Posts tagged chase scenes

Do you know where I see the most filler in books?  Chase scenes.  Filler is inherent in their design.

There are basically two possible ways that a chase scene could end.  The person being chased could either get away or get caught.  Technically, something relevant to characterization or plot could happen during the chase, but we all know it never does.  The results should be reached as quickly as possible.  Otherwise, the author is just adding in “action” that doesn’t help the reader.  Action can be achieved in so many other, more useful ways that it boggles the mind.

Between getting chased and getting caught or escaping, the character does a lot of running, dodging, and hijacking that gives absolutely nothing to the readers.  It’s pure filler that can go on for pages and pages. 

Also, if you want a really ham-fisted way of getting your character from point A to point B, a chase scene is wonderful.  Nothing makes it more painfully obvious that the author is out of ideas than having somebody arrive in a plot-relevant area by being chased there.

The follower of the day is negative-euphoria-rabbit.