Ryan Ross

Creative Writer, Editor, Blogger

United States

Hello you fortunate, or possibly unfortunate, person who stumbled upon my portfolio site. My name is Ryan Ross. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in English. I have a love for words, technology, and design. I am always reading or writing either sci-fi or fantasy.

I am looking for a position where I can do content creation, editing, document design, and publishing. My dream is to be a published author of fiction novels. Please investigate the links above and below for my LinkedIn, resume, and other publications.

Portfolio

Wide Open Spaces Independent Contractor

Wideopenspaces
01/05/2015
Springfield XD9: What You Should Know - Wide Open Spaces

Springfield has an excellent reputation of producing great firearms like the 1911 TRP, M1-A, XDS and others. A number of years ago the legendary company released their XD line of pistols. They come in all the popular calibers. I will showcase the 9mm version, but my talking points will hit on all the models.

Wideopenspaces
12/29/2014
The AR Pistol: What You Need to Know - Wide Open Spaces

I know what you're thinking, "I thought AR-15's were rifles. How can there be a pistol?" and for the most part you're right. AR pistols are AR-15 platforms that have a shorter barrel and a "pistol" buffer tube that does not allow for the attachment of traditional stock.

Wideopenspaces
01/03/2015
The Massive .45-70 Handgun is More Than Impressive [VIDEO] - Wide Open Spaces

Step aside S&W .500 fanboys, the big gun is in town. The .45-70 Government is a high powered rifle round that has been around since the 1800s. I can personally attest to the immense power of this rifle round in a revolver platform thanks to a customer of mine when I was working at a gun range.

Wideopenspaces
01/06/2015
Insane Shotgun Ammo [PICS] - Wide Open Spaces

Some of this ammo is just dumb and really unsafe. But how are you supposed to stop them? At least it's entertaining for us and hopefully no one hurt themselves with this crazy shotgun ammo. What will they think of next?

Wideopenspaces
12/25/2014
Why My Everyday Carry is a Glock - Wide Open Spaces

Concealed carry permit applications are at an all-time high. Firearms manufacturers are going all out for your business this holiday season. With so many options to choose from how do you know what kind of firearm is right for you? This will not be a regurgitation of platform specifications or statistics, because there are plenty of review sites for that.

Wideopenspaces
12/22/2014
5 Holiday Buys for the Concealed Carrier [PICS] - Wide Open Spaces

Still shopping for that person who's impossible to buy for? Yeah, me too. What do you get the person who has everything they need? Get them something that they didn't know they needed. Here are my five holiday buys for that concealed carry holder in your life.

Wideopenspaces
12/27/2014
The Quick and Specific AR-15 Buyer's Guide - Wide Open Spaces

The AR-15 gained a huge amount of notoriety and popularity in recent years, and it's led to more competition in the marketplace. Retailers are pulling out all the stops to claim your hard earned dollar, and this also goes for firearms manufacturers.

Wideopenspaces
12/17/2014
8 Holster Manufacturers You Should Buy From [PICS] - Wide Open Spaces

It seems like anyone with a heat gun or heavy-duty sewing machine are making custom holsters these days. How do you know which ones are good and which ones are gimmicks? There are so many different materials, styles, prices, and components to consider that it can become overwhelming.

Wideopenspaces
12/12/2014
Be a Smart Shooter: How to Choose Range Protection - Wide Open Spaces

Ever want to go shooting, but don't know what you need? This is a dilemma for many new shooters and even old pros. What is truly adequate protection at the gun range and what are just gimmicks? In this guide, I'll show you the basics of how to choose range protection for your next outing.

Wideopenspaces
12/03/2014
Boss AR-15 Slow Motion Shooting [VIDEO] - Wide Open Spaces

I love slow motion footage. So many processes happen faster than a blink of the eye and we miss out on some fascinating details. AR-15 slow motion shooting brings to light many new ideas about the mechanics of this firing platform. In response to the AK-47 slow motion video, here are several AR-15s being shot in slow motion.

Wideopenspaces
12/04/2014
5 Craft Beers for Your Next Fishing Trip [PICS] - Wide Open Spaces

The availability and popularity of craft beers is at an all-time high. It doesn't look like this cultural phenomenon is going anywhere for a long time. Wow your drinking bud - er, I mean your fishing buddies with these must-try brews. Here's my list of five craft beers to take on your next fishing trip.

Wideopenspaces
12/03/2014
Bushmaster AR-15 | Uses, Models

Bushmaster Firearms International produces one of the most popular sporting AR-15 platform rifles in the United States. It remains to be seen if the rising consumption of this product is due to its jaw-droppingly low price point, clever marketing or citizens' fears that the AR-15 will eventually be banned by law.

