Comments on: Fiction Writers Need to Know Their Weapons http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:40:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jharmon http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-86363 jharmon Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:29:35 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-86363 hfinn, it depends on where you live. In the U.S., for example, pistols and revolvers are both handguns, but a revolver is NOT a pistol. A revolver is a revolver because it has a cylinder wheel that revolves. Nearly all other handguns, from semi-autos to flintlocks, are considered pistols because pistols are defined as handguns where the chamber is integral to the barrel. When writing for a U.S. audience, the term pistol is generally used to refer to a semi-auto, as flintlocks are usually noted as flintlock pistols or flintlock rifles (or other) and a full-auto pistol would be labeled as such. Other oddities will also generally be labeled individually. This is the case for nearly all U.S. firearms journalism and non-fiction literature (not including mass journalism because they mostly don\'t know much about firearms). Some other countries view this differently, and yes, in those countries the terms handgun and pistol can be used interchangebly. I don\'t live in those countries and am not familiar with all the different nomenclature for each individual nation and/or culture. hfinn, it depends on where you live. In the U.S., for example, pistols and revolvers are both handguns, but a revolver is NOT a pistol. A revolver is a revolver because it has a cylinder wheel that revolves. Nearly all other handguns, from semi-autos to flintlocks, are considered pistols because pistols are defined as handguns where the chamber is integral to the barrel. When writing for a U.S. audience, the term pistol is generally used to refer to a semi-auto, as flintlocks are usually noted as flintlock pistols or flintlock rifles (or other) and a full-auto pistol would be labeled as such. Other oddities will also generally be labeled individually. This is the case for nearly all U.S. firearms journalism and non-fiction literature (not including mass journalism because they mostly don\’t know much about firearms).

Some other countries view this differently, and yes, in those countries the terms handgun and pistol can be used interchangebly. I don\’t live in those countries and am not familiar with all the different nomenclature for each individual nation and/or culture.

]]> By: hfinn http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-86345 hfinn Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:27:08 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-86345 If you\'re going to write a column about being accurate when writing about firearms, it\'s probably wise to be accurate about firearms in the column. There is no difference between a \"pistol\" and a \"revolver\" per se. \"Pistol\" is the croup that encompasses ALL handguns, including revolvers. What I assume you were trying to differentiate was \"revolvers\" and \"semi-automatic pistols\". You can\'t just say \"pistols\", you have to say \"semi-automatic\", because that\'s what makes that class of pistols different from revolvers, single-shot, etc. If you\’re going to write a column about being accurate when writing about firearms, it\’s probably wise to be accurate about firearms in the column. There is no difference between a \”pistol\” and a \”revolver\” per se. \”Pistol\” is the croup that encompasses ALL handguns, including revolvers. What I assume you were trying to differentiate was \”revolvers\” and \”semi-automatic pistols\”. You can\’t just say \”pistols\”, you have to say \”semi-automatic\”, because that\’s what makes that class of pistols different from revolvers, single-shot, etc.

]]> By: DebbyBruck http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-56311 DebbyBruck Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:58:47 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-56311 Good advice. Know your subject before you write. Good advice. Know your subject before you write.

]]> By: jharmon http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-56085 jharmon Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:10:28 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-56085 Mike, seems I've run across a site somewhere that had bloopers from books. Hmmm. I'll have to do some investigating. Mike, seems I’ve run across a site somewhere that had bloopers from books. Hmmm. I’ll have to do some investigating.

]]> By: Mike Crowl http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-56081 Mike Crowl Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:53:52 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-56081 If there was a way of dealing with bloopers in fiction as there is in movies (on imdb.com) then I think most authors would come under fire (no pun intended...well not much of one!). If there was a way of dealing with bloopers in fiction as there is in movies (on imdb.com) then I think most authors would come under fire (no pun intended…well not much of one!).

]]> By: Danielle Yockman http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-56073 Danielle Yockman Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:23:34 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-56073 Thank you! I hate reading stories that place a weapon in the wrong period, or worse show no knowledge of how it is used. If you don't know better stay away from a fight scene! The history channel offers some great shows that talk about weapons and their use from swords and armor to modern day weapons. Thank you! I hate reading stories that place a weapon in the wrong period, or worse show no knowledge of how it is used. If you don’t know better stay away from a fight scene! The history channel offers some great shows that talk about weapons and their use from swords and armor to modern day weapons.

]]> By: writing4angels http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/comment-page-1/#comment-56071 writing4angels Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:48:14 +0000 http://writinghood.com/writing/fiction-writers-need-to-know-their-weapons/#comment-56071 very good tips for fiction writers. very good tips for fiction writers.

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