Live to Love on the Edge Blog

On today’s Kiss Me, Kill Me Tuesday we’ve got a very special guest – KM Fawcett who is a Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Isshinryu Karate and co-owns The Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, located in Lebanon, NJ with her husband. She is also a certified women’s self-defense instructor with the FLAG (Fight Like a Girl) Program. KM writes sci-fi romantic thrillers and paranormal romances, and loves kick butt heroes and heroines. When not writing or teaching karate, you can find her blogging about martial arts and writing action at the Attacking the Page website.

Sit back as KM chats with us on how to improvise weapons for your characters!

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In a fight, anything can be used as a weapon. If you’ve seen a Jackie Chan Movie, you’ve seen many unique improvised weapons, from ladders to bicycles to jacket sleeves. So, why not make your fight scene unique too? Adding a little razzle-dazzle with an improvised weapon can make an ordinary fight scene exciting and memorable.

First, think about where your fight scene takes place. What are some common (and perhaps some not so common) items available in the area?

A really simple example is the good old bar brawl. What’s available? You’ve got all the old standbys: bottles, stools, chairs, tables and pool cues. Maybe a pinball machine or a jukebox or a window someone can get thrown into. These have all been done before. Now…think of some unique bar items a character can use as a weapon. The tip jar, a fist with a roll of coins taken from cash register. What about taking the cord to the Neon beer light to strangle someone? Think outside the box. Make your scene stand out.

But you’re setting isn’t a bar, it’s in a dark and spooky old mansion. What can your character use to protect himself from Miss Scarlet in the library with her deadly lead pipe? The old standbys are letter openers, heavy paper weights, ashtrays, figurines, statuettes, vases, an avalanche of books and wall sconces. Can you think of something more unique? Curtains, tiebacks, or drapery cords can be used for strangling, the settee pillow over the face can suffocate someone, break off the leg of a vintage ottoman for a hard hitting weapon, a shard of glass from a picture frame can be used to stab, cut or slit a throat. Make a list of what might be available and then choose something interesting. Or use an old standby weapon, but imagine a unique way your character can utilize it.

Try this brainstorming exercise for fun. What improvised weapons could your characters find in a parking lot? What improvised weapons could they find in a bathroom? Leave your answers in the comments section.

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So how did I improvise some weapons recently? In SINS OF THE FLESH, Mick Carrera walks into the office of one of the Wardwell scientists. As he’s walking in, he’s scoping out what he can use as a weapon and spies a heavy bookend. He decides that he can use it to either bash in someone’s head or break one of the large plate glass windows in order to escape.