How to write a good chase scene?

[Penny]

If I wanted to post a bit of the chase scene I am working on would it go here or in critique's that is the question.

 

[Phyrebrat]

As a lapsed parkour, I would recommend you focus on her ‘enjoyment’. It’s exhilarating hitting a good line and ‘the flow’ that comes from that. There’s a great satisfaction in the ‘working-ness’ of it, feeling things pass you as if they are meant to be there for you.

Also you think in spirals and sympathetic angles, using momentum often instead of muscle.

I remember playing the PS3 mirrors edge game years ago and being impressed with how well they’d recreated the flow.

pH

 

[The Judge]

If I wanted to post a bit of the chase scene I am working on would it go here or in critique's that is the question.

And the answer is Critiques.

 

[monsterchic]

I remember playing the PS3 mirrors edge game years ago and being impressed with how well they’d recreated the flow.

pH

I've been watching my boyfriend play that recently. It does look awesome.

Came back to add another thought--don't know how you feel about running, but maybe before writing the scene, go for a run. I know when I get in the zone on a run my creativity starts flowing and being in the moment, it's really easy to write out how I'm feeling.

 

[Penny]

I ride my mountainbike down hill, is much the same feeling, your totally in the moment only planning the next turn or the perfect line and feeling the pleasure of hitting the best spots.
the hard part is examining those feelings while your actually doing the activity, because your having too much fun

Ill put up the chase scene thing in a couple of days once I've polished it off a bit more, it's a bit hamfisted right now. and needs some time to age and mature.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Point of order, riding a bike downhill isn’t the same as parkour

pH

 

[Penny]

mmmmm... have to disagree @Phyrebrat at least from a relative emotional perspective ;P
technically and mechanically, yes. stopping can be a pain down hill, and there are wheels. and spandex.

 

[Phyrebrat]

mmmmm... have to disagree @Phyrebrat at least from a relative emotional perspective ;P
technically and mechanically, yes. stopping can be a pain down hill, and there are wheels. and spandex.

Oooh spandex...

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Something I find useful is to draw out scenes like this or storyboard them like I would for a script. Note all the things on the route that would assault the senses. Would a hot dog van make her feel queasy, or a water fountain desperate for water, reminding her how thirsty she is, taunting her with the fat she cannot stop. How is she timing it? Does she have a stopwatch? Does she watch it constantly or fight the temptation to look? Does she know where all the clocks are in town? What about that man with a walking stick who is slowing her down etc? Put yourself in her trainers and describe the aches and pains as they are affected by the things around her.