#41: The 6 Scenes Every Action Novel Needs

In today's episode, we're going to talk about the key scenes that every action story needs to have in order to work and to satisfy fans of the genre. Here's a preview of what's included:

[01:25] Action stories are about life and death, and good versus evil. They’re about a character who has to rise up, overcome great obstacles, defeat forces of evil, and maybe even save the world. But that being said, these stories aren’t always about superheroes.
[02:35] Readers choose action stories to experience the excitement of the life and death stakes and situations that the protagonist is presented with. But it’s not just about that -- we choose these stories because they inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves, too.
[03:30] Obligatory scenes are the key events, decisions, and discoveries that move a protagonist along their journey from point A to point B. They help us writers craft a story that works AND a story that will deliver a specific emotional experience.
[05:10] Key scene #1: A scene in which there's a life-threatening attack made by the antagonist.
[06:35] Key scene #2: A scene in which the protagonist half-commits to going against the antagonist or engaging in the conflict.
[07:45] Key scene #3: A scene in which the protagonist understands what the antagonist wants (and why), and/or what the true nature or purpose of the antagonist is.
[09:05] Key scene #4: A scene in which the protagonist's initial strategy for defeating the antagonist fails and he or she reaches an all is lost moment. They must change their approach in order to survive.
[10:15] Key scene #5: A scene in which the protagonist is at the mercy of the antagonist and only one of them can win. In order to survive, the protagonist has to "unleash" their special gift, talent, or skill.
[11:45] Key scene #6: A scene in which the protagonist's sacrifice is rewarded.
[13:15] Key points and episode recap.

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode! Especially because I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. So, click here to subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts!

If you're already a subscriber, and if you enjoy the show, I would be really grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Those reviews help other writers find my podcast and they’re also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thanks in advance!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode Freebie: Action Genre Key Scenes PDF Cheat Sheet
• Action Obligatory Scenes: The 6 Scenes Every Action Novel Needs (article)

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.