Let’s be honest for a second… What percentage of people reading this have actually been in a fight? Not a video game fight, not a movie scene, but a real one—where fists fly, kicks miss, and your ribs ache for days after. Probably not many. And that’s why most beginner fight scenes read like awkward stage directions: “He punched. She dodged. He kicked. She blocked.” That’s what this week’s article is focused on showing my Bestie Writers how to actually write fighting scene dialogue.
I didn’t get to avoid it. I’m the eldest sister of ten, raised by a mother and uncle who believed in martial arts the way other families believed in piano lessons. My uncle was a double Black Belt and ran his own Dojo. I know the dread of staring down an opponent three times my size and praying their next hit doesn’t put me on the floor. I know what it’s like to spar hard enough to leave with a black eye. And here’s the first truth: fights aren’t won by brute force alone. They’re won by swiftness, wisdom, and adaptability.
The same rule applies to writing. Fight scenes aren’t about piling up punches after punches on a page. They’re about showing how every strike ripples through body, mind, and heart. That’s what makes readers lean forward and care to stay up until 3am when they have to be up and reader for the day by 7am.
Welcome to my Fight Club (if you know, then you know).
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The Hidden Effects of Strikes With Fighting Scene Dialogue
A fight doesn’t end when a fist lands. No, no, no my Bestie Writer, that’s just the beginning. Strikes are like stones dropped in water—the impact is the splash, but the ripples change everything around it. Hitting one of the hot spots can take your opponent down, no matter how big they are.
- Physical Pain: Not all pain feels the same. A slap burns. A rib shot leaves a dull ache that spreads with every breath. A leg kick can numb a limb until it won’t move.
- Mobility Loss: A strained muscle or twisted ankle slows reflexes. A shoulder hit makes a sword feel heavier.
- Disorientation: Hits to the head blur vision, make ears ring, or knock the world sideways.
- Emotional Fallout: Pain breeds fear, panic, or blind rage. It doesn’t just bruise the body—it reshapes the mind.
Instead of writing…
“He punched her in the stomach.”
Try something like this…
“His fist sank into her stomach, and the air left her lungs in a rush. Heat spread across her ribs, her knees buckled, and panic whispered—what if she couldn’t get back up?”
The second version doesn’t stop at the hit. It shows the ripple. That’s what pulls a reader in.
Sensory Immersion in A Fighting Scene
Fight scenes come alive when you let readers experience them through their senses, not yours. But don’t dump all five at once—pick two or three in each beat to keep readers grounded and not feeling overwhelmed.
- Sight: Sweat in the eyes, blood on the knuckles, a knife glinting in the light.
- Sound: The smack of flesh, the clang of weapons, the rasp of breath, the roar of a crowd.
- Touch: Bruised skin, burning muscles, slippery grips from sweat.
- Smell: Metallic blood, acrid smoke, gunpowder in the air.
- Taste: Dust in the mouth, the copper bite of blood, grit between teeth.
Instead of writing…
“She swung her sword.”
Write something like this instead…
“She swung, the blade flashing with sweat-slick light. Metal rang as it clashed, the jolt racing up her arm until her grip nearly slipped.”
The strike is the action. The senses make it feel real.
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Strategic Writing of Injuries For A Fighting Scene
Every wound matters. Injuries aren’t decoration—they’ll change the entire fight.
- Minor: Scrapes, bruises, sprains. They hurt, slow a fighter, but don’t end the clash.
- Moderate: Cuts, broken fingers, concussions. These force adaptation—switching tactics, protecting weak spots.
- Severe: Broken limbs, deep gashes, internal bleeding. These can end fights or force retreat.
Beyond the physical, injuries alter emotion. Panic sharpens, desperation grows, fear clouds judgment. That’s what makes the stakes feel real.
Instead of writing…
“He cut her arm, but she kept fighting.”
Write this…
“The blade tore across her arm, hot blood slicking her grip. Every swing grew clumsy, and fear began to crept in—how much longer before her strength bled away too? How much more seconds could she last?”
Dialogue in A Fighting Scene with Impact
Words in combat aren’t long speeches. They’re sharp, fast, and charged with tension.
- Taunts: “That all you’ve got?”
- Quick Commands: “Left!” “Duck!” “Now!”
- Inner Dialogue: Hesitations, prayers, strategies.
- Emotional Beats: Lines tied to grudge, loyalty, or desperation.
Instead of writing…
“They talked as they fought.”
Write this…
“He ducked, breath ragged. ‘You can’t win,’ she hissed, her blade nicking his jaw. His chest tightened—not from the cut, but from the truth buried in her words.”
Here, dialogue doesn’t slow the action. It heightens it.
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Engagement Techniques for A Fighting Scene
Keeping readers hooked requires more than just action. It’s about rhythm, stakes, and surprise. Just like a real fight, you have to time it just right.
- Varied Pacing: Mix rapid-fire exchanges with tense pauses.
- Clear Stakes: Readers must know what’s at risk—life, honor, protection.
- Motivation: Remind us why they fight. Anger? Duty? Love?
- Unpredictability: Add twists—hidden knives, crumbling floors, sudden allies.
Instead of writing…
“They fought until someone won.”
Write this…
“He lunged, only to slip on blood-slick ground. She pressed forward, blade raised—until the floor gave way, sending both tumbling into the dark.”
What happened? Where did they fall to? Now the fight is not just fists—it’s suspense.
Powerful Action Words For Fighting Scene Dialogue
Weak verbs flatten fights. Strong verbs give them punch.
- Impact: Slam, crush, shatter, pummel.
- Movement: Lunge, vault, skid, dodge.
- Weapons: Slash, parry, thrust, stab.
- Environment: Crash, tumble, ricochet, collide.
Instead of writing…
“He slammed her.”
Try writing it like this…
“He slammed her against the wall, plaster cracking with the force against her back.”
The second version doesn’t just tell you he made contact—it makes you feel the impact.
Fight Scenes Are More Than Motion—They’re Emotional Crucibles
A fight isn’t just body against body. It’s heart against heart. What’s driving your characters will shape every move. Just think back to the Blockbuster, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. You should definitely invest an hour and a half. I promise it will advance you’re writing.
- Fear and Anxiety: Adrenaline spikes, shaky hands, second-guessing.
- Rage and Desperation: Aggression fueled by betrayal or loss.
- Exhaustion and Relief: Muscles failing, but survival bringing clarity.
- Connection to Others: Protecting a loved one, fighting for vengeance, wrestling with moral conflict.
Instead of writing…
“They kept fighting.”
Write this…
“Her arms trembled, her chest burned, and still she raised her blade. Not because she had strength left, but because her sister stood behind her, and she refused to let fear carve its way through them both. No one touches what’s hers, unless it’s God Himself.”
That’s the difference between action and story. Readers don’t just remember the punch. They remember the reason behind it.
Still Not Sure?
The best fight scenes aren’t a pile of kicks and punches. They’re layered moments of pain, sensation, injury, dialogue, pacing, language, and emotion. Each strike should ripple through the body and change the character. Each move should carry weight. And every fight should matter—because behind the clash of fists is always a clash of hearts.
When you sit down to write your next fight, don’t ask, “Who throws the punch?” Ask, “What happens after they throw that punch?”
If you need a fresh pair of eyes, leave me a comment and send over your fight scene to my email address vs@vsbealswrites.com or/and vsbealswrites@gmail.com
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Stay faithful, stay quirky, and stay writing.
With love and fire,
V.S. Beals
Writer. Watchwoman. Woman of the Word.
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