There is a wonderful writer’s symposium called Life the Universe and Everything. And here are some notes from one of the panels. Best and worst writing advice. For your reading and writing pleasure. The program book said that the panelists were: Larry Correia, Sub Xeno, Kidschatm Murcer

– Don’t throw away old manuscripts. You may find a use them in some way in the future.
– If it’s boring, fix it.
– Look and handle action scenes from the perspective of the character. One character may be a thinker and thus analyze a fight scene differently than a fighter who a more reactive personality and just response as things come to him/her.
– If you’re weak in a certain area of fiction (military, fighting, technology etc.) than interview people who are familiar who work in the field. Let some of your alpha readers be the people who have knowledge in the areas you are weak. Have them critique your manuscript from their expertise.
– Don’t write action with ‘I jumped to one side” or “I held the sword in such and such a way” of first person. But show actions by just letting it happen such as the platform exploded rather than the character saw that the platform exploded. Not everything needs to be seen through the character’s eyes or point of view.
– In action scenes, not much time is spent on detailed emotions. (It can also slow down the pacing)
– Learn more about biology and how the body responds to trauma. The movies show a person with a gun wound walk away unaffected. It is not realistic that a person can ignore a gun shot. Experts to ask about physical trauma are ER doctors, paramedics, first responders or emergency nurses. Maybe have one of them be an alpha reader for accuracy. Local libraries have books on realistic injuries and maybe internet. Liberians are often very happy to connect you to useful sources.
– You don’t have to be an expert to write about something you don’t know. Practice and you’ll get better and also to ask from those who do know.
– Have Rules to your magic so that in your universe follows the laws of magic and your magic remain consistent.
– One way to beat unbeatable villains are to use one of their traits against him/her. One example might be to trap them by their vanity or pride. Don’t make the super villain too super human.
– How to mix plot, action and emotion: You can further the plot by your action scenes by providing a reveal of the story that is new or a reverse that creates a twist to the plot. Also after an action scenes there are down times where characters can discuss what they’ve recently learned. It also gives an opportunity for character development and for the reader to catch their breath and provide a mix of pacing in the story.
– Provide a variety of speeds / action in the story.
– The story/book need to give the readers time to become invested in the characters.
– Instead of “I did—and “He did— some action will be external from the point of view of the protagonist. Just say “the platform exploded’. You don’t have to filter everything from the protagonists’ eyes. On third person action, use character’s names. Try to give the different characters different identities. For example where there are multiple guards you might do ‘the blond’, ‘the cross eyed one’ the one with a Mohawk to help distinguish multiple guards or henchmen to be different people
– Don’t be afraid for a fight scene to be a little chaotic. It will feel more realistic to the reader.
– How to make a reader care about strong heroes? Knock the hero down. A good example is in Empire Strikes back when cocky Han Solo is severely hurt. Knock them down. Another way is for other characters to express concern for the strong hero. Their concern for the strong hero transfers to the reader’s concern. Another way is to display that character in a normal situation that the reader can relate to.
– Killing characters: When you motivate a reader to care about your (secondary) characters then their loss is more sternly felt by the reader.
– Mix up the action scenes. Maybe try a physiological fight scene, a chase scene, a gun fight. Also change the type of location such as one place might be a foreign city or a different state. You might also have a different terrain such a city, urban, wild frontier. Change the type of weapons in a fight. It may not always be swords or gun. These different displays provide different ways to show action that doesn’t create the same-o same-o.
– Act out your fight scenes with friends doing different things and discussing it. Some authors will do a diagram or map of the land of a world, room or area where the story/scene takes place.
– Cut out stuff that is not relevant to the character or does not move the plot along.

Please feel free to give additional suggestions on this topic. Share your comments on the comment section of the blog/site. Thanks