Direction is advised going forward and some might be gory so reading this while or just after you’ve just eaten isn’t advised. In the meantime, you can check our Part One, eat after 15 min or read a book and you’re welcome.
So…. how do we realistically do the following:
Burn
Superficial Burns (First-Degree): These are like a sunburn on steroids. Your character’s skin turns red, itchy, and angry.
Burns- (Second-Degree): These are blisters waiting to happen. Describe the pain of the blisters forming, filled with a clear, hot liquid, and the intense throbbing sensation.
Burns (Third Degree): The skin is gone, revealing muscle and fat. The agony here is relentless like they’re being cooked over a slow, painful barbecue.
Inhalation Burns: If your character is near a fire or explosion, they might inhale hot gases, leading to scorched lungs and a hacking, bloody cough.
Chemical Burns: Describe the way the skin reacts to corrosive substances – bubbling, blistering, and oozing. -descriptions
Poisoning
Poisoning can inflict a variety of debilitating symptoms on its victims, depending on the type of poison and its dosage. Here’s how you might portray the effects of a generic or fantasy poison:
Nausea: Poisoned characters often experience an immediate wave of nausea, as if their stomach has been replaced by a spinning black hole.
Vomiting: The body may respond by trying to expel the poison by any means necessary. This is where the real fun begins. Bluh!!
Abdominal Pain: Cramps and gnawing pain set in
Dizziness and Weakness: Poison can leave your character dizzy, weak, and tired.
Confusion: They may feel their thoughts cloud and become foggy.
Seizures: Certain poisons can induce seizures.
Paralysis: In severe cases, paralysis can occur, where your character is trapped within their own body, unable to move or speak.
Drowning
Panic: When they realise what’s happening, your character will panic.
Gasping for Air: As they struggle to the surface, their body convulses in desperate gasps for air.
Water Ingestion: Describe the harsh coughing and choking as water rushes into their lungs.
Disorientation: Drowning causes disorientation, confusion, and an inability to distinguish up from down, left from right, or which way is home.
Loss of Consciousness: If the struggle goes on too long, the mind can shut down, leading to blacking out.
Suffocation
Despite feeling like Heaven and Hell, the accuracy that comes with writing this feeling is a double-edged sword between realism and making your reader feel like what you’re trying to describe.
The most well-known and common feeling is
Gasping for Breath: Initially, your character will frantically gasp for air and then as that air leaves, the feeling of a tight chest will take over. This is when the airways constrict and make every breath a struggle. Panic sets in leading to Dizziness and Tunnel Vision. When your body has arrived to this point, you’ll be disorientated from all the confusion and your field of vision may feel like it’s disappearing. All of the above leads to the final stage and unfortunately the most uncomfortable. A loss of consciousness and in some rare cases convulsions in an attempt to get some form of air into the body.
Broken Bones
Adrenaline Surge: When your character’s bone snaps, their body floods with adrenaline. They might not feel the full extent of the pain immediately due to this sudden burst.
Immobilising Pain: As the initial shock wears off, the pain intensifies, radiating from the broken bone.
Swelling: The affected area swells up, and it’s hot to the touch.
Deformity: If it’s a bad break, the bone might shift, causing the limb to take on a rather unnatural, Picasso-esque appearance.
Bleeding: Broken bones can puncture the skin, leading to a lovely side of bleeding – an added splash of crimson to the scene.
Nausea and Dizziness: Pain often brings its pals nausea and dizziness to the party. Your character might even faint.
Limited Mobility: Depending on the bone, your character loses their regular level of mobility.
Injuries from elevated settings
The injuries a character would sustain after a fall from a high place depend on several factors, including the height of the fall, the character’s position and orientation during the fall, and the surface they land on.
Fractures and Broken Bones: Falls from significant heights can result in fractures or broken bones. The character might break their legs, arms, ribs, or even their spine. The severity and number of fractures depend on the height and the angle at which they hit the ground. Describe the shocking impact, followed by the sharp, gnawing pain.
Head Injuries: Head injuries can be particularly serious. The character may suffer from concussions, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injuries. These can range from mild to severe and might result in loss of consciousness, memory issues, or other neurological problems.
Internal Injuries: Even if there are no visible external injuries, a fall from a high place can cause internal injuries. These can include damage to internal organs, such as the liver, spleen, or kidneys. Internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent, but it can be life-threatening.
Spinal Injuries: Landing on the back or neck can lead to spinal injuries. This can result in paralysis or long-term mobility issues, depending on the severity of the injury.
Lacerations and Abrasions: The character may sustain cuts, bruises, and abrasions from contact with the ground or objects during the fall. These are typically less severe but can still be painful and require medical attention.
Sprains and Strains: Landing awkwardly can lead to sprained joints, strained muscles, and ligament injuries. These injuries can be painful and affect mobility.
Haemorrhage: Severe falls can cause internal bleeding, leading to haemorrhage. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Friction Burns: If the character slides along a rough surface after the fall, they might suffer friction burns or “road rash.”
And so… with this newly found knowledge, it’s good to put it to use and write a compelling story that leaves your reader addicted and affected by what happens and the actions of the character.
Londa Cele Novels 