#tips on plotting

Been reading a lot of manga lately. Finished a couple and I began noticing this issue writing wise. So here’s some tips.

Six tips for Plotting Fights

1. Build Anticipation

A good way to build anticipation is by introducing the opponent either through talk or simply having them talk prior to fighting. This doesn’t have to be them directly talking and character A saying: “let’s fight.” Give the opponent a proper introduction or at least some sort of entrance into the story. Think about what the stakes of this fight are? What is the point of it to? The fight won’t be memorable if there is no stakes or a point to it. Think about what could be preventing them from fighting or what is going to allow them to start fighting.

2. Challenge Your Protagonist

Actually challenge your protagonist. I personally find it very irritating to have a protagonist that I never worry about or there are zero stakes to it. Maybe character a is fighting in character b’s stead and if they lose character b will lose something important. Make the challenges be terrain, their own morals, injuries, or weather.

3. Create Limitations

Creating restrictions and limitations to what the characters can do can be very interesting. Think of what landscape they are fighting in. If it’s a city, think of what limitations that would have. What physical limitations does the character have? If they’re a long range fighter are they disadvantaged up close. Handicapping your protagonist will make them have to think far more strategically than others. Through that

4. Not Everyone Can be the Strongest

I’m a person who enjoys a very powerful villain, but I read a lot of stories where everyone seemed to be the most powerful awesome person. Don’t be afraid to make your hero lose. They need to lose to make the battle where they win mean more to the reader. Even if they do win a fight, make it a struggle and also think about why they need to win. If they always win it can get boring.

5. Space Fights Out

For the love of god, I read too many mangas and books where it felt like it was fight right after fight right after another fight. It just became too much. Fights need to be spaced out not only for narrative reasons but spacing out fights can make you think about which ones are really important. It can help make them more poignant. Also will make the fights more memorable.

6. What is the point?

Think about what the point of the fight is in the story. Is it to establish the villain? Is it to show how much the hero has grown. Think about the Why for the fight both plot wise but also narratively? Each scene functions to tell your story, but it should serve a purpose.