Battles

This is a topic I know you guys love writing. I imagine writing a battle scene for a guy is what writing a wedding scene would be like for a girl (call me out if I'm wrong on this). In fantasy, if there's no battle you can nearly guarantee your book will sell to your grandma and that's about it. If done right, the reader will forget to breath and pass out. But what separates a battle from a gang fight?


Here are some things I've learned that can add more to your big moment than bright swords and big charges:

1) Pay attention to the terrain and weather. In real life, this plays a BIG part, especially when you're carrying seventy pounds of armor.

2) Be aware of different fighting tactics from history. What separates the Huns methods of fighting from the Carthaginians? What's different between the Greek phalanx and the Roman turtle? These details are what makes the big moment "Ring true."

3) Don't get tempted to switch to omnipresent point of view (POV). This is where you give the entire battle scene from the air. "And the left wing on opposite side of the mountain sprang the trap." Keep in touch with your character. The reader is more interested (hopefully) in your character than the battle. "What are they doing over there? Carl jumped aside and Goofball's ax sunk into where he had been a movement before."

4) Make sure the scene is the culmination for as many conflicts as possible.

5) Add a new battle scenario. We've all heard about the huge horse charge, the fight at the castle, or the defenders rushing out onto the battlefield for the last desperate charge. But how many of us have heard about a battle in a sandstorm? Make your battle stand out by breaking away from the norm.

6) Add details, but don't get bogged down and distract from the conflict. Telling the story the main character's POV will help a lot with this.

7) I know battles are gory, BUT there is a certain amount of graphic material christian publishers won't buy. Also, it will be distasteful after a while. If it requires you to draw back on details for a second, I'd advice it. "He stabbed the Revog" instead of (IF YOU'RE SQUEAMISH DON'T READ THIS!) "He thrust the dagger up to its hilt and twisted till he felt the Revog's spine snap. Intestines spilled onto his hand and the creature vomited blood."

The second version is more realistic. The other one is shallow. Select appropriate details and mix and match a little.

8) Read battle stories. Find out how ancient battles were won.

I hope this was helpful! Does anyone have anything to add? I'm interested in things you guys have noticed.