Crafting Battle/Fight Scenes
Some of the most memorable moments (and my personal favorites) in books are battle scenes or fight scenes. Think the kung-fu action sequences in Jade City or the Middle-Earth shaking Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Emotions are high, the stakes are in play. We don’t know if all our characters will make it through the end. So how do you write an effective battle scene that becomes memorable?
Often, writers tend to focus on the logistics and physical landscapes. What are the characters’ positions on the battlefield? How many men are in the siege? Wait, did he hit him with his left foot or right foot? Although knowing the specifics can be helpful as a writer, writing the specifics can bog down the flow of the scene.
This is why I love to focus on the emotional landscape of battle scenes. In order for the reader to feel the high stakes of the battle, I like to begin crafting my scene by mapping out the emotional beats. For example, at the beginning of the fight, the protagonist feels ill and unprepared. The fight hasn’t even begun, but already, sweat drips down his forehead. He tastes salt on his lips. He’s unsure about himself, insecure about his strength, etc. But he feels the pressure to win because if he loses, he’ll lose his only chance for amnesty. As the fight begins, he mostly plays the defensive. But as the fight escalates, and he sees an opening, there’s a surge of hope. Could this be his chance? Can he win? The protagonist moves forward — and gets hit by a Yumi’s dagger-like hair. The protagonist stumbles back, confidence dashed. The reader is crestfallen for him. The Yumi stalks forward, towering and fearsome with her coiling hair, and for the first time, the protagonist feels real fear.
I could go on and on, introducing emotional twists that will further complicate the emotional landscape and entrench the reader in the scene. My point is: physical landscapes paint the battle. Emotional landscapes make the battle feel raw and dangerous. They allow the reader to become immersed in your world and understand your characters’ fears and hopes. Hopefully, by the end, you will rip their heart out. |
