By Chelsea Hindle
We’ve all been there. We’re immersed in a fantastic action sequence, our hearts pounding with adrenaline. We fear for our favorite characters’ lives and then—
Something happens. We notice the author mentioning something we know is inaccurate. The description of a wound, or something about the anatomy of a sword. The result is that we are jolted out of the trance we’ve been in and the fight scene suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing.
No reader wants to experience this. The author appears slack for not doing their research and the reader feels betrayed. But how do we as aspiring authors make sure we keep errors and inaccuracies out of our writing? And why does it matter?
It matters because as Christian authors we have promised to uphold a standard. We’ve dedicated our writing to God and we have a duty to do the best we can in everything. Of course, nothing is going to be 100% error-free, as we are fallible humans, but taking the time to research and edit shows we are passionate about our craft.
No one expects you to be a black belt in five different martial arts before you write fight scenes. However, there are several common errors writers make in their fight scenes, and today we’ll be looking at five of them.
So grab your favorite search engine, a handbook of weaponry, and a mug of hot chocolate, and let’s get started.
#1: Mislabelling Swords
Swords can be tricky beasts. To the uninitiated, they all look more or less the same, and thus, must have more or less the same function, right?
No, actually. Swords are as diverse as the cultures that use them. They range from swords used in battle, to swords used for fencing, to ceremonial swords, to decorative swords, to Navy swords. Almost every culture in the world has swords, and even the materials they are made from vary from place to place.
So, swords are not interchangeable. But what do you do with this information? Well, start by researching the historical period your book is set in or based on. Is your story a rollicking high seas adventure? If so, your characters won’t use broadswords. Are your characters foot soldiers in the medieval period? In that case, they won’t use cavalry swords from World War I.
While many readers won’t know the difference between a longsword and a broadsword, some will. And between Google and a few good handbooks, it isn’t hard to get basic facts right. So let’s tackle some myths.
Myth: Broadswords and Longswords Are The Same Thing
A broadsword and a longsword are not the same things, but what makes them different is vague. A broadsword is a sword that is broader in the blade than average. A longsword is a sword with a longer blade than average. Unfortunately, during the medieval period there was no “standard” sword length or width, so both of these terms are unreliable.
Myth:The Katana Is The Only Asian Sword
Too often I see “Asian character = katana” when this is not the case at all. The katana is Japanese and Asia is a wonderfully diverse place. For example, the Turkish yataghan is a cool sword with a forward-curving blade. And yet, despite being so cool, it’s never been heard of! The khanda, kris and jian are swords from India, the Philippines and China, respectively. And of course, within these countries, there are plenty of other sword types. Don’t let clichés define your work.
Myth: There is Only One Type of Fencing Sword
Despite both being linked to fencing, foils and rapiers are different swords. Rapiers are slender, strong swords, worn by wealthy citizens in the 1700s, while foils are modern-day fencing weapons inspired by the rapier.
#2: Underestimating Injuries
This is the topic I find most frustrating to deal with. In real life, injuries are serious. Injuries can kill and disable. They can have serious mental and emotional impacts and change lives irrevocably. And while we like to injure our characters horribly, we don't like to do it accurately.
Writers seem to enjoy ignoring basic medical facts when it comes to action scenes. And this is fair. After all, the plot can't take a six-week breather every time the hero breaks an arm. And no one wants to trudge through months of recovering from a nuclear blast.
So, we writers need to find a balance. We can treat wounds with respect while also respecting our pacing. There are several small mistakes that are easy to fix and will make a world of difference. So, let’s tackle some myths!
Myth: Slapping Is Equivalent to CPR
Unfortunately, slapping someone who isn’t breathing will not make them breathe. CPR is the only way to go in this situation.
Myth: Tourniquets Should Be Used To Staunch Blood Flow
Actually, tourniquets are rarely a good idea. Using one could also result in the loss of the limb. Instead, it is recommended that you staunch blood flow with sterile padding and firmly apply a pressure bandage.
Myth: Alcohol and Heat Are The Best Treatment For Hypothermia
Alcohol and caffeine should never be given to people suffering from hypothermia. Drinking it may give the illusion of warmth, but it only has adverse effects on the sufferer. By the same token, applying heat can severely burn the skin. Instead, remove wet clothes, put the patient in a warm room, wrap in blankets and monitor their condition.
Myth: Cuts Aren’t That Serious and Will Heal Themselves
While the average cut isn’t life-threatening, anything that breaks the skin has the potential to become infected. Sword cuts, in particular, are serious wounds and need proper cleaning. Tying a piece of sweaty shirt around it is only asking for an infection. Saline (salty water) will do in the majority of situations, but if unavailable, even clean water is better than nothing.
Myth: Infections Are Also Not That Serious
Following on from the previous point, infections are serious and they do regularly kill. This is especially true if you are writing historical fiction, or fantasy, where your world has no penicillin equivalent. Preventing them is essential, and can be done by following the wound cleaning tips detailed above.
Myth: Arrows Should Be Pulled Out to Save The Victim’s Life
Never, ever pull an arrow out backward! Push it through if you must remove it. But, it is better to leave the arrowhead in, if possible, as this will help staunch the bleeding. Applying a bandage in a “doughnut” shape (Google it), around the arrow shaft and keep the patient still and calm. The same applies to knife wounds as well.
#3: Misunderstanding How Archery Works
To the majority, archery looks easy. Put the arrow in the bow, aim and shoot, yes?
Well, no. Like every other form of fighting, archery is complex and difficult. It also requires skill and practice to perfect. No farm child should be able to pick up a bow and hit the target first time (looking at you, Disney Susan Pevensie). Over thousands of years, archery has adapted to almost every civilization on earth. But despite its prominence in human history, there are several myths authors perpetuate.
