Writers' Police Academy - Crime and Suspense
Just arrived home from a conference for writers of suspense and
police procedurals, the Writers’ Police Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The
academy is a hands-on opportunity for authors who want to experience for
themselves the field of law enforcement with some firefighter, first responder,
and sometimes a dive team thrown in for good measure. There won't be many
pictures to prove my participation because photography and videos are not
allowed in many of the classes to protect those officers whose identity
in undercover work might be compromised.
I did take the photo here of my husband and me in some tactical
gear. David participated in a timed session of putting on and taking off the
gear, which was cumbersome and heavier than expected and consisted of half
pants, a bulletproof vest, and a weapon belt.
I loaded and fired a Glock at an indoor range, participated in a
simulated shooter incident training, learned the proper defense and arrest
tactics of using a baton to gain control of a situation, sketched the face of a
wanted criminal, watched a burn house demonstration, a dive team demonstration,
and much more. My main observation was that my mind could learn just about
anything, but my body reflexes were slow at getting the lesson. Not sure anyone
there would want me as their partner on the street. Law enforcement training
involves three areas of preparation: mental, physical and emotional, because
all reflexes must work in tandem. Life and death decisions are made in
nanoseconds.
As a writer, it is important to write as real as possible, even
for a world of make believe. Readers learn a lot about the world around them
when books accurately reflect life.
A well-written, well-researched story will convey
an officer’s biological need to help others, his/her desire to fix other’s
problems, the courage to take and maintain control of a situation, his
inability to turn off the adrenaline produced from engaging in confrontational
circumstances, and his persistent observation of the immediate world around
him, unable to shut down that training even in his personal time.
The Academy’s trainers consisted of actual police officers,
detectives, a forensic artist, a former undercover agent, a former prosecutor,
martial arts expert, interrogation expert, representatives from SIRCHIE,
manufacturer of investigative-related solutions, and much more. My husband
(he’s a writer too) and I were up at 5:30, at breakfast by 6:30 and on the bus
by 7:15. We rode to an international police training facility and participated
in classes from testifying in a court of law and the world of undercover to
hands-on physical training and microscopic murder weapons. Between 4:00 and
4:30 we boarded the buses back to the hotel where we attended another class
between 4:30 and 6:00. Each evening between 8:00 and 10:00 the entire group
would gather for one more session.
We met many accomplished authors, learned more than we will ever
be able to retain, and arrived at the end of each long day thoroughly
exhausted. To close the conference Saturday evening, Jeffrey Deaver, the keynote
speaker, who also attended the academy classes along with the rest of us,
encouraged us by sharing the early publishing struggles of now-famous and
prolific writers.
I would encourage anyone who is serious about writing material
that contains elements of law enforcement to attend the annual Writers’ Police
Academy to help authenticate their manuscript. Getting the details right makes
for a more believable read.
Getting the correct details of any situation in life is
important as well before making a judgement (which can be considered merely an
opinion or a sensible conclusion according to Oxford Dictionaries).
I always like to leave you with an encouraging word from the one
book that has it all, romance, intrigue, murder, deception, crime, and
investigative wisdom….the Bible.
“…then you shall
investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly.”
***
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS GUEST BLOG by Fran. If so, please do share by clicking on the small icons below.
Blessings,
Elva Marttin
Fran Strickland Anderson
Fran Strickland Anderson is president of the ACFW South Carolina Chapter and is also a member of the
Foothills Writer’s Guild and Blue Ridge Writers. She is a contributor to
several of the Moments series books
published by Grace Publishing and the First Draft Society’s Inklings series. Her current
work-in-progress is a redemptive suspense novel entitled Roots That Run Deep. Fran is married to David, is mother of Jake,
and resides in upstate South Carolina where she works full time as an assistant
city manager. Her blog, Scattering Words and Sowing Seeds (scatteringwordsandsowingseeds.blogspot.com), seeks to entertain,
encourage, and inspire both writers and non-writers as they navigate life’s
challenges. Most of her stories are still waiting to be told.
Scattering Words and Sowing Seeds
Sharing words that entertain, encourage and
inspire!
Facebook and Linked In Fran Strickland Anderson
***
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS GUEST BLOG by Fran. If so, please do share by clicking on the small icons below.
Blessings,
Elva Marttin
Fran Strickland Anderson
Fran Strickland Anderson is president of the ACFW South Carolina Chapter and is also a member of the
Foothills Writer’s Guild and Blue Ridge Writers. She is a contributor to
several of the Moments series books
published by Grace Publishing and the First Draft Society’s Inklings series. Her current
work-in-progress is a redemptive suspense novel entitled Roots That Run Deep. Fran is married to David, is mother of Jake,
and resides in upstate South Carolina where she works full time as an assistant
city manager. Her blog, Scattering Words and Sowing Seeds (scatteringwordsandsowingseeds.blogspot.com), seeks to entertain,
encourage, and inspire both writers and non-writers as they navigate life’s
challenges. Most of her stories are still waiting to be told.
Scattering Words and Sowing Seeds
Sharing words that entertain, encourage and
inspire!
Facebook and Linked In Fran Strickland Anderson
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