Is there any way to write fights into stories?

So i have a concept for a story but it involves many fights. Is there ANY way to write them into the story? Or will i need to just say "After an intense battle, X won aginst Y?"

edited 30th Oct '14 10:39:07 AM by Alexandri098

Why not just give a loose account of what happens during the fight? Of course, the amount of detail you should include will depend on what purpose the fight is serving and how important it is to the story. If it's a minor skirmish that's just part of another day at the office for your character, gloss over it, but if it's representing a turning point in your story, introducing a plot-important character, or something else of that nature, you could get away with going blow-by-blow.

I don't see a problem with describing fights (I recall very much enjoying Brandon Sanderson's combat scenes in the Mistborn books, for example); as Crystal Glacia says, and as with most things in writing, how much detail is given to them may depend on the importance of the fight or its place in the story.

A short, unimportant fight might be given a fairly bare description: "The argument came to blows; after a brief but spirited tussle, the fight was decided by a vicious jab to John's gut; while he lay regaining his breath, Jack walked out, a near-smile beneath his scowl."

A more important (or even simply more interesting) fight might have more detail: "Sarah dashed around to the left, testing her opponent with a series of short jabs. He responded by falling back, pivoting to keep her in front of him. On instinct, she lunged, and again he fell back. Her eyes flickered from her opponent to their surroundings, and a smile teased at the corners of her mouth: just two more steps back and he would hit the wall. Distracted by that, he- He charged, catching Sarah off guard; her side flared in hot pain as she twisted too fast, stumbling back, and even so only barely evaded. She tried to take advantage of his back exposed in passing, but she was off balance and the attempt nearly cost her her footing..."

edited 30th Oct '14 5:11:26 PM by ArsThaumaturgis

*whistles*

A short version: if a fight scene doesn't contribute to the story's progress, why is it there at all?

edited 30th Oct '14 5:57:34 PM by SabresEdge

Sabre's Edge beat me to pointing out the Combat Writing Thread.

It's my baby, after all. (Which would make me a terrible parent who really should go back and curate it more, but hey!)