ryanmayodaily

I wrote The Lost Hero so veterans would nod—and civilians wouldn’t need a translator. That meant two promises: keep the soldiering real and tune the language so anyone can follow the heart of the scene.

What I Kept Gritty (the soldier bit)

Kit behaves like kit. Webbing snags, bergens drag, boots bite, SLRs feel like they weigh the same as small planets. Radio cadence. Orders are short, clear, and barked like they mean it. Admin matters. Dry socks, folded jumpers, squared-away berets—competence is character. Humour as armour. Banter cuts the fear down to size (used like a tourniquet, not a laugh track).

What I Tidied (the reader bit)

Profanity dialled down. British soldiers can swear to Olympic standard. I trimmed the F-bomb forest so the story breathes—and so families can read without blushing. Acronyms translated. First use gets a plain-English gloss; after that, we crack on. Slang in moderation. Enough to taste authentic, not enough to require a field linguist. Gore implied, not dwelt on. Consequence over spectacle.

Why I Did It

Pace: Cleaner lines move faster under fire. Reach: I want veterans, families, and general readers at the same table. Respect: Real people live behind these pages. Truth first; shock last.

Soldier-to-Civilian Pocket Guide (with a grin)

Basha → Makeshift shelter Bergen → The rucksack that thinks it’s your commanding officer Brew → Tea (also morale) Admin → Personal organisation (how you show you care) Stag on → Guard duty Tab → Loaded march (bring feet) NAAFI → Canteen/tea-and-snacks salvation Scran → Food Gash → Rubbish/unusable kit Oppos → Mates/battle buddies Ally → Looks cool and works Biff → Temporarily unfit/held back

How the Dialogue Works (Spice Levels)

Think of it like tea strength:

“Brew weak” for bedside tenderness—plain speech, soft edges. “NAAFI strong” for contact scenes—short, clipped, a little salt. “Sergeant’s flask” exists, but I’ve kept the lid on. If your inner NCO thinks there should be more swearing… feel free to mentally supply it.

A Tiny Before/After (tone, not content)

Barracks-real: “Get your *&%$ kit squared away and move!” Book-real: “Square your kit. Move.” Same urgency, less static on the net.

Bottom Line

The soldiering stays true; the language stays welcoming. Rated 12A on swearing, 18 on heart.

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Read the book: The Lost Hero is out now on Kindle (link in my bio/profile).

Next post: “Behind the Scenes — Research Sources, Kit Lists, and Why the Compass Matters.”