Battles and fights form massive parts of many fantasy stories. And what makes them so memorable is the author’s ability to convey the chaos clearly. Knowing how to write a fight scene and battles is, therefore, an important part of fantasy writing.

In this guide, we’re going to look at this topic in-depth, first considering the pitfalls and challenges before examining three guiding principles which will make your writing life much easier. 

We explore how to apply these principles to writing fight scenes before looking at battles and large-scale combat. Lastly, we consider more intimate combat scenes, such as 1v1 duels or fights to the death. 

How To Write Fight Scenes In A Book

When it comes to knowing how to write a fight scene, so often and so easily the explanation of the action can go violently wrong. Readers become lost in the melee, and in their frustration will turn that book of yours into a deadly weapon itself. 

What I’ve learned about writing fight scenes and battles has come from Brandon Sanderson and his awesome writing tips, especially on fantasy writing. And funnily enough, a reviewer recently likened the battle scenes in Pariah’s Lament to Sanderson’s. So something must have stuck. 

Sanderson’s approach is based on three core principles: clarity, balancing blow-by-blow descriptions and prioritising showing instead of telling. Below we’ll take a look at each one before taking a look at how to write battle scenes and one vs one fights. 

an image showing how to write fight scenes in a book

How To Write A Fight Scene: Tip 1 – Clarity

Of the three this is perhaps the most important. If the reader can’t follow what’s going on, it’s not possible for them to enjoy it, unless they’re partial to chaos. 

Conveying the action in clear terms serves the story best. Battles are fast, frantic and unpredictable, involving thousands of people, all trying to kill one another by tooth or nail. With so much going on, it needs to be easy enough to follow. 

And to achieve clarity we need to look at the way in which the story is told. Using shorter and medium-length sentences seems to work best. It complements the swift nature of battle. Allows you to build pace and tension. And you deliver information in short and easy-to-understand chunks. And trust me that’s what you need when you have lots of imagery to paint. 

Other things you can do to achieve clarity include being specific with descriptions and ditching the vagaries, and mapping out the battle before you write it. 

This last point is particularly useful, especially in battles. We’ll come to this in more detail below as we delve further into how to write fight scenes. 

Writing Fight Scenes: Tip 2 – Balance The Blows

Sanderson is of the view that long streams of blow-by-blow description can become tedious for readers. 

This vibe:

‘He swung his sword from left to right, raking the tip across his foe’s shield. He brought back his blade quickly to parry a counterattack, then launched one of his own, which cut the air.’

It generally goes on and on like this. And as you can imagine, it gets a bit boring by the third or fourth paragraph. 

Now there are exceptions to this, which we’ll discuss below, but the attentive amongst you will have noticed this section title referred to balance. 

And herein lies the key. Blow-by-blow is not boring if used in a balanced way. By that I mean a few paragraphs here and there, interspersed with other exposition, dialogue or internal thoughts. The key is to keep the story progressing. Don’t get lost in moments.

So if you find yourself racking up pages of blow-by-blow, ask yourself what can you cut out. And be brutal, just like your battle. It may be tough to say goodbye to that awesome sword move but your readers may thank you for it. 

In this instance, less is more is the rule to lean toward.

Writing Combat Scenes: Tip 3 – Showing Instead of Telling 

Showing instead of telling is something that gets bandied about a lot in the writing world. 

In short, it refers to a preference of storytelling in which the action is shown to the reader rather than simply told to them. 

An example:

Telling – the sword felt heavy in his hand

Showing – his arm ached with the weight of the sword in his hand

The showing version here is longer but more immersive for the reader. It draws them deeper into the story, allowing them to almost be in the scene, to feel what it’s like.  

So when writing battle scenes, this method of storytelling can really help engross the reader in the action. Think about the 5 senses and how you can use them to your advantage.

If you find yourself using the word ‘felt’, it could be a signal to introduce some showing instead of telling. 

But telling does have its place. Sometimes battles rage on for days and even weeks—particularly sieges. So from a fiction-writing point of view, it may not be possible to convey every little detail. 

