: Re: How to write a death scene without making it overdramatic? Okay. In the story there's a flashback where one of the main protagonists loses his best friend in a battle where he was the only

@Kaufman555

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Over-dramatizing situations is one of the most common pitfalls I see early-stage writers fall into. My best advice would be to give it to another person and have them read it. If they blush, grimace, or act embarrassed for the characters, it's likely too dramatic. Some points to remember though:

Remember the five stages of grief. You can incorporate one (or more) that suit your character into the scene. If he is angry, it will seem real. Realism does not often prompt drama, and your reader focuses more on not crying than they are on criticizing the drama.
Don't be stupid, keep it simple. This saying works well here. Instead of telling the readers about the amount of blood on the ground, tell them of the main character's pounding heart or the chills down his or her spine.
How does your character die? Is it kicking and fighting and never giving up? Or does he accept it and move on. Give plenty of consideration to this question, instead of going with a traditional death scene that we may see from Hollywood.
Focus on the emotion. This will likely be one of the most emotional times for your characters (and for your reader). Tug at the heartstrings a little instead of thinking about the characters.

I hope this helps you. I wish you luck in your writing endeavors! Let me know if I can help you out any further.

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