his comrade at me! Foolish. Something the sergeant taught me flashes through my mind: ‘Always have your feet on the ground.’
Moving forward, I take his attack on my forearm and return a straight stab to his gut. That’s right, piggy, squeal! If it were not for Ratface, I would not have wasted an ale.
One is tournament rules, using some proper terms and techniques, while the other is a little slapstick with a brutal outcome. Which would you prefer in combat? Each new action scene I write helps me to improve my novels.
I have different ideas on how to write action/combat scenes, but it comes from what you want to show and not just exposition to your reader.
Samuel Colbran 