Consultancy · Authors
Fight scenes your readers will believe
Readers who know swords will spot a mistake on the first page. Readers who don’t will still feel when a fight rings false. I help novelists write combat that is accurate, vivid and true to the period, without slowing the story.
How I can help
Fight-scene manuscript review
Detailed notes on a single chapter or a full book, covering weapons, technique, injuries, pacing and plausibility.
Research consultations
One-to-one calls on weapons, armour, wounds, training and the realities of combat in your period.
Hands-on sessions
Feel the weight of a sword, see how armour moves and walk through a grapple before you write it.
Onsite
Plotting and workshopping
I can work through a scene with you in person: how an ambush, duel or battle could realistically play out, where everyone stands and what happens next. Group sessions are also available for writing retreats, festivals and author collectives.
Periods and styles
Medieval European combat, armed and hand-to-hand, in and out of armour, plus Japanese and Chinese sword traditions, Bartitsu and Victorian self-defence, and First World War trench fighting.
Selected work
- Fight-scene consultancy for Paul Humphreys’ novel Prophecy
“Thanks for sharing his knowledge of Asian and European traditional martial arts, traditional Japanese sword fighting, medieval martial combat and period combat of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.”
Paul Humphreys, author of Prophecy
Frequently asked questions
Do you only work on historical fiction?
No. Fantasy authors use real technique to make invented worlds feel solid, and I’m happy to help.
How long does a manuscript review take?
Usually 3 days for a chapter and 2 weeks for a full manuscript, depending on length.
Will you rewrite my scenes?
No. You keep your voice. I give clear notes and suggestions so you can make the fight work your way.