That’s where telling can come in handy, allowing you to pass hours and days in a mere few words. It makes it one of the most effective tools when it comes to knowing how to write fight scenes.

I have a complete guide to show don’t tell which you can read here.

How Do You Write A Sword Fight Scene?

Writing a compelling sword fight requires a blend of vivid description, character insight, and pacing.

It can help to begin by setting the scene with sensory details that ground the reader in the environment—describe the light, sounds, and immediate surroundings.

Focus on the fighters’ emotions and physical states to add depth: are they confident, desperate, exhausted?

Use short, sharp sentences during the action to convey the speed and intensity of the fight. Avoid overly technical jargon; instead, describe the movements in a way that highlights their grace or brutality.

You can look to include internal thoughts or dialogue to maintain character development amidst the action. The ebb and flow of the fight should reflect a natural rhythm, with moments of high tension interspersed with brief pauses.

Finally, ensure the outcome of the fight serves the larger narrative, revealing character growth or advancing the plot. By balancing technical details with emotional resonance, you create a fight that is both thrilling and meaningful.

two warriors battling in a sword fight

How To Write A Fight Scene In A Book: Examples

To help gain a better understanding of how to write a fight scene, it’s important to consider and study some examples. Below, I’ve included some excellent combat scenes that employ the above principles:

  • Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – Prologue – the opening chapter to Sanderson’s epic fantasy novel features an awesome fight scene that employs all of the above principles.
  • The Two Towers (Lord Of The Rings) by JRR Tolkien – The Battle Of Helms Deep – this is one of the best battle scenes in fantasy and one to learn a lot from. It’s over around 20 pages long and employs great craft in description and the ebbs and flows of warfare.
  • Pariah’s Lament – in Pariah’s Lament I include a range of fight scenes, from 1v1 scraps to sieges involving thousands of people. 
  • Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card: The bathroom fight between Ender and Bonzo Madrid is praised for its pacing and emotional weight.
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling: The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic is noted for its intensity and depth, which are more pronounced in the book than the movie.
  • Dune by Frank Herbert: The knife fight between Paul and Jamis stands out for its methodical writing and quick, descriptive bursts during the attacks and parries.
  • Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson: The battle for shards of Adolin in the Arena is highlighted for its unexpected twists and detailed choreography.
  • The Princess Bride by William Goldman: The fight between Wesley and Inigo on the Cliffs of Insanity is celebrated for its clever dialogue and swashbuckling action.
  • The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne: This series is recommended for its well-written skirmishes, duels, and large-scale battles that vividly bring the action to life.
  • The Greatcoats series by Sebastien de Castell: Known for its engaging skirmishes and ambushes, this series provides clear and exciting fight scenes.

How Do You Write A Fight Scene With Magic?

A fight scene is a vital part of the story and can make or break your book. But what if your characters have powers? How do you write a fight scene with powers?

The first thing to consider is whether or not the power in question is offensive or defensive. Offensive powers are typically more flashy and destructive, while defensive powers are generally easier to control and less showy.

For example, if you have a character who can shoot fire from their hands, then their power would be offensive. If you have another character who can create shields, then their power would be defensive.

Knowing this can really help when it comes to including magic in your fight scenes.

How Do You Write One v One Fights?

On we charge with our guide on how to write fight scenes. Now the writing of one vs one fights is a little different to the larger battle scenes we’ve so far discussed. 

One vs one fights are much more intimate and less chaotic in terms of what’s going on around the fight. 

They can be more intense too, with the stakes of losing truly magnified. 

So with less going on around and about, there’s less to describe. This means the need for blow-by-blow exposition grows. 

In these intimate scenes, suspense is high, our knuckles white from clinging to the page. We follow each and every move willingly. 

To help achieve that, showing instead of telling plays a useful role, allowing you to illustrate the characters’ feelings of tiredness, fatigue and pain, for instance. 

