Tips for Writing Injuries
โง Broken ribs suck.ย You donโt just โwalk it off.โ Breathing hurts. Laughing hurts. Existing hurts. Characters with rib injuries wonโt be doing heroic sprints.
โง Concussions arenโt instant naps.ย Dazed vision, nausea, dizziness, maybe even personality changes, but theyโre not going to collapse neatly like in the movies.
โง Blood loss is sneaky.ย Itโs not just about dramatic pools of blood. Itโs dizziness, confusion, and the body getting cold as circulation tanks.
โง Adrenaline lies.ย Someone can take a serious injury and not feel it until the fightโs over. That โI didnโt realize I was bleeding until laterโ trope? Very real.
โง Twisted ankles are brutal.ย One bad step and suddenly running is off the table. Even walking hurts like hell. Perfect way to ground a chase scene.
โง Burns linger.ย Even small burns hurt more than most people expect. Blisters, infection risk, constant pain, itโs not just a cool scar later.
โง Dislocated shoulders = useless arm.ย Characters canโt keep swinging a sword or firing a gun. Theyโre basically fighting one-armed until itโs fixed.
โง Shock is a thing.ย Pale skin, trembling, rapid heartbeat, and eventually disorientation. A character might not even realize how bad their wound is.
โง Stitches arenโt magic.ย Getting sewn up is painful and recovery takes time. Theyโre not instantly battle-ready after a needle and thread.
โง Scars tell stories.ย Some fade, some donโt. Some stay sensitive forever. Donโt forget the aftermath when the wound becomes part of the character.
