mallninja/tacticool guns in fiction?

[kayak-man]

As an author myself, if you're looking to get published, 50,000 words won't be enough. Typically, publishers are looking from 85,000 - 110,000 words to be considered a novel. Edit the hell out of it, and then do it again.

I know 50,000 isn't enough for the publisher; my goal is just to get about 50,000 words of manuscript done before the end of the month, then spend winter break editing and rewriting it until its in at least the 150k range.

Of course, you could have a comic relief in a character that does have the "Swiss Army Gun" and ends up getting defeated by something trivial, e.g. it can't fit through a door.

Actually threw that in a while ago, I guess great minds think alike.

Skribbs, that is a great question. Its kind of a little of both. I have a few Chuck Norris style characters, but the main character is more like Jon Mclane than Jon Matrix. He's just a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and has to do the best he can with what he has.

I'm surprised by both the quantity and quality of advise. Thanks guys. So far, most of what y'all have said fits with the direction I was going, and that should motivate me a bit

And to all the writers on THR that chimed in, thanks, it makes writing a little easier when you know that theres a few other people in your social group that do it too.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[kayak-man]

Sam, thats very similar to the direction I was going. Most all of the characters only have a handgun or rifle, and usually nothing terribly fancy.

Further, as I've played with developing proficiency with different weapons, and I've met shooters with utterly superhuman abilities far beyond what even a dedicated practitioner can aspire to achieve, I've found that strategy, and perception, and decision-making skills, and situational awareness, understanding, and comprehension are even MORE interesting and compelling than sheer technical prowess with the weapon itself.

Thank you, that's what I was trying to say in my last post, but I was having a hard time articulating it!

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[Sam1911]

I've met shooters with utterly superhuman abilities far beyond what even a dedicated practitioner can aspire to achieve, I've found that strategy, and perception, and decision-making skills, and situational awareness, understanding, and comprehension are even MORE interesting and compelling than sheer technical prowess with the weapon itself.

I'm exposed to some pretty interesting, though unassuming folks.

I've met guys like Jerry Miculek, Dave Sevigny, etc. They're pretty darned cool. WAAAY beyond what a normal human can do with a whole lot of practice.

But I also know some fellows who've been studying personal defensive techniques for several decades (not just skills, and not just shooting, but theory and strategy and psychology) and who have had a certain amount to do with the direction modern defensive training seems to be heading. Now, these guys are good shots. They've been shooting for longer than I've been alive -- they'd better be! But, with obsessiveness and relative youth, I've managed to push my own technical skills slightly beyond some of their current abilities. I can probably beat most of them in a shooting match.

What I can't do, at all, is maneuver through a street "encounter" with the, for lack of a better word, precognition they've developed. The pre-decision paths and cues, and pickup of "tells," etc., etc. just isn't there for me yet.

They don't need superhuman skills with a gun because they're operating on a different level. Not, "how do I shoot my way out of trouble," but "how will I not be there when trouble happens?" Or not, "Woah, that guy just pulled a knife!" but "that guy has been eying us for two minutes and it appears he's carrying a weapon on his strong side under his jacket -- and he just nodded a signal to the guy in the hat by that trash can -- I need to move away NOW and maybe have my gun ready just in case..." And so forth.

Sort of transcendent, you know?

"This is a cool gun."

"I know how to shoot this cool gun really well."

"I don't even need this gun."

 

[kayak-man]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

Thought you guys had a write to know, I just finished the rough draft, and found a balance between plain Jane GI 1911's and FAL's that a mall ninja would kill for.

Most of the advise was going in the same direction that the book was heading, and it was great to have that bit of assurance that at least one small group of people will have a reason to read it someday, and just maybe, not use it to level off their piano.

Thanks,
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson