PREPARING FOR THE FIRST WRITERS CONFERENCE IN A LONG TIME

One of the former panels, obviously about law enforcement of some kind.

This was a fun mock mystery  radio program--made us all laugh. 

 As I've said before, the Public Safety Writers Association's writers' conference is my favorite. And after not being able to have one because of the pandemic--this month we're getting together once again.

Not surprisingly, we don't have as many attendees as usual. Though this is always a smaller conference, usually around 50, this time it's under 40. Some folks are still wary about the corona virus, others aren't ready to fly again. 

The attendees are most made up of people in law enforcement and other public safety fields who are writing or wanting to write, and a scattering of mystery writers who want to rub elbows and learn from the experts. 

I've been with this group since they reorganized several years ago and worked as the program chair. I turned that job over to a retired police detective who is a multi-published and award winning author--Michael A. Black. He's doing a fantastic job.

I have several reasons for being excited about going, I've made many friends with these folks and I'll be happy to see them again. Also some close mystery writers friends will be there and I haven't seen them for a long time either. A fun reunion is ahead.

I expect to learn a lot too. One of the main speakers is former LAPD homicide investigator, Mike Brandt who will talk about effective interviewing as a writer. Rannah Grey is going to tell about how her true crime book make it into a prime-time TV documentary. Terry L. Kerns, former FBI agent, and at present is the Opiate Coordinator with the Nevada Attorney General's Office-- topic is Examining the Opioid Epidemic. Friends Larry and Lorna Collins are going to present how to write the prefect pitch letter to agents and editors.

And of course there are the panels--from various members of law enforcement, Keeping Things Real in Your Writing; The Art of Mining Yourself and Experiences into Writing Fiction; Steps in Conducting and Investigation; What's your Jurisdiction; Writing Action Scenes

On the Writing and Publishing Side: Fiction Type-casting; Dealing with Censorship; Non-fiction Do's and Don'ts; Stepping into Publications; Animals, Aliens, and Other Things That Go Bump in the Night; Building and Maintaining Suspense in Your Fiction; Polishing Your Manuscript.

Like to get in on this one? It's not too late, https://policewriter.com/ It's in Vegas, could sign up the first evening of the conference--Thursday at 3 p.m.

Believe me, I can hardly wait/ It's been far too long.

Marilyn