In my book, The Writer’s Guide to Weapons, and on this blog, I draw inspiration from the mistakes I encounter in what I read. However, I don’t call out the writers making them. There are three good reasons why.
1 – It’s a Dick Move
I think the gun/knife information I put out there is strong enough to stand on its own. I don’t need to cut down someone else in the process to get my point across. In other words, I would make for a crappy politician.
2 – I’ve Made Mistakes, Too
I didn’t start out knowing this stuff. For a long time, I was throwing around “clip” instead of “magazine,” too. It took time to learn the ropes, despite growing up around these items. That other writers aren’t as far along as I am isn’t reason enough to cut them down.
3 – People are More Receptive When You’re Not Yelling at Them
This goes against a core principle of Internet dickery, but I think I reach more people when I’m not on the offense. My keyboard isn’t greased with the foam dripping from my outraged mouth. To me, that’s a sign of not having much to offer in the first place.
Of course, the exception is when someone specifically requests I review their gun/knife depiction. With their permission, I’d post the analysis here. In that case, the information is still being constructive, which is the entire point. However, every third post I am required to reference Nazis per Godwin’s Law. (kidding, I hope)
Get the Book
The Writer’s Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction (Writer’s Digest Books) comes with everything but the ammo. Pick up a print or digital copy from these fine retailers:
The Writer's Guide to Weapons 