Fictional Combat Teaser Tuesday #rabtbooktours

 

Non-Fiction

Date Published: February 14, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

From fist fights to dragon duels: NYT bestselling author Angela Knight explores how to write fictional combat.

 

As a novelist, teacher and editor, I’ve seen bad fight scenes ruin too many good stories. My objective in this book is to demonstrate how to write fights that keep readers on the edge of their seats -- and publishers begging for more.

I’ll discuss how to use YouTube to research combat techniques and construct thrilling fights blow by blow. You’ll also learn how to use those fights to reveal character and build reader sympathy.

I’ll demonstrate the warning signs of an anticlimax and what to do about it. I’ll show you how to build tension and excitement with every battle until you reach a climax that has the reader craving your next book.

 

Note: This is an updated and heavily revised version of my book, How to Write Fight Scenes.

EXCERPT

Knowing how to write an exciting fight scene is crucial in genres ranging from romance to horror. As a teacher and editor, I’ve seen bad fights ruin too many good stories.

My objective in this book is to share techniques that keep readers on the edge of their seats -- and publishers begging for more. You’ll learn how to use YouTube to research combat techniques and construct thrilling sequences blow by blow. I’ll also demonstrate how to use those scenes to reveal character and build reader sympathy. You’ll learn what anticlimaxes are and how to avoid them. I’ll also share the tricks of building reader tension with every fight until you reach an exhilarating climax that will make you an autobuy.

Storytelling and the Brain

What do good books, college graduations, professional football, weddings, and chocolate have in common? As Lisa Cron points out in her terrific book, Wired for Story (Cron 2012), it’s dopamine -- the brain chemical that rewards us for accomplishing something difficult.

Remember the rush when you graduated high school or college? That was dopamine. Your incandescent happiness at your wedding or the birth of your child? Dopamine. Even chocolate and cocaine trigger dopamine, the first a little of it, the latter a lot.

Dopamine floods can even be triggered by someone else’s success. Remember your joy when your favorite team won the Super Bowl? You were just sitting on your couch, but you still felt as if you’d personally scored that winning touchdown.

The harder you work for something, the greater the dopamine rush your brain produces when you succeed.

A good writer is a merciless god. Yet it’s cruelty with a purpose, because it forces the protagonist to discover their strengths and overcome their fears. In sharing that struggle, the reader may experience more than just a happy buzz -- they may find the courage to face their own challenges. There have been times in my life that felt unbearably dark and grim, yet a novel helped me find the hope and guts to keep going. “Hey, if a vampire who hates his own penis can overcome his self-loathing, maybe I’ve got a shot at it too.”

I genuinely believe giving other people courage is the best reason to be a writer. But to do so, you must be willing to put your characters through the hell of a hard, desperate fight.

I guarantee some of your readers are facing their own brutal challenges. Let them find hope -- and a welcome distraction -- in your fictional world.

About the Author

New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight has written and published more than sixty novels, novellas, and ebooks, including the Mageverse and Merlin’s Legacy series. With a career spanning more than two decades, Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine has awarded her their Career Achievement award in Paranormal Romance, as well as two Reviewers’ Choice awards for Best Erotic Romance and Best Werewolf Romance.

Angela is currently a writer, editor, and cover artist for Changeling Press LLC. She also teaches online writing courses. Besides her fiction work, Angela’s writing career includes a decade as an award-winning South Carolina newspaper reporter. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, Michael, a thirty-year police veteran and detective with a local police department.

 

Author Links

Author’s Website

Author on Facebook

Author on Twitter

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today

The Script is Not Enough

 

The Script is Not Enough

by Jamison LoCascio

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GENRE: Non-fiction (How-to)

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BLURB:

The Script is not Enough takes a unique look at the making of four different independent feature films. The author takes you through every stage in development from writing, to financing, and to distribution and marketing. Find out how you can learn from the hard experiences and challenges that face the filmmaker along the way.

Excerpt 

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well

I offer a detailed look at my journey of making four different feature films for the brand-new filmmaker out there. I am trying to write the book that I could have used in the very beginning. This is a book about what it means to be a filmmaker with little to no industry connections, “ins,” magic tricks, or otherwise.

My “rules,” which are in bold throughout the book, are just some things I keep in mind for myself. Based on my own experience reading books on making films, I want to try to avoid burying what is of value—the information—into a sort of “life story.” That’s boring.

It's very upsetting to see how many people sit around talking about how they never got a chance to make a film in their life, and now they are married, divorced, single, too old, too young, too poor, too comfortable…too anything besides “ready.” There are so many excuses not to make a film, so it’s best to just make one before your time’s up.

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well; you need to make movies and also live your life. “Life” and “Movies” are two separate and severe challenges. So, make movies and make life, even when everything is against you, and it certainly will be. A poignant moment of “The Empire Strikes Back” comes to mind…

“Are you afraid?” asks Yoda.

“No,” answers Luke Skywalker.

“You will be. You will be,” says Yoda, his eyes widening, in a very creepy way.

Your first feature film is simply a difficult but attainable milestone. I now know now why that is. Lack of experience and opportunity to grow is more harmful to new feature film producers and directors than anything else. When you can try and fail at something, or succeed moderately, you can grow, adapt, and overcome. The problem with making feature films is that many do not get a chance to ever make one or, even worse, they make one and never get a chance to try again.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jamison LoCascio is an award-winning feature film director. In 2012, Jamison LoCascio began to write the screenplay for his first union short, "Midnight Catch," which garnished much acclaim at the New Jersey International Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival. LoCascio decided to form his production company, Halcyon Valor Productions Incorporated. Graduated from Montclair State University with honors winning the “Excellence in Filmmaking” award for his numerous successful productions which premiered in film festivals around the world. LoCasio's short films have since been honored by the Screen Actors Guild and screened at such festivals as the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers New York. LoCascio's shorts "Track 3," "A Stranger's Confession," and "Powerless" were all official selections of the Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. His films have been anthologized in the prestigious Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan, distributed worldwide on DVD, picked up for online distribution by Film Bay. DIRECTV & AT&T distributed 6 of LoCascio's short films on their new International short film platform. LoCascio's first feature film, "The Depths," starring Michael Rispoli and Patch Darragh won Best Feature Film at the 2017 Manhattan Film Festival and had a strong critical reception. The film also won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Awards and received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard releasing on all major platforms including Amazon, Itunes, DVD and more. LoCascio's second feature film "Sunset" starring acclaimed actor Austin Pendleton received rave reviews and won multiple awards including Best Dramatic Feature Film at the 2018 Manhattan Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Leading Actor (David Johnson) International Independent Film Awards. "Sunset" also received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio have recently launched their latest initiative by filmmakers for filmmakers called Film Valor, a youtube channel with over 3,000 worldwide followers and over 250,000 views, a behind the scenes look at their filmmaking process. "Know Fear," his latest feature film, received critical acclaim and stars Amy Carlson. The film had a limited theatrical release. His next feature film "How Dark They Prey," a unique horror anthology, has been released on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Plex, Udu, Mometu and many more with critics hailing the film as "Horror at its best". His latest feature film release “7x7” is a collection of many of LoCascio’s award-winning short films brought together for one viewing experience on major platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime.

Jamison LoCascio’s Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/filmvalor

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Script-not-Enough-Jamison-LoCascio-ebook/dp/B0C3J9GDB2/ref=sr_1_1

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Jamison LoCascio will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway