Workshops

Fling Factor: An Insider’s Guide to Making Law Enforcement Characters Real 

Police Officers are often labeled “gallant”, “heroic”, “misunderstood”, even “brutal”.  In reality, those descriptors and a multitude of others don't come close to describing the complexity that is a person in law enforcement.  Fling Factor is presented as combination of anecdotal, source and procedural information for writers seeking to accurately portray officers with an emphasis on the female officer experience.  I will describe my entry into the law enforcement field and what it took to get through the different academies as a woman in the 1980's - 90's.  I will vividly share the nitty-gritty life of a female patrol officer, (not for the weak of bladder), and my later adventures as a Special Agent.  This class will entertain, while imparting critical knowledge for the detail-oriented. 

The goal is to make the learning interesting and enjoyable for writers and non-writers alike.  

M.A. Taylor

M.A. Taylor spent more than twenty years in law enforcement.  As a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer, she often told people she couldn't believe she was paid to drive fast and arrest people.  After seven years with the CHP, she became a Special Agent for the California Department of Justice (DOJ), spending more than ten years in Narcotics.  Taylor was assigned to the DEA-HIDTA Task Force and then served the Gambling Control Division.  Her final assignment was working the Sexual Predator Apprehension Team.

M.A. Taylor's areas of expertise include:

Margaret received numerous Commendable Incident Reports, Letters of Commendation, Individual and Team Awards throughout her career.  She also received the Attorney General's Certificate of Commendation and the DEA Administrator Award.  These awards recognized her excellence in law enforcement, court testimony, team leadership and training others.

Delivery

The class runs four weeks with two lectures posted each week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Participants are also given assignments so they can begin to apply their learning to their writing.  M.A. will respond to these assignments with positive feedback and suggestions for how to add realism to both plot and description as it relates to law enforcement.  She will also respond to participant questions with detailed responses and suggestions regarding possible avenues for follow-up.

• 06/01/2010 Intro and Lecture 1: “More Than Looking Good in Blue”: What It Takes to Become a Cop / Police Academies.
• 06/03/2010 Lecture 2: “Cuff 'Em”: Physical Methods of Arrest and Basic Firearm Information.  
• 06/07/2010 Lecture 3: “10/4”: Radio Procedure and Field Training.
• 06/10/2010 Lecture 4: “Down and Dirty”: Patrol, Shift Work, Partner Etiquette, Making the Arrest, The Importance of Holding Your Own and How to Fake Playing Nice With Other Agencies.
• 06/14/2010 Lecture 5: “Raise Your Right Hand”: Court Testimony and Dealing With Attorneys, Judges and 12 People Not Smart Enough to Get Out of Jury Duty.
• 06/17/2010 Lecture 6: “We Don't All Eat Donuts”: Cops, Groupies, and the Dangers of Believing the Hype.
• 06/21/2010 Lecture 7: “NARC”: Specialized Training and Assignments.
• 06/24/2010 Lecture 8: “Cagney and Lacey”: Challenges Facing Women in Law Enforcement.
• 06/28/2010 Wrap-up - Everything You Wanted to Know and Are No Longer Afraid to Ask. 
  
  

By the end of class participants should have detailed insider information on law enforcement life at the local, state and federal levels that will enable them to create complex interesting characters that read authentically.

To Enroll

1. Email

Send email to RWASD training coordinator Kathy Carpenter, including the following information:

• Your name:
• Class title: Fling Factor: An Insider's Guide to Making Law Enforcement Characters Real
• Email address:
  - The email address you will use to interact with the class
• Where you heard about the workshop

    
     Without this information, your enrollment in the class could be delayed.

2. Payment

The class fee is $25.
RWA San Diego members enjoy a discounted rate of $15.
(Join our chapter.)

By check:

Make your check payable to "RWASD" and write on it the class title and your email address. Send to:

RWA San Diego
Attn: Online Training
6515 MacArthur Dr.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945

By PayPal:

Regular (Non-Member) $25 fee:

RWA San Diego Member $15 fee:

3. Learn

Before the class begins, the RWA San Diego training coordinator will email instructions for accessing the class to you. Enjoy your class!