Imagine a story with no actions… Well, it’s not possible. Without actions, nothing happens, nothing changes, and there’s nothing to tell. Actions are deeds that make up the plot and move it forward. They’re the backbone of storytelling and the component that allows the hero to venture on an adventure.
Despite the importance of action in a story, it can sometimes be difficult to write actions. In this post, we’ll learn how to write action in a scene through a beginner-friendly lens.
Why Clear Action Matters in Fiction
Obviously, action is the building block of storytelling. Action in a story is more than a character moving from one location to another. In fiction, action is change. It’s the moment when a character does something, reacts, or makes a decision that influences what comes next. It highlights their existence. In other words, it tells readers “this character is a person.”
Several things happen when a story lacks good action. Some of them are:
- The plot doesn’t progress.
- Pacing drags.
- The characters are passive instead of active components of the story.
- You’re telling a story where essentially nothing happens.
Action is everything, from the simple movement of the character clapping their hands to life-altering choices that change the course of their life. Action is the medium in which characters express themselves when they’re not speaking. It’s a way to show who they are without needing to say it. The actions speak for themselves.
Writing Clear Action in 7 Practical Steps
Now that you understand action is important, let’s see how you can write action using these 7 simple steps: context, cut filter words, strong motivation, use active voice, describe the action, use the setting, and cause and effect.
Step 1: Start With Context
Before you can write actions, the reader needs enough information to know what’s happening. If the readers have no idea where they are, who they are with, or why, they’ll have no reason to care.
Even if, for some unknown reason, the readers want to read a story with no context, they wouldn’t be able to understand it. The scene will lose its worth and impact on the narrative. Are you seeing where this is going?
What the readers need to know to write strong actions:
- Everyone who is involved.
- Where the scene takes place.
- The reason the action matters.
Step 2: Use Short Sentences and Cut Filter Words
Another important aspect of writing strong and clear actions is to cut out filler words. If you can deliver a sentence more concisely, do that. Filter words make the reader process the information longer, and it takes the focus away from the scene.
Filter words are, for instance, words like saw, felt, heard, or noticed. They can sometimes be helpful, but should be used sparingly.
Since we’re already in the character’s point of view, the reader automatically understands that anything described is something the character senses. Adding phrases like “she saw,” “he noticed,” or “she realized” only creates distance between the character and the action. Therefore, it weakens the immediacy of the moment.
Let’s take a look at two sentences. One with filter words and one without.
Filter words: “He saw himself stand up.”
Without filter words: “He stood up.”
The one with filter words is longer, and the character describes what they’re seeing as if it isn’t their pov anyway. The character isn’t simply doing the action; he is observing himself do the action.
To write immersive actions, avoid creating distance between the character and what they are actively doing.
Step 3: Give Every Action a Motivation
Action in a novel is more about the physical moment; it’s also about the reason behind it. A character acts because something motivates them. For instance, a character would pour themselves a glass of water because they’re thirsty. If you apply that same logic to your own story, the action immediately becomes more powerful.
This prevents meaningless action. You’ll see a connection between the action and the character’s goal. It’s no longer a list of motions, but meaningful experiences. A simple trick is to pause and ask yourself, “What does my character want at the moment?” That little question can save you heavy editing in the future.
There are a few things the action should show, some of them are:
- What the character wants.
- The reason they’re acting that way.
- What their internal world looks like.
Step 4: Use Active Voice
Another way to improve how you write actions is by using the active voice. Active voice is when the subject performs the verb. That makes the writing clear and puts the subject (character) in the spotlight. In other words, the character is doing the action when you write in the active voice.
Passive voice: The light was turned off by him
Active voice: He turned off the light.
The active version is direct, and as I mentioned earlier, you use fewer filter words. It shows the character acting in real time and avoids the added distance that comes from passive phrasing. The passive version, while grammatically correct, shifts the focus away from the character and makes the moment feel less engaging, which is something you want to avoid.
Step 5: Describe the Action Clearly
One reason you may struggle with writing action is that you’re not describing the action itself. If you don’t write what’s happening, the readers will not be able to visualize it. Vague or unclear actions create gaps in your narrative and make it incomplete. Take time to describe the action, show it in sequence, and include the details.
Add these things when you’re writing action:
- Show the deed.
- Use chronological order.
- Include relevant details.
- Show the action visually through words.
Step 6: Use the Setting to Shape the Action
The setting is as alive as your characters are. It’s a large factor in developing the plot and the characters. You can use the setting to actively enhance your actions, but only if you include the details that matter.
Too much information about the setting and a long description of how the sunset looks is called information-dumping and hurts your story more than it helps. Use your setting as an active part of the story, but only the relevant part.
How to use the setting in actions:
- Create an obstacle: Show the challenges that are based on the environment your character faces. For example, thunder can make an argument seem more dramatic.
- Increase danger: Use real-life elements to create challenges. For example, a slippery floor.
- Influence strategy: A character might use the setting to their advantage. Such as hiding behind a bush.
Step 7: Use Cause and Effect to Maintain Flow
Action will be more believable if you show how one thing leads to another. You create a chain of cause and effect, which makes it easier to follow the plot, but it feels more real. It prevents “random” moments from appearing in your book.
Take a look at this example: “Catherine stepped back. Her heel hit the table leg, and the lamp fell and shattered.”
This sequence works because it extends on the previous action. There’s a reason why the lamp fell and shattered; there’s no room for misunderstandings. This also works on a larger scale. The things that happen in one scene will affect what happens in the next. Before you know it, you’ll have a chain of cause and effect on both the scene and story levels.
Cause and effect matter because they:
- Keep the action clear.
- The action will not feel random.
- Build tension by one small action escalating into something more.
- Show consequences.
Common Mistakes That Weaken Action
It’s not always easy to know what to do, but it can be easier to know what to avoid. Here are some common mistakes that can occur when writing actions.
Overdescribing every moment: Trying to show every small step, such as opening a bottle, biking, or breathing. You should only describe action in detail when it is relevant, or it will drag your story. Every word should own its place on the page.
Out-of-order action: Every action should appear in the sequence in which it happens, unless there is a reason for it. It confuses, and the reader finds themselves re-reading to understand what you wrote.
Ignoring the character’s thoughts: The character is constantly thinking, showing how it connects to their action. If you do that, you show the character’s internal world.
Using long sentences: Long sentences are not useful if they prevent you from communicating your message. The readers need to understand what is happening, and it is difficult if there are unnecessarily long sentences. What you should aim for is a rhythm of sentence length.
Filter words: Phrases like “she saw” or “he felt” are only creating distance between the character and the action. If it’s in their POV, remove the filter word and describe the action directly.
Forgetting the character’s goal: To write a character doing an action, you need to know why. Every action the character takes should have a motivation.
Writing vaguely: “Catherine did something.” It is a vague action that can lead to misunderstandings. Describe what the character did instead.
No consequence for actions: If the action leads nowhere, the action loses its purpose. Action should create change, big or small.
Mastering Clear Action in Your Scenes
Writing action can be difficult, but it doesn’t mean you’ve got to do it alone. This post was created to help you and make writing your story possible. I tried to make it as simple as possible so you can get back to writing your story.
With that in mind, take this with a grain of salt. These are suggestions that can help you write strong actions, not rules. There will always be exceptions, and it will be easier to detect when you should follow the guidelines and when you should ignore them as you practice writing.
