Your Chance for Immortality

[Rathe]

I never said Ninjitsu isn't so hot. I was just making a joke about people bashing the art form of Ninjitsu on the forum. I've personally studied it my entire life. I think its an art form that is deadly & effective if taught by the proper master and would be perfect for your character.

 

Along with teaching basic fighting techniques there are aspects of Ninjitsu that delve into espionage, assassination, and spying. Great for a special ops sort.

[TheDevilAside]

Why is she a SWAT operative?

 

From your description your character seems to be pretty incredible in just about every aspect. So why would she join a SWAT team?

 

In comparison to the scale of your character, the SWAT Team seems to be a bit low for her (no disrespect to any SWAT officers), she seems to be 'overqualified'.

 

SWAT Teams are a "paramilitary" unit, which means they aren't part of the US Military, but 'paralells' can be drawn, like the name suggests. For instance, they're heavily armed with assault rifles and other sorts of weaponry that are meant to do a lot of damage. However, they are not military. This means that they only operate in secured locations (unlike the military). This means that SWAT Teams are NEVER called in BEFORE police arrives. The Police always arrive first to analyze the situation and secure the location. If the situation calls for a more severe use of force and tactical precision (if there were hostages involved, for instance) then a SWAT team is called in. So, from that you gather that they have very strict rules and codes they abide.

 

Yes... there's a point to all of this, just hold on...

 

Your character, as you said, "delivers final justice without trials, and it bothers her." You didn't elaborate much, but that kind of sounds to me like she's ruthless. If that's not what you meant, disregard both of these paragraphs. A SWAT team really can't afford to have ruthless, vengeful team members because all of their operations will be and are covered by the News and observed by the public. So... that means no heorics, no killing out of veangence or any other reasons except for that the target posed an immediate, deadly threat. I would think that limits your character by a lot. Also, from your description again, she sounds like kind of a "lone wolf" type of bad * heroine. But SWAT teams act strictly as a team. A pretty popular quote in the military is, "There's 'I' in 'Team'!"

 

And, again, your character is "the best we've got to offer." So, why a SWAT team? One member will maybe encounter a situation where there's dangerous, trained hostiles once in a lifetime. And even then, it probably won't be anything like in the movie SWAT with Colin Farrel. Usually they deal with drug busts (storming into meth labs, etc.), gangs (and some angry punk with a pistol isn't much of a match for a trained officer with a kevlar vest, helmet and M4 Carbine), and things like that. And the LAPD SWAT (which is where SWAT originated from, Los Angeles) has a very good track record, rarely does blood-shed occur. And these teams usually comprise of ex-SEALs, retired Marines, and police officers with good credentials. So, SWAT Teams are really, really, really, really good, but they're not "the best we've got to offer."

 

If I were part of a government body in charge of recruiting people like her... I think I would make her an assassin for the CIA or some secret agency with unlimited funds that "doesn't exist". Hehe.

 

By the way... this chick sounds pretty cool. She got a name? Can I get her number? Or could you at least name the computer geek Gabe? ...So I can.. you know.. read about myself getting a girl like that?

[White Warlock]

After my initial posts in this thread, i've been avoiding adding any additional comments, for fear of squelching your enthusiasm. Personally, i'm all for you getting into writing such a story. Not all stories are for all persons. Some like short stories, some long. Some prefer science fantasy, others historical fiction, or even autobiographies. So, whatever you write, there will definitely be a niche for it. The catch is, in order for it to be a 'best seller,' it has to be a large niche AND it has to be written well.

i personally think the whole 'going through her file and reading that shes xxx grade in xxx style' is cheesey and just plain lazy/bad writing.

I don't consider it bad writing, or even lazy. Much depends on the 'length' of the story, as well as what the writer wants to focus on. But, i would say it is a lost opportunity. Presentation of visuals, bringing in the reader's various senses (taste, touch, smell, etc) into a story is far more important a feature at the onset of a book, than merely getting the resumes of the characters out there in the most expeditious of fashions.

 

As well, doing so tends to undermine the 'mystique' associated with characters. Now, in some stories, that's exactly what you want to do, so you can highlight how the clearly understood character 'reacts' to unusual circumstances, or even mundane ones. However, the vast majority of 'interesting' stories with action heros rely on said mystique. The mystery of the character presented in bits and parts as the reader goes along. Not only does the story capture the reader, but their interest in knowing 'more' about the character(s) hooks them into the next chapter, and the next.

