andrew.v.spencer

The usual suggestion is short sharp sentences to give momentum to the action. Be careful also to stick to your point of view; if you're writing in the tight third person then your character will have glimpses of the action around him, given he is engaged in a fight, those glimpses will be confusing and exciting. The temptation is to slip into omniscient narration.

RocketMan

Great Question! Great discussions. I am also approaching a battle in my latest work and I find myself stepping back on how to handle it.

ghent96

Don't step back too far, unless your perspective in the story is an overall third-person omniscient perspective. They you might be able to get away with a fleet battle description.

How much more interesting, though, to alternate between a few characters, and their first person perspective of the battle, in order to convey the whole scene?

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Arashi Ryuu

Personally, when writing up an intense battle, I listen to music. Sometimes the tempo can inspire images of swordstrokes, gunshots, or even hooves racing across the packed dirt of a recent battle ground. Depending on your character's mindset, you should vary his perception of what's happening all around him (I.e. a poetic warrior would look at war from a different angle than a frightened foot soldier.). People don't want to just read it, they want to feel it! Make it personal, in their face, and let them see the battle through the characters eyes.

Siglark

I am a fan of economy of writing, so I sugest that you only include things that absolutely, positively have to happen to enhance the general flow of the novel or further your characterization. That said, I find that it is most effective to use very few words when describing battles. Also, don't just rush into battle for battle's sake: build up to it. Is your character there before it begins? Does your character agree or disagree with fighting? Is he there on accident? What is his personal objective in the fight? I like to only show things that have a critical impact on the overall tide of battle and then zoom out to its implications.
My best advice is just write and write. You won't get it perfect on your first try. Write the scene in as many ways as you can think of and use the best one.

tbs21

research the technology used in war at the specific time. include plenty of action, but don't dwell too much on it. focus on what's happening more in first-person view because he's in the battle. the third-person POV should tell what's happening from both sides.

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