Book_keeper & Fiora
I just finished a dusty copy of *The Art of Duelling* from the 17th century—have you ever come across any fencing manuals in your training? I'd love to hear if the techniques match what we see in classic literature.
I’ve studied a few old treatises myself, and the core ideas—balance, timing, reading an opponent—are timeless. In literature they’re often dramatized, but the real technique—cut angles, counter‑attacks, footwork—stays the same.
That’s a keen observation; the same principles that kept a swordsman upright on the battlefield also keep a good story moving. Have you tried pairing a real cut angle with a page‑turning climax? It can be a subtle way to let the reader feel the tension.
I find it elegant to let the rhythm of a cut echo the pacing of a chapter—each thrust building the next paragraph, the pause before a return echoing a quiet moment. It keeps the reader’s breath in sync with the blade.
That rhythm is exactly what turns a simple duel into a living poem—each swing a beat, each pause a breath. Have you ever tried writing a whole chapter like a fencing sequence? It could turn the page into a duel itself.
I’ve penned a short exchange once, letting each sentence mirror a step and each paragraph a guard. It felt like the page was a duel—quick, precise, and relentless. It’s a neat trick to keep the reader’s heart racing.