Tony Tips Tuesdays: Writing Action with Stakes and Clarity

Welcome back to Tony Tips Tuesdays, and welcome to the eighth day of International Black Women’s History Month. Today, we're diving deep into one of the most thrilling yet challenging aspects of storytelling: writing action scenes that matter. Whether you’re crafting epic superhero battles, fast-paced chase scenes, or quiet confrontations brimming with tension, your action must be more than movement—it must have purpose.

This week’s tip urges writers to not only write action but to infuse every punch, dodge, and bullet with stakes and clarity. It’s not enough to describe movement. You must show why the movement matters, how it affects the characters, and what’s at risk.

Why Action Scenes Matter

Action isn't just about adrenaline. It reveals character. It forces decisions. It uncovers vulnerability and strength. Great action scenes are never filler. They are turning points—moments where characters are tested, truths are revealed, and plotlines shift dramatically.

Think of the most memorable action scenes in film or literature. What makes them stick? Not just explosions or fight choreography, but emotional engagement. Stakes. Choices.

In your writing, action should never be spectacle for spectacle’s sake. It should be strategic, character-driven, and emotionally charged.

Stakes: What’s on the Line?

1. Internal Stakes

What personal demons are characters fighting?
What fear must they overcome to act?
Are they risking their honor, their word, their beliefs?

2. External Stakes

What happens if they lose the fight, race, or mission?
Who or what is in danger?
Is this a moment of no return?

3. Relational Stakes

Is someone watching who matters?
Are they trying to protect or impress a loved one?
What does this moment mean for their relationships?

Example: In S.O.L.A.D. ™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness ™, the action sequences aren’t just about defeating evil. Each battle is a test of faith, a choice between light and darkness. When Angeline fights, it’s not just fists flying—it’s a statement of who she is and what she’s willing to sacrifice.

Clarity: Make the Reader See It

1. Use Clear, Active Language

Avoid passive voice. Cut unnecessary adverbs. Use strong, specific verbs:

He lunged. She ducked. The table shattered.

2. Track the Geography

Readers need to understand the space. If someone was near a window, they can’t suddenly appear on the other side of the room.

Use spatial anchors: "to her left," "behind the door," "along the alley."

3. Slow the Action Down (When Needed)

Paradoxically, slowing down your writing during a fast scene can heighten tension. Let us feel each breath, notice the sweat, hear the silence before the blow lands.

4. One Thing at a Time

Don’t overload your reader with too many movements at once. Action should feel like choreography:

First this… then that.
Cause… effect.
Intent… reaction.

Pacing: Keep It Tight

1. Short Sentences, Short Paragraphs

This mimics urgency. Use longer sentences to slow the pace afterward for emotional beats.

2. Avoid Info Dumps Mid-Scene

Don’t stop a chase to give backstory. Let the moment carry itself. Exposition can come later.

3. Let Characters Think in Real Time

Inner thoughts during action shouldn’t be long monologues. Keep it sharp:

"If I miss, we’re both dead."
"No time to second-guess."

Spotlight: Black Women and Action Narratives

This month, as we celebrate International Black Women’s History Month, it’s vital to uplift those who have challenged genre boundaries and infused action with depth.

Nnedi Okorafor

Her sci-fi and fantasy worlds (Who Fears Death, Binti) feature strong Black women facing physical, emotional, and spiritual trials. Her action is mythic, metaphorical, and masterful.

Tananarive Due

Blending horror and supernatural elements, Due uses action to amplify the stakes of survival, legacy, and cultural memory. Her work pulses with tension.

Brittney Morris (SLAY)

Through the lens of video gaming and digital battles, Morris crafts action that's cerebral, emotional, and reflective of Black girl brilliance.

S.O.L.A.D. ™ and the Spirit of Black Women Warriors

In my own writing, I’ve been intentional about centering young Black women like Angeline and Angelica as fighters. Not just in the physical sense, but as spiritual, mental, and emotional warriors. Their action scenes are laced with faith, resilience, and responsibility. Every strike is a message. Every victory, a moment of truth. These characters are inspired by the strength, creativity, and tenacity of real-life Black women—past, present, and future.

When I write action scenes for Angeline, I’m not just choreographing movement. I’m honoring the voice of resistance. I'm thinking about Harriet Tubman’s courage, Ida B. Wells’ fire, and modern-day Black women who show up and fight battles every single day, even when the world tries to ignore them.

Writing Exercises to Practice

1. Rewrite a Movie Fight Scene

Choose a favorite movie fight. Now rewrite it in prose, using clarity and stakes.

2. Silent Action

Write an action scene without any dialogue. Let movement tell the story.

3. Raise the Stakes

Take a scene you’ve written and ask: What’s at risk? Now triple it. Make it matter more.

4. POV Switch

Rewrite an action scene from the opponent’s perspective. What do they want? What do they fear?

Final Words: Action with Purpose

Your readers don’t just want to watch your characters move. They want to feel every moment. Action without stakes is noise. Action with stakes becomes legacy.

In every punch, leap, or last stand, let your characters reveal who they are. Make every move count. Let every consequence echo.

And remember, as we honor Black women storytellers this month, we celebrate those who have shown us that action is not just spectacle—it is revolution. It is survival. It is power.

Until next Tuesday, write with purpose, fight with meaning, and always finish your scenes as if everything depends on it.

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