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How many times have you said, “I could write a book”? The fact is that law enforcement officers see many things the ordinary person does not. This includes situations with people at their lowest, as well as people at their best. Why would you want to write it down? When could you find the time to write it down? Would someone want to read what you write? How do you go about the writing process? 

Perhaps you’ve dreamed of writing books like Wambaugh’s or have more modest goals of writing training articles in your area of expertise. Either way, there are resources available and steps you can take to make attaining these goals more likely. This article will give you a brief overview of the writing process and guidance on how to get started. There are lots of resources available and many people willing to help. This article will address the who, what, when and where of writing.

Reasons to Write

There are many reasons to write. First of all, law enforcement is a stressful occupation. Writing can serve as a stress reducer for some as the process of putting your thoughts down on paper can be cathartic. Keeping a journal, whether filled with writing ideas or used to vent your emotions, can be healthy.

Secondly, even though at the time you say, “I should write a book,” you think you’ll never forget the call you’re on or what you’ve just seen, but you will. Many officers have found old reports they’ve written or notes they’ve made ten years after the fact and do not remember the incident or have a hazy recollection of it. Writing it down can help you record events, specific details, and emotions. These details will assist you at some later time as the basis of a fiction or nonfiction article. These recollections can also be used in oral presentations you may be called upon to make during your career.

Thirdly, you have information to share.  You will observe and experience many things the average person will never see. Many people would like to read about these experiences in the form of a fictional story or a memoir of life as a police officer. There are also police officers struggling with job-related issues and challenges. Reading about how someone else addressed these issues or overcame similar obstacles may encourage them or give them some ideas for dealing with their problem.  

Lastly, as you progress through your career, you will develop certain areas of expertise as a result of your experiences and training. That information and knowledge will be valuable to individuals desiring to follow a similar career path. Many officers will be interested in reading what you have to say and learning about your specialty area. Your perspective and information can help them to be better officers and, perhaps, lead to better performance ratings and, eventually, promotion. Your readers will include new officers starting out; young adults exploring career fields; college students in criminal justice programs; and even citizens with curiosity about law enforcement. Your experience is helpful to anyone looking for answers to problems or simply seeking more information about how (and why) police work is done. 

Finding the Time to Write

Procrastination is the biggest obstacle for writers to overcome. This is true of experienced writers, as well as new ones. As with any goal you set, the larger the goal, the more intimidating it appears. You need to break your goals down into smaller subgoals and tackle them one at a time. If you’re looking to remember as many of the calls you’re handling and the people you are contacting as possible, you need to make notes as soon as possible after the incident. The more frequently you jot down the information, the less you will have to write at a time and the less intimidating it will be. Try making notes when you get home or while on meal break. If there’s too much information and you’re duplicating your police report, perhaps you should make a copy of your report (if your department allows). Keep in mind that your police report won’t contain the emotions and colorful details which you will want to include in some types of writing. You will want to add these details separately to your copy for your recollection.

When you are ready to do some lengthy writing, set a goal of a page a day or whatever feels comfortable to you. If you set an attainable goal, you are more likely to tackle it and will often end up writing more than your minimum requirement. If you write a page a day, you will have 30 pages in a month, and 365 pages (a book?) in a year. This is only the beginning; however, after you have completed your writing, you must then proceed to edit and rewrite your piece. Editing is often better done in larger quantities of writing, such as your entire magazine article or a chapter in a book, in order to maximize the smooth flow of information.

Topics to Write About

Think about your job and interesting situations which you’ve handled. Think of the weird ones you’ve told your coworkers or family and friends about. Think about the stories which make the rounds at coffee breaks or debriefing. Think of the incidents which have become part of the “oral history” of your department. All of these could be part of a memoir, true crime article, the basis for a fictional short story or novel, or serve as examples to illustrate your instructional article.

Examine the expertise you have gained over the years and things you have been asked to teach or share with other officers. These topics can serve as the basis for a training article in a law enforcement magazine (like the one your’re reading now). The information you routinely provide to community groups could be expanded into an article for the newspaper or a magazine. Information and advice you routinely give to parents could be the basis for an article in a parenting magazine. Supporting your experience with academic research can provide parents with guidance in dealing with frequently encountered issues. When writing these types of articles, think about the questions your audience typically asks and make sure to address those issues and concerns. 

The type of writing you choose to do will depend on what areas you feel most comfortable writing about and where you think your strengths lie, but, whatever you write, your words will affect others in many ways. This is the gift and reward of writing which will keep you at your computer or notebook.

Targeting and Locating an Audience

As stated earlier, there are many types of people who would be interested in reading what you write, whether for entertainment or educational purposes. If you have a flair for storytelling, you will be able to entertain people. If you are writing to educate coworkers and colleagues across the country, they will be interested in reading your articles to gain the benefit of your expertise and experience.

