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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

If There Is One Thing I Like About Writing...

It's doing research. I know it sounds crazy and wonky, but tell me, what other job allows you to spend a weekend watching buildings burn, photographing a murder scene, shooting guns, driving a fire truck, and talking to a sniper?

Arson Investigation
Crime Scene Investigation
Sounds fun, huh? Well, this past weekend I had the privilege of attending the second Writer's Police Academy in Greensboro, NC. And oh my goodness, there is nothing better than talking to the people who do this kind of work every day. The public safety and protection, that is, not the writing.

Driving Simulator
Sniper Workshop
The event was organized by the High Point Library and I have the utmost respect and admiration for Nancy Metzner and her staff. You try wrangling nearly one hundred and fifty writers let loose on a college campus designed to train recruits in law enforcement, fire fighting, and EMT practices. Not a pretty site to begin with, then you add in non-stop rain for 36 of the 48 hours, and it only gets more tricky.

But they did it.

I'm hoping they'll do it all again next year...I always have so much fun!

4 comments:

Mary Suzanne said...

That sounds like a fun few days. I love all the programs on the tv dealing with crime labs and investigations.

I'd have loved attending something so interesting.

Qwillia Rain said...

They're talking about doing it again next year, Mary Suzanne, Lee Child is lined up as the Keynote speaker.
This year it was Christopher Reich, last year was Lee Lofland.

And the guys who give the workshops are all law enforcement or retired law enforcement, and they hate the errors in the crime shows on tv.
LOL

Adriana said...

what a fabulous workshop - I'm with you. I love doing research!

Cassidy McKay said...

I'm so jealous, I'd love to attend one of these. It sounds like it was a blast!

Cassidy