As a writer, it is our responsibility to infuse authenticity into our writing. Creating an accurate scene is so important that sometimes we must research and experience what it is we’re describing first hand in order for the writing to feel real. For this edition of Sh*t Writer’s Do To Get The Scene Right, we take a look at the logistics of Axe Throwing and just what kind of technique it takes to hit the target.
The instructor walked over with four axes–two sizes–and both me and the friend who accompanied me, A, were excited. For context, the two of us end up trying a lot of new things together and axe throwing was just another thing on the list of things we planned to do.
“You want your dominant hand on the bottom of the grip. Take note of the stance. Everyone’s is different so you’re going to have to play depending on distance.”
And play we did.
The two handed axe requires a fair bit of muscle and a two handed overhead throw. The step forward needs to coincide with your dominant side. In short, this one wasn’t my favourite. With a string of hits to the target, I quickly dropped off to a series of misses.
But then something magical happened…
Enter the smaller one handed axe. The instructor backed away and said plainly, “I’m not very good at that one so I don’t think I’ll be much help. You’ll need a lighter throw and a more pronounced flick of the wrist.”
And then it all just clicked–the motion, the momentum, the flick of the wrist–all of it.
(A) loved the big axe–even going on to throw and stick three at a time–and I was comfortable with my little one. Arcadian Towers (book 5 in the 12 Cities series) features a scene where an axe is thrown, and it is going to be a lot of fun to write.