The business of writing includes knowing not only how to write an article, but knowing what will sell and how to present it to potential markets. You need to know the markets. This includes what publications are interested in the types of articles you write; which ones are most likely to use freelance writers; how to contact these publishers; and how to market your ideas to them. There are resources you can turn to in order to answer these questions and get started on your journey. These resources include other writers, writing organizations, libraries, colleges, universities, community education programs, writing magazines, books, and the Internet.

Resources Available to Help You Write

• Books and Magazines – To help fine-tune your writing skills, read books on the writing process which can be obtained from your community library, local bookstore or on-line. Writer’s Digest Books publishes many excellent books addressing all areas of writing, from writing style and rules to the business aspect of writing. There are guidebooks specifically addressing the types of writing you may be considering –  from nonfiction articles to memoirs to mysteries. Writer’s Market, which is published yearly by Writer’s Digest, contains valuable information for writers on where to market their writing, as well as guidelines on how to market articles and books. It also provides guidelines for writing query letters and proposals. Reading about other authors and their writing careers is fascinating. You will most likely find out that the writers are no different from you. They have procrastination problems, family problems and financial challenges. It can help motivate a writer to learn about writers and how they overcame obstacles and achieved success.

Peruse the magazine section of your local bookstore and examine the various writing magazines, as well as publishing magazines for valuable information.  Writer’s Digest magazine is a valuable resource with articles devoted to all aspects of writing and marketing. Most of these magazines also have an Internet presence.

All writers are readers. By reading a wide variety of books and magazines, you will increase your knowledge of writing style and voice. You will also learn which types of books and writing you prefer. Targeting your reading towards books and articles similar to ones you’d like to write will help you become educated in what works and what doesn’t. Reading the acknowledgements in books similar to what you’d like to write will provide leads on editors, agents, and publishers. As mentioned earlier, one book that is a must for anyone interested in writing is Writer’s Market.  It contains listings for over 3,000 book and magazine publishers, as well as listings for agents.   

• Classes and Support Groups – Classes are available in many venues, including community education programs, local colleges and universities, and professional seminars which travel around the country. Writer’s Digest offers correspondence classes and classes on-line which may work better with rotating police schedules.

Many communities, libraries, bookstores, and colleges also offer writers’ support groups. These groups meet regularly and critique each other’s work in progress. These groups work well for some writers while others find them intimidating. The success of the group, and whether you feel participation will benefit you, will depend on the interests, abilities, and personalities of the members of the group.

• The Internet – The Internet makes writing much less solitary than it used to be. When searching for writing sites, you will turn up many more than you need or want. There are also chat rooms utilized by writers. If you have specific types of writing you’re interested in, it will make narrowing your search easier. Peruse the Web sites of your favorite authors. These authors often discuss their books and their writing strategies. Additionally, various writing organizations have Web sites which can provide valuable information. These include Mystery Writers of America, Police Writer’s Club, National Writers Union, and others. Colleges and universities also have Web sites devoted to writing and offer guidelines regarding grammar and structure, as well as material on how to write specific types of books, such as books for children or teens or instructional articles. Many of these organizations also conduct regular conferences. If one of these conferences comes close to where you live, the expense of attending is an excellent investment. You will receive valuable information by attending the sessions offered at these conferences. A major benefit of attending these conferences is the networking which takes place. Other attendees of the conferences have varying amounts of experience and expertise (many are published) and you will have the opportunity to meet editors and authors who are presenting at the conferences. It can be quite encouraging to realize that published authors are just like you. The only difference is they’ve persisted in their writing and are published. 

Writing can be a great outlet. It can be a source of income, a second career, or simply a way of expressing yourself and relieving stress. If your goal is writing an article or a book which others will read, remember that you can’t get published without writing. As you use this information and explore these resources, write, write, and rewrite. You too will be published and see your name in print.

About the Author:  Dr. Linda S. Forst is a retired police captain from Boca Raton, Florida. She is the author of the book, The Aging of America: A Handbook for Police Officers, and numerous magazine articles.  She is currently a professor at Shoreline Community College in Seattle.

INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST TO WRITERS

• The Mystery Writers of America Web site can be found at www.mysterywriters.org.

• The National Writer’s Union Web site can be found at www.nwu.org

• The Writing World Web site can be found at www.writing-world.com

• The Pure Fiction Web site can be found at www.purefiction.com.

• The Writer’s Digest Web site can be found at www.writersdigest.com.

• The Police Writers Association Web site can be found at www.policewriters.com.

TYPES OF WRITING TO  
CONSIDER

• Instructional articles for new officers;

• Instructional/educational articles for the public;

• Informational articles for individuals considering law enforcement careers;

• Articles concerning specialty areas;

• Personal experience articles;

• Personal opinion or essays;

• “True Crime” articles;

• Private eye stories;

• Police procedurals; and/or

• Books for children/teens