Highlights from the PSWA Conference

For those of you who have no idea what the PSWA is all about, take a look at the website:
https://policewriter.com/

I've belonged to this group for years, ever since it was the Police Writers Club. I joined because I wanted to be where I could learn more about how cops operate. Now PSWA is open to mystery writers and every type of public safety person such as FBI, Police Dispatchers, SWAT team members, military, dog handler, doctors, nurses, firepersons, scientists, private detectives, postal inspector, prison warden, parole and probation, newspaper reporter, medic/crisis counselor, Department of Defense, CIA, every type of law enforcement as well as editors and publishers.

The conference had a good mix of writing and law enforcement topics. Here is the list:

Featured Speaker: John Schembra on Pursuit/Emergency Response Driving--Getting it Right
Panel--The Truth is Out There. Writers discussed legends and scientific information used in their stories.
Panel--The Short and Long of it--All About Anthologies.
Featured Speaker: Mysti Berry on Focusing your Story on the Dramatic Question.
Panel--Media Promotion and Press Releases
Panel--Telling You Where to Go--All About Police Dispatchers.
Featured Speaker: Dave Freedland--Topic: SWAT Concepts for the Patrol Officer
Panel--Publishers ' Croner
Featured Speaker: Michael A. Black--The Battle Between Showing and Telling
Panel--The Author and Editor Relationship
Panel--Writing Historicals
Panel--Writing Action Scenes
Panel--Gathering the Evidence
Panel--Keeping Order and Preventing Discord
Panel--Perfecting Your Writing

Excellent conference-I learned a lot from everything, and yes, I will use some in future books.
One big thing from those who work in law enforcement--what they show in TV and movies is often far from how things are really done.

The most entertaining was the radio show put on Friday at the end of the day--volunteers from the conference were the stars.

My favorite of all, seeing old friends and making new ones. One highlight, one of the authors grew up in Springville CA (where I live.) Reading his book now and it's outstanding.

This is the most affordable conference (including the hotel).

Marilyn