S14E1 - Firearms with Nick Mangum

Characters in any genre need to have skills that contribute to their purpose in the story. That could come from their profession or even a hobby. Whether it's a cop in a mystery or a field medic on a medieval battlefield, there are things authors can learn from modern experts to develop realistic characters. This month, Ley and Leigh sit down with experts in fields from biochemistry to journalism and talk about important aspects of those skills authors should know.

Firearms are very common in stories around the world. You can find them in historical to science fiction, from muzzle-loading single-shots to laser blasters. In our first episode, we speak with Nick Mangum, a firearms instructor and enthusiast, to talk about what authors need to know if they want to write a character familiar with guns. We discuss the lingo and general stereotypes of firearms owners.

First aired September 3, 2020.