 

Writing is an art. There are some definite basics that need to be understood, and which many fledgling writers care not to educate themselves on, but there really are no rules for how you paint your story.

 

Take the paint, the brushes, the medium... follow the basic guidelines for color, shade/shadow, contour, dimension, and run with it. When your skills improve, maybe you can remove dimension, or color, or shade/shadow. Hell, dabble in it with a few short stories, to get the feel of working with handicaps. But, always keep in mind, attempting to emulate a great writer... can only be done if you are that great writer.

 

Be yourself, write your own stuff. Nothing is original, so presentation... the art of it all... is what will carry the success of your writings.

[SevenStar]

Okay, so you don't think ninjitsu is so hot, or at least not the hottest. So what about Jet Li? What are his MA roots?

 

Speaking of going into a lot of detail about training, did they do that in Kiss of the Dragon? No. It just isn't necessary to attract a large audience. And that was a kick * movie! Anyone who doesn't think so probably didn't see it on the big screen.

 

his roots are in modern wushu - performance and acrobatic arts, basically. kiss of the dragon really isn't a great example...

[Writer]

Believe me when I say this ain't your average SWAT unit. I can't say any more than that. The book's half done and once finished it will probably be another year before its on the shelves. That sucks, but thats how the business goes. Perhaps I'm delusional, but I think you'll be hearing about it. The visuals will be mind blowing and the characters are memorable.

 

As a rule, I don't go for pure action movies or stories, and that's another reason that the type of MA isn't all that important, I just needed something fairly ominous sounding to build on. I got tired of Jackie Chan pretty quickly, and most of Jet Li's stuff is mediocre. They tend to have way too much action and not alot of plot or character development. But Kiss of the Dragon was top notch from start to finish with only a couple of flaws. And, kicking a billiard ball into someone's head aside, the movie was pretty believable. Li got banged up pretty well in that one.

 

By the way, if you want to see a really good movie with everything, action, romance, dialogue and plot, go check out True Romance. Sleeper of all time.

[Drunken Monkey]

wait a minute...

 

the book's half done and now you're asking for a martial arts style to fill in the gap?

 

i still think having a named style is bad

 

and i still can't shake off the feeling that she's just another james bond clone.....

 

i didn't think much of true romance.

 

i much preferred two days in the valley

[Writer]

"Valley" was good, but True Romance was art.

 

Rereading everything, turns out there were a number of good suggestions. I think I'm going with Ninjitsu and Aiki Jujutsu. Ninjitsu seems to be more underground and dirty, as well as geared toward assassins.

 

I Might throw in references to bones, because the scene where she stomps on the guy's forearm worked out beautifully. She does a little of everything and the way she takes out the other two wrestler/fighters is unique and impressive.

 

I like the in-close fighting verbage too. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll still listen to anythiing else.

 

By the way, Drunken Monkey, I'm not writing this bood around somebody's MA style. I'm writing it around the actions this person has to take to survive and just looking for a style that loosely fits. Either method is valid in fiction.

[aefibird]

i still think having a named style is bad

 

and i still can't shake off the feeling that she's just another james bond clone.....

 

I have to say that I agree with DM.

 

Having a named style isn't necessary to the progeression of your character and story is it? If it isn't, then there's not a lot of point in a NAMED style (or even a real style) being there, especially if your book is already half-written and you haven't got much martial arts knowledge to do the correct background-filling details.

 

Also, about the James Bond clone... yes, she does seem a bit James Bond-y from the description that you've given of her. Super-duper mega secret agent who is good at everything and (no doubt) is extremely attractive and sucessful?

 

Personally, I prefer characters in books that I read to seem a little more human, rather than the epitome of everything that is great aond wonderful and flash and secret agent-y...

 

Sorry to appear negative about your project. I hate being negative with anyone, especially as I know how difficult and cut-throat the writing business can be (I write children's fiction).

 

Plus, I truly hope that you suceed with your book.

 

I just wish (from my own personal POV) that your lead character sounded a little more..well, human rather than a sucessful great-at-everything superhero type.

[MenteReligieuse]

All that is important is that he took MY idea of aiki-jujutsu (you better find out the correct spelling)!

 

I wanna be in the credits!

[SevenStar]

if that's the case, he used my idea as well - I pointed out that koppojutsu is bone breaking. For what it's worth though, I don't think ninjutsu should be used. ninjas played out in the 80s, as far as movies and such go.