I had to look up assault weapons for this one

[tocryabout]

I've got a first draft of the next chapter, which I am writing here in the family kitchen. I don't like writing in any context where someone can look over my shoulder and comment, but on the other hand, I'm lucky enough to have an extremely supportive mother. If she sees that I'm writing, she doesn't ask me to run to the store to buy lightbulbs, or to surrender the computer so she can use it, or to stop illegally downloading Robyn Hitchcock mp3s onto her hard drive. It's rad.

I'm also noticing that I can't write action sequences. Not only do I write them poorly, I also feel embarrassed while writing them, as if I were writing a sex scene. Anyone have tips or book recommendations or things of that nature?

Comments

[to-cry-about.livejournal.com]

I should reread some Elmore Leonard fight scenes, and other disposable cop novels that I have sitting around. I used to pop those like candy, but then I discovered Tony Hillerman and OOH SLOW-MOVING PSYCHOLOGICAL MURDER MYSTERY.

(Hillerman does write decent action, though -- I still remember some scene he wrote where Det. Leaphorn got hit by a tranquiliser dart.)