Writing Category
The Writer’s Guide to Blacksmithing Basics
Posted on August 5, 2022 5 Comments
Since much of fantasy was inspired by the Middle Ages, it makes sense that many novels include blacksmiths. Of course, in a magical setting, blacksmiths can be elevated from hammering out horseshoes to crafting magic rings or enchanted blades. It is also common to see them highlighted in visual medium during the big “gearing up” […]
The Writer’s Guide to Medieval Army Logistics
Posted on July 22, 2022 6 Comments
Raising an army and learning how to deploy it tactically will only get your protagonist so far. To keep your army in the fight, he or she will have to supply it. This can be a challenge, especially in a pre-industrial world without automobiles, trains, or airplanes. History again can provide us with a wealth […]
Writer’s Deep Dive: The Battle of Hastings
Posted on July 8, 2022 3 Comments
For our third and final historical battle, I am covering the Battle of Hastings. This engagement shows how an army can start in a dominate position and still lose. Now, let’s dive in! The Basics The battle of Hastings was fought on October 14th, 1066 between the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson and the invading Norman-French […]
The Writer’s Guide to Medieval Army Tactics
Posted on June 24, 2022 5 Comments
Now that your protagonist has raised an army, he or she must learn how best to deploy it. There have been many tactics used throughout history to win battles, and the list below is not exhaustive. Some tactics can be used by all the types of soldiers I covered in my The Writer’s Guide to […]
The Writer’s Guide to Raising a Medieval Army
Posted on May 27, 2022 10 Comments
Wars and battles are all well and good in fantasy, but to fight them, you first need an army. But how can your protagonist convince a group of people to put their lives on the line? Throughout history, armies have been raised through various methods and they varied in size, skill, equipment, and dedication. As […]
Writer’s Deep Dive: The Battle of Agincourt
Posted on May 13, 2022 44 Comments
If you’re writing a battle scene for your book, it pays to study historical engagements. Learning the tactics and progression of actual battles can go a long way in making your fictional ones more realistic. Today I will cover a battle in which the underdog won. Now, let’s dive in! The Basics The battle of […]
The Writer’s Guide to Medieval Armies
Posted on April 29, 2022 53 Comments
When you ask a reader for their favorite scene in a book it is often a battle. From the despair and deliverance of Helm’s Deep to the brutality of the Battle of the Blackwater to the desperation of the Battle of Hogwarts, nothing has quite the power of a battle to get our hearts pounding […]
Rebecca Shedd - Author 