Thank you very much, Jim, for bringing up the psychological ramifications of wounding or killing. I share your feelings about the unrealistic aftermaths in movies and TV, and it *is* something my characters deal with in my own military sci-fi. (I'm also a veteran.) In fact, I'm writing scene tomorrow that my MC has had to prepare for both physically and psychologically. Though he knows it's necessary, it's going to change him.

Yes, it is fun and illuminating for writing about them. I am no longer in a club since I have moved, but was for quite a long time. But even if someone can't do that going to an open day is very worthwhile.

Carrying your weapons when traveling was what a squire was for. 😉 I agree that having a weapon thumping on your leg or on your horse's rump is annoying, so an unconventional carry position might have been used. I have never seen any evidence of a historical scabbard meant for the back, but that does not mean they might not have existed.

The choreography can be tricky if you don't have the experience. I recommend watching videos of people competing in a related combat sport or sparring on youtube. There is some level of sport-ification, but it helps you see what sort of things might happen and help you get a feel for the fight.

But the truth is, exactly as you say, that the characters and the story are more important than the details of the choreography

-- Alex J

The emotional impact of a fight is a really good point to bring up! Experiencing violence and being forced to perpetrate violence will have a lasting effect on someone.

This can happen even in combat sports, and it's going to be much more true in actual combat. Most people struggle to hit their partner solidly when they start using a sword; they instinctively hold back for fear of hurting them. Unfortunately, your brain can think you are being attacked during sparring (I mean... you are, but not really). We shake hands after every match to help disrupt the formation of negative associations between seeing the other person and feeling attacked.

Your point is what I was thinking about when I wrote in the blog about a character that seems emotionless in a fight actually repressing their feelings. But that's an aspect of making a fight feel real that I didn't really dig into, thanks for bringing it up.

-- Alex J

I'm often struck by unrealism in fight scenes. It's kind of jolting to reflect that most people have never actually been in a fight - when I grew up, and even my kids, it would have been hard to find anyone who hadn't been in some fights. Maybe our society is better off now. At any rate, both my son and my daughter found themselves in more fights than they wanted as teenagers (sometimes she did go looking for them) and I certainly did.

Maybe you're covering this in a future segment: if there's one thing that jumps out as unrealistic to me in movies and TV, it's the way ordinary characters emerge from terrifying, traumatic experiences smiling, relaxed, often joking, and acting as if nothing significant had happened. Even when they win a fight, even when it's necessary and justified, hurting or killing others and even seeing it happen leaves permanent marks on the mind and soul of a healthy person. I wish more writers understood, or addressed, that fact. After I retired from the Corps I had a second career as a psychotherapist and worked with a lot of trauma survivors, and I think their stories both are fascinating and need to be told.

Thanks again!

That sounds like an interesting set up.

I'll echo the advice from Sally about seeing if you can find someone to interview about their experience in the military. I also often use interviews or docu-series on youtube for information. There are channels that interview everyone from ex-CIA to ex-drug cartel. There are probably also books written by authors who served in the military that you could read.

However, the truth is that if you write a scene that is logically sound, has good, consistent characterization, and advances the plot, very few people will care if the details are slightly off, and the majority of the audience won't have the knowledge to tell the difference.

Do your due diligence on the research, but don't put too much pressure on yourself to get every detail right.

-- Alex J