How To Write A Battle Scene In A Book

Clarity is important too here, just not as necessary as with larger battle scenes. The last thing you want is for your reader to lose their way at crucial moments. Short and sharp sentences can work well to add to the suspense and create a sense of urgency. 

So how do we write a battle scene in a book with these three guiding principles in mind?

Well, depending on the type of combat situation you want to feature, you may find that some apply more than others. 

In large battles, for instance—we’re talking Minas Tirith and Helms Deep big—clarity is everything. It’s our job to bring order to the chaos. 

We can achieve this by doing something I mentioned earlier—mapping it out. It’s by far one of the best ways of writing battle scenes. So, in true fantasy warlord style, roll out your great sheet of parchment and draw out your combat situation. 

Is it going to be open warfare or a siege? Let’s look at the former first. 

Note down details of the landscape. This is where worldbuilding can come in handy. Is it flat or hilly? Are there any waterways like streams or rivers? If so, are there bridges? Any rocky outcroppings, dense bushes or long grass. When it comes to war, anything like this can make a difference. 

Next, position your warriors with the terrain in mind. And play out your battle. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of each side. What counter-attacks could you introduce, like surprise cavalry charges to the flank? 

How To Write Battle Scenes Involving Sieges

Writing battle scenes involving sieges is a little different. With defenders holed up in a castle, it’s up to the attackers to breach the walls. 

First, it helps to detail the defensive fortifications in place. Then ask how can they be broken. Determine any weak spots and see how they could be exploited or how they could be heroically defended. 

It definitely helps to do your research when it comes to this, especially if you’re struggling. In doing so you gain a deeper understanding of the ebbs and flows of warfare and the factors that can prove decisive. Plus, you’ll come across awesome details to inspire your own stories. 

To help you out, I have detailed guides to medieval castles, making maps and battle tactics you can check out. Plus I’ve added some extra links below.

Using Different Perspectives In Battle Scenes

Another great tool you can use to help achieve clarity in the writing of battle scenes is perspectives or points of view. 

In times of old, once battle was joined, it was hard for order and control to be maintained by military leaders. That’s why the likes of helmet plumes, coloured tabards and bannerman appear in battles, as well as horns, drums and other instruments—to help maintain order. 

If the story is told in a narrow perspective, for instance in the first-person viewpoint or third-person limited, it may jar the flow of the story to start discussing how the battle was going on the left flank if that character is battling in the centre. 

But it’s important to show the reader the image of the overall battle as it develops. To achieve this we can introduce new perspectives. Bringing forward or introducing secondary characters to primary points of view can allow us to explore different parts of the battle. 

And from a writing perspective, this can work wonders structurally, allowing you to create mini cliffhangers as the battle unfolds. A surefire way to keep readers hooked. It’s something I used in Pariah’s Lament and one that went down a storm with readers and reviewers. 

Thanks for reading this guide on how to write a fight scene or battle. If you have any questions, please contact me.

How To Write A Fight Scene In Third Person

Everyone uses different points of view when writing stories. We’ve referred to some in the section immediately above. A lot of writers ask about writing fight scenes in third person, which is one of the most common. How much detail can you go into, how much should you inform the reader of, just two examples of common questions.

It can help to begin by anchoring the reader in the setting with concise, evocative details that paint a clear picture of the environment. Convey the combatants’ physical conditions and emotional states to add layers of realism too—are they fatigued, furious, or calculating? Depending on if you’re writing a third person limited story or a third person omniscient one, you can only go into so much detail here.

Employ varied sentence structures to mimic the fight’s rhythm: short, abrupt sentences can heighten the sense of urgency, while longer, flowing sentences can illustrate broader, more strategic movements. Check out my guide to writing prose to learn more about this.

Describe the physical actions with precise, vivid language, avoiding technical jargon that might alienate readers. Instead, focus on what the viewpoint character perceives and feels, keeping their perspective central to the narrative. Integrate sensory details—the clang of metal, the acrid smell of sweat, the sting of an injury—to immerse readers fully in the scene.

Richie Billing
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