The Writer's Guide to Weapons : A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction

When it comes to writing weapons, most authors shoot from the hip--and miss. The Writer's Guide to Weapons will help you hit your target every time.

Firearms and knives have starring roles in a wide range of genres--crime, thriller, war, mystery, Western, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of weapons in novels and film are pure fiction. Knowing the difference between a shotshell and a slug, a pistol and a revolver, or a switchblade and a butterfly knife is essential for imbuing your story with authenticity--and gaining popularity with discerning readers.

Inside you'll find:

   • An in-depth look at the basics of firearms and knives: how they work, why they work, what they look like, and how to depict them accurately in your stories.
   • The biggest weapons myths in fiction, TV, and film.
   • A surefire guide for choosing the correct weapon for your characters, no matter their skill level, strength, or background.
   • A review of major gun and knife laws, weapons safety tips,and common police tactics.
   • "The Hit List," showcasing the most popular weapons for spies, detectives, gunslingers, gangsters, military characters, and more.
   • Examples highlighting inaccurate vs. accurate weapons depictions.
   • An insightful foreword by David Morrell, the award-winning creator of Rambo.
Equal parts accessible, humorous, and practical, The Writer's Guide to Weapons is the one resource you need to incorporate firearms and knives into your fiction like a seasoned professional.

Benjamin Sobieck is an online editor and product manager for a number of weapons and outdoors magazines, such as Gun Digest, BLADE, Living Ready, and Modern Shooter. A crime and thriller author, he has appeared in such anthologies and journals as Burning Bridges: A Renegade Fiction Anthology, Exiles: An Outsider Anthology, Black Heart Magazine presents Noir, and Out of the Gutter. He has also worked as a newspaper crime reporter. For more about Sobieck and his crime-fighting creation, detective Maynard Soloman, visit www.CrimeFictionBook.com.