Tag: Violence

  • The Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

    A sniper attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally at Butler, Pennsylvania. As Trump addressed the crowd, the shooter opened fire. A stray bullet killed an attendee behind Trump. Trump himself was struck in the ear. At least two more spectators were reportedly injured. The shooter was neutralized shortly after. With these…

  • A Spectre Haunts Singapore

    A spectre is haunting Singapore—the spectre of racism. A recent spate of racist incidents have hit the news. The Singaporean social media sphere is aflame, with bloggers and politicians and influencers jumping in to condemn racism and drive the conversation. Voices cry out for collective action, social justice, education. And there is me, wondering when…

  • The Fight Scene is the Last Scene

    Action scenes are the most memorable aspects of any fiction. Fast-paced and intense, they sear themselves into the audience’s memories. Battles between the hero and the lesser mooks punctuate the plot, while the final showdown between the hero and the villain serves as the climax of the story. And that is what action in storytelling…

  • The Secret to Writing Powerful Action Scenes

    Action scenes are the bread and butter of pulp stories. When the story threatens to get too boring, throw in a fight scene and you revitalize it with fresh energy, stakes and momentum. When the hero finally confronts the main villain, readers expect a climactic battle to wrap up the book. The art of the…

  • Tired Tropes: It’s Only A Flesh Wound

    You’ve seen versions of the scene a hundred times before. Our Hero is engaged in a gunfight with The Villain. The Villain takes a potshot at Our Hero. Our Hero staggers. When his sidekick catches up with Our Hero and asks after him, Our Hero declares, “It’s only a flesh wound”. In the next scene,…

  • How to Bring Out Your Characters’ Personalities in Action Scenes

    Everybody loves action scenes. The thrill of the fight, the kinetic spectacle and suspense combine to create a high emotional beat in the story. Action scenes are also a great way to show the reader what kind of person a character is. To elevate action scenes to the next level and integrate them into the…