McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Firearms - writers - resources
Roaram:
I see where your coming from and agree, ineferno. I was just saying that if a writer IS skipping the basic research, like the type of gun is uninportant, saying "handgun" or "pistol" is better than saying Glock, plus serial number or watever. Or say standerd issue rifel, not make and model. that way you don't trip yourself up, and don,t irritate readers who know more than you.
InfernoMDM:
Amen
THETA:
I've never had to write anything about firearms yet, but will probably have to in the near future, so thanks for the heads up. My dads in the military and has to review these software programs that outline all the new procedures and firearms care, maintenance, and types, every few months. It's boring as arse to slog through, but i can manage for the sake of true literature.
I think finding historical inaccuracies, especially in period pieces are more irksome than technology mishaps.
Thub:
--- Quote from: Roaram on September 19, 2008, 11:13:12 PM ---I see where your coming from and agree, ineferno. I was just saying that if a writer IS skipping the basic research, like the type of gun is uninportant, saying "handgun" or "pistol" is better than saying Glock, plus serial number or watever. Or say standerd issue rifel, not make and model. that way you don't trip yourself up, and don,t irritate readers who know more than you.
--- End quote ---
This is true, but I get a big smile on my face when I read "He drew his custome Smith & Wesson 1911 45 and sent four rounds through the window to discourage anyone out who might have been considering coming in through the same window." or "her Glock 20 went through the security door like it was made of warm butter."
It's difficult to mess up keeping it generic, but you won't invoke any of the imagry that goes with the specific gun either. The 1911 is an icon in the gun world. It's nearly a century old and still wildly popular. It's been through wars. It is the "why use a scalpel when a hammer will do?" gun. "He pulled out his gun..." Just doesn't evoke the same imagery.
The other side of that is that probably way less than half of the people reading your book will have a clue what it is, but if you give it enough weight they will at least know it is important. I don't know exactly what "Vascular Extracardiac thrombosis" is, but I am pretty sure it is not good. So I do not want that, but a "1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with a 428 big block V8" has a hell of a lot more appeal to me than "a car."
Mitchell:
You can take a 2 day shooting course for just about $450 from a lot of shooting schools.
If you want to write about firearms, nothing is better than first hand experience with them.
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