Benjamin Sobieck's Blog, page 2

In Defense of Small Pistols in Fiction

I’ve defended the use of small pistols, aka “mouse guns,” in fiction before, and it appears I’m not the only one with the belief that getting shot sucks no matter the caliber. Michael Connick, who recently contributed a great piece about everyday carry setups, is here to back me up. Enjoy! ~Ben As someone whose primary … Continue reading In Defense of Small Pistols in Fiction

Writing U.S. Military Characters: Out With the M9, In With the M17

The Sig P320 is the New Sidearm of the U.S. Military Ever since it was adopted in 1985, the ubiquitous M9 Beretta semi-automatic pistol has been the United States military’s default sidearm. That’s about to change. The U.S. Army put out a call for an M9 replacement in 2014. It took until January 2017 for trials to … Continue reading Writing U.S. Military Characters: Out With the M9, In With the M17

Give Characters a Full Ensemble of Weapons to Handle Any Situation

Michael Connick returns for another terrific post, this time focusing on real-world inspirations for his characters’ weapons. Enjoy! ~Ben Above is a picture of what I typically carry with me each day. My decision to carry these items is based on over 35 years experience with firearms and self-defense, so it’s no surprise that my fiction … Continue reading Give Characters a Full Ensemble of Weapons to Handle Any Situation

On Writing Fiction: Knife Sheaths Hidden Inside Bras?

In the spirit of the Flashbang holster for firearms, I present to you the Just In Case Bra by Booby Trap Bras. Whereas the Flashbang hides a handgun inside a brassiere, the Just in Case Bra conceals a knife. Here’s a pic: In the same way athletic apparel adapted to the rise of cell phones, music devices, … Continue reading On Writing Fiction: Knife Sheaths Hidden Inside Bras?

5 Small Pistols for Your Story’s Protagonist

Following up his post about close quarters combat and clearing rooms, Michael Connick is back with another great guest post. This one is about five small pistols perfect for your story’s protagonist. Enjoy! ~Ben From my novel, Funhouse Mirrors: One of the reasons I hate gloves is that they can slow down my ability to … Continue reading 5 Small Pistols for Your Story’s Protagonist

On Writing Close Quarters Combat: How to Clear a Room

Today’s guest post comes from Michael Connick, someone who could probably sell his fictional works as writing guides for depicting firearms and action scenes. The information he presents below about clearing rooms is both informative and critical for anyone thinking of writing a SWAT raid, a protagonist’s dangerous infiltration into a hostile building or a military incursion into a … Continue reading On Writing Close Quarters Combat: How to Clear a Room

Guess Who Won a 2016 Watty Award?

Last Friday, it was announced that one of my novels, Black Eye, a sequel of all things, won a Watty award over at Wattpad. The Wattys are the world’s largest online writing contest, and this year brought in 140,000 entries from a site that draws 45 million readers. From that, a handful win Wattys as … Continue reading Guess Who Won a 2016 Watty Award?

Your Character Has Been Shot: Now What?

Back again with another great guest post is Joshua Hood. You may remember him from this terrific piece about the M16, or maybe this one about misconceptions about the military in fiction. You might’ve picked up one of his thrillers, too.  This time, Hood draws on his real-world experience in the military and in law … Continue reading Your Character Has Been Shot: Now What?

What Writers Should Know About the M16 and Its Variants

On the heels of his terrific guest post, 10 Things Authors Get Wrong About the Military, Joshua Hood is back with more insights from his background as a decorated combat veteran who served five years in the 82nd Airborne Division. He’s also the author of the novels Clear by Fire and Warning Order, both published by Simon and Schuster. … Continue reading What Writers Should Know About the M16 and Its Variants

Hands-On Research: How a Gun Shy Writer Pulled the Trigger for a Novel

I’m thrilled to bring you this interview with E.M. Kokie, author of the survival novel, Radical. Kokie knew she needed to learn more about firearms in order to write her book, and the story of how she went about it is a terrific lesson for writers who find themselves in a similar situation. Enjoy! ~Ben How … Continue reading Hands-On Research: How a Gun Shy Writer Pulled the Trigger for a Novel