Myth: Bowstrings Are Impervious To The Weather
Unfortunately, this is not true. Bowstrings cannot get wet, or they won't shoot properly (goodbye, epic elf archers in The Two Towers).
Myth: Bows Are Strung At All Times
Bows must be unstrung to keep them from breaking. The constant stress damages the wood and, ideally, bows should be unstrung when not in use. It is also difficult to string a bow, and it can’t be done while running.
Myth: You Can Take Your Sweet Time While Aiming
You can’t (without superhuman strength, at least) hold a bow drawn for more than a few seconds. You should draw, aim, and shoot almost immediately.
Myth: Arrows Return to You Like Boomerangs
Unless you are consistently restocking your quiver (or you’re Hawkeye), you will run out of arrows.
And again, do not pull arrowheads out! Don’t do it.
#4: Misuse of Armor
Armor in fiction is particularly prone to mistakes. Unfortunately, these are usually because, unlike swords, armor isn't all that cool. Most writers, myself included, throw in a vague description of silver armor and call it good. Again, this is a sign of lazy writing. While we don't need Tolkien-level descriptions about armor, a quick Google search will do wonders for your writing.
As with weaponry, armor changes drastically from one country and culture to the next. Roman armor, for example, is completely different from Renaissance English armor, which is again completely different from Japanese samurai armor. Other cultures didn’t wear armor at all. It's important to take the time to research what sort of armor your cultural inspirations wore.
Myth: Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
Vikings didn’t have horns on their helmets. Cool as the general aesthetic is, the National Museum of Denmark has debunked it. Please stop.
Myth: Armor is Heavy and “A Death Trap”
Armor was not heavy, and it didn’t render knights immobile. Nor was mail a lighter version of plate armor. In actual fact, plate armor is more mobile than mail, since it allows the joints more freedom of movement. And if we apply logic for a moment, would soldiers go into war wearing a death trap? If it rendered them immobile, unable to fight or flee the enemy, they wouldn't wear it.
Myth: Plate Armor is The Only Type of Armor
Armor is not always made out of metal! Leather, reinforced fabric, wood, horn, and, nowadays, materials like Kevlar are all used.
#5: Seeing One Fighting Style as “Easy” or “For Girls”
For some reason, certain weapons and fighting styles are seen as feminine and others as masculine. For example, poison and knives are often associated with women, while swords are associated with men, which is ridiculous. Women can be expert swordswomen, and men can poison people.
Generally, though, women do have less physical strength than men and may need to adjust their fighting style to fit their personal needs. However,“for girls” is usually a degrading term that denotes a fighting style as being “easy”. Here’s some myths!
Myth: Martial Arts Are Easy!
Martial arts are sometimes mistakenly seen as “easy.” While a good martial artist will make their fight sequence look effortless, that only proves the innumerable hours they have poured into their craft.
Myth: Women Need Special Swords
Some swords in fantasy are described as “women's” swords. These swords are usually smaller and thinner than average and supposedly easier for the weak female to lift. However, swords—particularly medieval swords—were not nearly as heavy as people tend to assume and almost all, if not every one of them, could be easily handled by a woman, particularly a fit woman who’s been training all her life.
Myth: Archery is for Girls
Archery also falls into this category. Again, it’s associated with women (Katniss Everdeen, Merida, Susan Pevensie, the goddesses Diana and Artemis, etc), though there are a few obvious exceptions. It is also, as we talked about earlier, seen as an easy skill to master.
So, what are you guys waiting for? Grab a book, open your search bar of choice, and get researching. Don’t rely on clichés and pop culture to craft your fight scene. Instead,, show your readers the respect of having done your research, found out the facts, and made an effort to create accurate fight scenes. Will you get everything right? No. Will you maybe still confuse longswords and rapiers or give your archer an endless supply of arrows? Yes, probably. No one is perfect, but I can guarantee that taking the time to do things to the best of your capability will help readers respect and trust you.
What inaccuracies bother you in stories? And what is your method for ensuring they don’t crop up in yours?
Chelsea Hindle
Chelsea Hindle is an almost-20-year-old writer who masquerades as a dog trainer by day and scribbles away in a notebook at night.
At the impressionable age of 15, she discovered Kingdom Pen, which changed her life in the best way possible and motivated her to pursue her dreams. Since then, she has written dozens of stories, made many mistakes, and enjoyed every second of the writing life.
When she isn’t writing fantastical tales, Chelsea can be found training her dogs to play the piano, cooking, knitting, and reading too many books.
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This is such a helpful post Chelsea! I feel like I will be constantly going back to this post every time I need to write a fight scene. Your point about underestimating injuries particularly stood out to me. I’ve witnessed characters pull swords from their stomachs then start fighting with it like no big deal. I’m not sure what the writers were thinking when they wrote that.XD
Haha, same, Kathleen!
Thank you for the lovely and informative article, Chelsea! The point about not being able to shoot a bow in the rain I particularly enjoyed, because there’s so much potential conflict going to waste by not taking that into consideration. Imagine having an archer character who is made suddenly defenseless by an unexpected rainstorm! I’m sure I’ll be returning to this article many times as I plot out my various fight scenes. 😀
Yep, I was so disappointed about the epic elf archers *goes into a corner and cries*
I tell myself that they have special Elvish bowstrings just so I don’t lose my mind. I have no words for them holding their bows at full draw for a ridiculously long time though. *sighs in despair*
Thank you so much for this article, Chelsea! I found it very helpful and — well — I will be doing more research for sure, haha.
I love all this advice, Chelsea!
Thank you for addressing archery myths! Those really bug me. XD