Help i can't write battle scenes!! - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Lord Raiden · 11-28-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jk7070436

It's actually not that hard. I think the trick is to not go into too much detail. Don't go and describe every single blow or shot, tell the reader about the battle on a larger scale. Also, don't make it too long. Long battle scenes are rather boring. A little dialogue is all right, but too much can make it seem a bit corny. Plus, don't use cliche-ish types of quotes like: "You'll never get me alive!"

Yeah, that tends to be my problem. I tend to overdo the detail and not concentrate on the battle itself. ^_^;;

Vanax, what type of battle is this? WW2? Vietnam? Modern day? Middle ages? I didn't catch what type of battle this was, but from the references I'm going to say modern day?

Ralizah · 11-28-2005, 09:27 AM

Also, some dialogue is fine, but don't Dragonball-Z them. What I mean by that is don't have them ready to kick eachother's asses, and then start some drawn out philosophical conversation. Either have them fight or have them discuss. One does not bring up Plato when some A-hole is shooting at them.

vanax · 11-28-2005, 01:08 PM

that was funny mike!! the battle is a fantasy/middle age thing there are three battes- one between rebels and non rebels- one between elves and humans then one in a portal realm between a mage and a small group of people/heros. Ralizah, funny funny. i don't think thats been my problem but if i ever want to write a comedy i'm so using that!!

Raven13 · 11-28-2005, 01:13 PM

I'd suggest watching the battle scenes in 'Braveheart' if you haven't already. I think that Gibson did a pretty good job, though I'm certainly no expert in Medieval warfare.

vanax · 11-29-2005, 12:07 AM

i have and he did but i can't explain it. can visulize it but not put it into words.

Shadowa · 12-01-2005, 05:08 PM

The Lord of the Rings movies might possible be of immense help to you. They have inspired my fantastical battles greatly--both the Battle of Pellinor Fields and the Battle of Helm's Deep. (Helm's Deep is in the Two Towers; Pellinor is in The Return of the King.) Very well done battle scenes in my opinion--the gore is not overdone, but is not left out either; the emotions are not overdone; the detail is not overdone. It's easy to overdo things in battle scenes.

vanax · 12-05-2005, 05:14 PM

i usely don't have enough detail or emotion and defentaly not enough action.

Mr Peace · 01-31-2006, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamisama

Chuck Norris has some good movies with him in Vietnam that are somewhat fictional.

Bonus points for name-dropping Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris once wrote a battle scene so intense, reading it caused instant death. It received NO reviews.

Ben · 01-31-2006, 06:00 AM

I'd like to read that. It sounds good.

Mr Peace · 01-31-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besh

I'd like to read that. It sounds good.

That's not all Chuck Norris did.

Click.

Ben · 01-31-2006, 06:24 AM

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Janeka · 01-31-2006, 07:21 AM

Go and have a look round a castle that fits into the period and get some ideas of what battle would have been like in and around it. Have a look at some museums with weaponary from the period too to give you some idea of the size, shape etc of these things and how much effort battle would have taken...

Also, figure out what you want from the battle scene. Is it important for the individual characters? How are they involved? Do any key characters die, or suffer injuries? How epic are these battles - what scale are they? How decisive to the overall war? What is the prize for this battle (a city, a castle, territory, a strategic position, etc)? How are the main characters affected?

I had a go at a battle scene (http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?t=53431) - I had a series of diagrams keeping track of who was where etc and I tried to keep all the characters' actions in step.

Might also be worth starting out with the bare skeleton of the scene and gradually flesh it out (put in the key actions of the main characters and then slowly fill in the gaps and embellish the descriptions, until it feels like it flows). Failing that, post up what you have so far for the battle and I'm sure that we can offer some constructive suggestions

darthwader · 01-31-2006, 07:22 AM

My book has many action scenes in it, and what I have found helps is to have your details layed down in the prelude to the battle, then you can concentrate on movements and emotions without stopping to fill in the canvas so to speak.

Also, if your battle runs long, it is a good idea to break it up a bit by occasionally cutting to a sub-plot.

imrhati · 01-31-2006, 08:43 AM

When i write a battle i find gory deaths make it more interesting. this is a personal style however and not something everyone should do. but describing the way a decapitated man falls to the ground for example is a good way to keep the reader interested.

Superlagg · 01-31-2006, 07:53 PM

http://newgrounds.com/portal/view/285267

Though it may be a flash movie from Newgrounds, it does discribe a pretty nifty fight scene both in visual and in textual form. This should help you describe some battle scenes, hopefully.