Wideopenspaces
12/03/2014
6 Things "Game of Thrones" Taught Us About Hunting - Wide Open Spaces

I don't think many can deny that is a good television show. But it is more than just entertaining fantasy. Here are some things the HBO show, Game of Thrones, taught us about hunting. Although the chances of you running into a horde of White Walkers north of the wall are slim, it does teach an important lesson.

Wideopenspaces
11/28/2014
Check Out the AK-47 in Slow Motion and Learn a Thing or Two [VIDEO] - Wide Open Spaces

I've always loved watching slow motion videos. There is always something to learn when things are slowed down and you see processes that normally happen in a split second. This AK-47 slow motion video reveals the hidden secret to the rifle's legendary reputation for dependably. The AK-47 is held together mainly with rivets.

Wideopenspaces
11/24/2014
A Year With the 300 Blackout [VIDEO] - Wide Open Spaces

No, this is not about drinking three hundred beers before you blackout, but instead it's a video highlighting Travis Haley from Haley Strategic and a 300 Blackout SBR. Haley explains his experience with shooting the cartridge for a whole year and gives his honest opinion.

Wideopenspaces
11/29/2014
All Hail the Butcher's Cut - Wide Open Spaces

The Butcher's Cut, or the Hanger steak, is a slab of meat that falls to one side when the cow is split in half during processing. This piece lies between the brisket and the flank on the underbelly of the cow. This cut of meat vaguely resembles the texture and flavor of a flank steak.

Wideopenspaces
11/17/2014
Straight Wall Hunting Comes to Ohio - Wide Open Spaces

Ohioans are jumping for joy and are eager to get into the woods. The population of America's heartland, waiting for the chance to hunt deer with a rifle, will finally be rewarded. From Dec. 1-7, people in Ohio can hunt whitetail deer with rifles for the first time.

Wideopenspaces
11/18/2014
AR-15: Gas vs. Piston System - Wide Open Spaces

The AR-15 is the most popular sporting rifle in the country regardless of some bad publicity in the recent years. For the record, AR does not mean "automatic rifle" for those news anchors and Twitter followers out there. It actually means "ArmaLite Rifle."

Wideopenspaces
11/20/2014
Best Home Defense Shotgun: Mossberg 500 or Remington 870?

American history is filled with classic rivalries and debates: the chicken or the egg, Coke vs. Pepsi, vanilla vs. chocolate. I think that these debates are here to stay, but I would like to put one to rest: Mossberg 500 vs. Remington 870 for best American made home defense shotgun.

Wideopenspaces
11/13/2014
How to Build an Inexpensive Smoker - Wide Open Spaces

Have you ever wanted to smoke a whole hog or deer but had to rent a smoker? They can be expensive if you can even find one. Most designs to build your own require 10 years of welding experience, thousands of dollars in steel, and dozens of hours of time.

Wideopenspaces
11/13/2014
7 Things Movies Taught Us About Guns That Are Wrong - Wide Open Spaces

I love a classic shoot em' up movie, where there are more bullets shot than credible lines delivered. Tales of secret agents fighting in a foreign land wearing a tuxedo, or law enforcement officers keeping our streets safe are always a treat for me to watch.

Wideopenspaces
11/11/2014
5 Tips For Concealed Carry This Winter - Wide Open Spaces

My favorite time of the year is upon us, but I'm not talking about all the homemade pumpkin spice candles my girlfriend buys at the hayrides and harvest festivals. I love the fact that it's hoodie weather and that winter is the best time for concealing a handgun.

Graphic Design

University of Cincinnati
Poster for the Boyce Awards

I made this poster with another University of Cincinnati student and it was used for the Boyce Awards. The Boyce is an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding faculty in the University of Cincinnati's English Department.

McWood Publishing Book Reviews

Mcwood Publishing
11/13/14
We Said It: Elevate Your Awareness

Book: Elevated, A Tale­- Catherine Crumber Elevated, A Tale is fearless. This short novel by Catherine Crumber jumps right into the taboo issues of racial stereotypes, family history, social stigma, religion, kidnapping, and the sex trade. From the first chapter the reader is taken on a philosophical thrill ride.

Mcwpub
We Said It:: S.L. Mackey: 52 Leadership Tips to Live By

Title: Remember Your People Reviewed by R.A. Ross 10/8/14 The problem with most self-help or leadership training books is that the advice is sometimes too vague and the text is often replete with cliché quotes that are too contextually distant to understand or irrelevant to the reader.

Mcwpub
We Said It:: The Bridge of Deaths

Title: History is Objective but Its Retelling is Subjective M.C.V. Egan's book, The Bridge of Deaths, centers on a delicate balance between historical facts and psychic retelling. This book is an interesting take on cold case investigation and historical fiction mixed with some cosmic-humanism.