Question

I’m big into writing descriptive imagery of combat from characters—and the main thing I struggle with is where to start, how to use most sensory details, and how to not totally butcher the wordplay by “over-fluffing” it entirely.

Does anybody have any tips or rules/guidelines for me to prevent this from happening? Maybe provide like a rule list or something to sort of keep me in bounds of forming decent habits.

Answer 1

can you give me an example? maybe then I can give you some advice...

Answer 2

I believe "over-fluffing", as you're describing, would be too many descriptive words or possibly too many in-detail words that leave the reader lost and less apt to want to read the rest of what you have written.

Answer 3

depends on what pov youre using- if its first person right from one of the characters, try and describe more how they feel than the action. but if its 3rd person, make sure to describe the action entirely. don't act like shakespear unless you're trying to write like shakespear, as in don't use too many metaphors or similies or any of that, because it makes it less comprehensible in 3rd person. best tips I got o7

Answer 4

Combat Characters are supposed to be mean, ruthless, brave, strong, etc... First, try describing them as that. Two, if they are doing a specific action try to make it sound cool and over exaggerate if need be. For example: "There he was sharpening his Final Fantasy-like sword with a rock. The rock making sparks as It grinded the sword. The sword was gigantic, shiny, sharp, and looked way to big for a guy his size. He had long blonde curly hair with leather armor..."
I hope that helps. Honestly try to be as descriptive as possible.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say that everyone s so confident/ brave in combat...

Answer 6

But being too descriptive can make the story not as good. Be descriptive but not all the time. Try to be brief about the descriptions you are giving.

Answer 7

right, I'm just saying that you were stereotyping a character

Answer 8

I was just trying to give an example
But also describe the person on who they are. If your describing a little girl about five you wouldn't say she strong unless you were talking about her being strong as in confident

Answer 9

I do the same with the over fluffing sometimes, so I kinda just count how many things I'm saying to describe this one thing, if it's more than 3 or 4, I usually take some of that out to make it better pace for people to read, I also get someone to read what I have, to see if I over did it or something similar, I find that getting a second or third really helps for writing. Hope that this helps, I'm not the biggest writer, but I try.

Answer 10

i'm so confused...

Answer 11

Good, I'm glad to hear. I tried my best to give an honest answer while still answering your question. Any more questions, though? If s,o I'd be glad to help!

Answer 12

You can search Google asking "What's another word for Big" or What are 10 different words for big?". Or the dictionary and thesaurus
For google you might have to scroll down a little or click on some links for it

Answer 13

No it doesn't lol. But Google will also give a similar and opposite list. Also, try Merriam-Webster.

Answer 14

Anymore questions you would liek to ask?