Fight Club...No Really...

Outside of memorable, quirky characters, the hot sex within a story and the meat of the plot, the thing that catches my attention more than most is the spice of confrontation. Now, I'm not talking about the dreaded 'conflict' word in general because that is the one word that literally sends chills down my spine. I'm talking about KOMBAT! As much as I love to consider a nine page sex scene, I love to talk about fist fights, gun battles and monster melees.

I would consider myself to be a paranormal writer, obsessed with werewolves, gargoyles, golems, vampires etc. and to say that I derive a lot of my inspiration from the infamous UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) would be putting it mildly. In my mind's eye, the battles between supernatural beings need to be as intricate and planned out as a sex scene. I had a ton of fun writing the battle between Khalid and Ian in Obediance Training, mainly because Khalid is a four-armed golem. Surely, the battle between him and Ian, the werewolf had to be decent, I figured. Two physically imposing beings grappling, boxing, roaring and sparring, one with four arms delivering staggering blows...it has to be as hot as steamy sex... Right? Maybe?

Or if not a brawl, maybe a gun battle, or a sword fight?

While a lot of authors weave some sort of battle into their 'conflict' or 'climax,' I think a story could be peppered with them. A good battle scene could be used to show something of the hero/heroine's daily life, their characteristics, their struggles, their bravery...many things. In my latest book, An Unnatural Worth, it is meant as a metaphor for how much the main character, Lexis wants to live. It was like planning and staging a dance...just like planning and staging a juicy sex scene...but enough about the glorification of: blows, side-swipes, uppercuts, jabs, well-shot rounds, and arcing sword swipes...What do you guys think about throw-downs, pummeling, ducking and dodging???