Thread: Plot and Action

I've been writing random pieces of a story I've had building in my head for months now and I've gotten a bit attached to this idea. Because I'm a visual person, I sat down and drew out the basic plot line, breaking things down with the 3-act structure and I feel pretty good seeing a basic plan laid out. My question, though, is how do you know when you have enough action in your work? The climax of my story seems to be more of a mental/emotional challenge, rather than a physical one. I'm just not sure it is built up higher than the conflict that comes before it. Input?

I guess it depends on the genre. Romance, for instance, tends to be short on action. Thrillers, mysteries, and the like often use it in abundance. If your story doesn't fall into those categories, it becomes a matter of taste. Excessive action can overload your reader and lose its impact. I like to insert a breather chapter after prolonged periods of action-packed scenes. That way I can give my reader time to take in what's just happened, while also maintaining an air of suspense and the unexpected.