And let the fight begin.

Recently I have got to a point in editing my work where I realise that some parts lack a certain reality. Dialogue used to be a huge issue, where the characters voices just sounded too similar and far too stunted for it to read as an actual conversation. I have worked on this and I think I am now at a place where this has been rectified. However, the scenes that stick out like a sore thumb are the fight scenes. Be this with fist or sword, or even magic, as some end up, they just don't flow as they would if you were watching them.

Research is the key. I have been trawling websites and other blogs to see if I can find the advice I've been looking for.
Here is what I have found so far...

- Body knowledge:  If you want to draw a reader into your world, you need to make them believe that the people who are fighting know what they are doing. Your characters would know which parts of the body to hit to make the killing or maiming blow, so you should know them as well. Even if you don't write these technical names into the narrative, knowing how to describe them will certainly help.
- Weapon information: I think it is essential to know the name and function of the weapons you want your characters to use. Be this swords, bows, guns or any other form of wielding weapon. By doing this you can study how your characters would move when executing certain types of blow. It is also important to note how certain attacks would impact upon the characters own stamina. Doing this research will also mean that you won't give them something that is beyond their skill level either.
-Not being afraid to go into detail: By this I mean gore and guts! If someone gets slashed by a broadsword for example, it will do some damage, and by not recognising this I think some reality is lost.

Here I have found a really good list of things that writers can forget to do when writing fight scenes.


Bearing all these things in mind, I have re-written some fight scenes in the hope that I can change them from a list actions, He sliced his opponent, who moved away from this next attack and blocked it on his shield, for example, to passages with more detail and to scenes that are more believable as a fight.

I will let you know how I get on...