Writing Tip: Get to the point

When writing high action scenes (particularly fight scenes) it is best to get to the point. A lot of inexperienced writers have a tendency to create long, drawn out action scenes that go into exhaustive detail about each movement and how the character felt (or what they were thinking) as said movement happened.

Fact is, the best action scenes are short. The sentences are short and to the point (as opposed to long, languid sentences during more relaxed scenes) and almost mirror the action that is being represented. With fight scenes less is always more. Don't go into detail about what a character is thinking--leave that for after the moment is over. If you have ever been in a high-intensity situation use that as a guide. Don't go into detail about everything, focus on the here and now, focus on what the character saw, felt, or heard at that exact moment--not how the light bounced off the glass behind them or anything too flowery.

Reread some of your favorite fight scenes and see how that writer handled it if that helps.

Write the scene out first then do a lot of cutting during the revision process. You'll be glad you did.