Lists of writing rules are just asking to be broken. However, here are my Ten Golden Tips for writing about weapons. These will help you get a footing for the rest of the book.

1. DON'T OVERTHINK FIREARMS AND KNIVES. 

That might sound odd coming from this full-length guide, but it's true. This guide is written to be a practical, get-in-and-get-out reference. Figure out what you need to know more about, see how it works, throw it into the story, and be done with it. Unless you're tapping your inner technical writer, just shoot for accurately depicting the weapons in your story. There's no need to expound every single detail of your master criminal's choice revolver. Doing so ... slowwwws ... down ... the ... story.

2. HOPELESSLY LOST? START WITH WHAT LOOKS COOL. 

 This guide includes sections on matching firearms and knives to characters. That will help a great deal if you don't know what weapon to choose, but if you're totally lost, search online for images of firearms and knives. Pick a couple that look cool to you. Then check them against this guide. Are they capable of doing what you want them to do? Do they fit the genre, time period, and style of your story?

3. YOUTUBE IS YOUR FRIEND. 

It's not always possible to get your mitts on a certain firearm or knife. Fortunately, you can join the vibrant community of reviewers on YouTube for a real-world perspective. Watch their videos on weapons and how they work, and use that information as a base for further research.

4. IF IT'S IN A MOVIE OR ON TELEVISION, IT'S PROBABLY INACCURATE. 

No one would take legal advice from TV police procedurals. A person (hopefully) wouldn't attempt surgery after watching a medical drama. It's the same with firearms and knives in movies and television. Hollywood takes a truckload of creative license, but real firearms and knives must be grounded within the realms of physics, technology, and history. Strive to make your weapons as accurate as possible to retain credibility.

5. BUY A KNIFE OR HIT THE GUN RANGE. 

 Knives are relatively easy to buy. If a character's knife is central to the story, chances are good that buying it in real life is a possibility (with a few exceptions outlined in this guide). What could be better for writing than having the knife right there? Plus, it'll look nice next to the keyboard. Firearms are a different story, but hitting the gun range is a great place to start. Many ranges offer gun rentals to shoot on location. If that's too intimidating or not possible, you can start by taking a gun safety course instead. These courses offer hands-on training from professionals, and most offer a state certificate at the end.

6. STUCK? WRITE AROUND THE WEAPON. 

 The old writer's trick of maneuvering around challenging grammar and sentence structure also applies to weapons. If you can't determine the exact firearm or knife a character should be outfitted with, avoid it by going generic. Just use knife , pistol , revolver , rifle , shotgun, and the like. Remember to keep the use of those items equally generic and consistent, or it will become obvious that you don't know the weapon.

7. READ A NEWSPAPER. 

 There's no better (or worse) example of how humans use firearms and knives on each other than the crime report. It's fertile ground for fiction. For example, you could source a weapon for a character based on a real murder. Sure, it's morbid, but it grounds the item's use in reality.

8. BAD GUYS CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. 

 The illegal trade of firearms and knives means a criminal can use a firearm manufactured in the Czech Republic to knock off a Chicago liquor store if he has the right connections. Don't feel limited when outfitting a "bad guy" with unusual firearms and knives. Unlike the legal market, the back alley offers plenty of variety.

9. BUT GOOD GUYS CAN'T. 

Professional law enforcement and military organizations have good reasons to standardize their firearms and knives. Firearm selection, especially in the military, is determined through rigorous testing. Ammunition is often purchased in bulk. Certain knives might not physically mesh well with other gear. Tossing some obscure firearm or knife into these characters' hands doesn't always make sense. They will require more research to get right. The same goes for everyday, law-abiding civilian characters. Research federal, state, and local laws so they're not walking around with something ridiculously illegal.

10. SOMEONE WILL SAY YOU'RE WRONG, EVEN IF YOU'RE RIGHT. 

Put three readers keen on firearms and knives in a room together, and then ask them for an opinion. The only thing two of them will agree on is that the third is wrong. So if an armchair general, a mall ninja, or an everyday Internet troll starts complaining about the inaccuracy of the well-researched Walther .380 pistol you featured in your story, just wait. Someone else will come along to rip that guy's argument apart. Unless you totally biffed on something, stick to your proverbial guns and ignore the macho knuckle-draggers trying to ruin your day.