Welcome to the Writers' Police Academy
September 24-26, 2010
Guilford Technical Community College And Public Safety Training Academy, Jamestown, N.C.
The Writers' Police Academy offers the most hands-on, interactive and educational experience writers can find to enhance their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics.
- Train like the pros
- Bring your writing to life
- Real police academy instructors
- Something for all genres
- Train with real police, fire, and EMS equipment
- An on-site working fire station and EMS equipment
Breaking News!
8-8-2010
Michael Cudlitz, star of TNT's smash hit Southland, and of the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, will be attending the Writer's Police Academy as our special guest! So please do make plans to join us and meet this superstar of the best cop drama on TV.
The Writers' Police Academy is an event for writers of all genres. We already have registrants signed up who write romance, romantic suspense, horror, YA, childrens, mystery, thrillers, erotica, and poetry. The WPA is also an event for anyone who'd like to learn about police work and forensics. So don't let the name fool you. The academy is for you!
Physical fitness is not a requirement for this one of a kind event. You can do as much, or as little as you like. Either way, you WILL have fun!
Need help with registration?
Are times tough? Waiting for royalty checks? Do you need special arrangements? Contact Lee Lofland at lofland32@msn.com and we'll do everything we can to make sure you have every opportunity to attend this very unique event.
Novel Writing Contest Now Open!
Don Knotts Silver Bullet Novel Writing Contest
For details on how to win this fantastic award please click the Contests link in the header above. The judges for the contest are top literary agents and publishers.
New* 200 Word Short Story Now Open!
The Writers' Police Academy is pleased to announce the opening of the Golden Donut short story contest. The rules are simple. Write a story about the photograph posted on The Graveyard Shift blog (http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/?p=7775) using exactly 200 words, including the title (each story must include an original title).
(We apologize for having to copy and paste the above link to The Graveyard Shift, but we're experiencing a technical difficulty at the moment. We hope to have it corrected soon. Sorry fore the inconvenience).
All stories must be polished and complete, meaning they must have a beginning, middle, and a twisted ending that would make our keynote speaker proud. Again, all stories must be exactly 200 words. Not 201 or 199!
The contest winner will receive the prestigious Golden Donut Award (sponsored by the High Point North Carolina Public Library). All entries will be screened by a panel of authors who will select their ten favorite stories and then forward their picks to our mystery judge (identity will be revealed at the academy banquet). The masked decider will present the winning story title to the appropriate Writers’ Police Academy staff member. The winner’s name will be announced at the WPA banquet.
The contest is open to everyone, not just attendees of the academy, and the winner need not be present to win. ..
Submission Guidelines:
Submission Deadline: September 10, 2010
- Any entry not meeting the exact 200 word requirement will be disqualified.
- Hyphenated words, for the purpose of this contest, will be counted as two words.
- Be sure to include your name, address, email address, telephone number(s), and title of your story on a cover letter that’s separate from your story page. DO NOT include your name anywhere on the story page or it will not be read by the judges.
- There is a $10 entry fee. Checks or money orders MUST BE made payable to “Writers’ Police Academy” and must accompany the submission in order for your submission to be considered.
- Send all entries to:
Writers’ Police Academy
P.O. Box 60091
Savannah, Ga. 31420
att. Short Story
- There is no limit on the number of entries by any author. But each individual entry must be accompanied by its own $10 entry fee. ( One entry = $10. Four entries = $40, etc.).
- Any entry not meeting the exact 200 word requirement will be disqualified.
- By submitting an entry to this contest authors agree to allow The Graveyard Shift/Lee Lofland/the Writers’ Police Academy, and affiliates to publish the story as a part of The Graveyard Shift blog and/or as advertisement for the Writers’ Police Academy.
*All rights to all work/short story shall remain the property of the author. The Writers’ Police Academy reserves the right to exclude or delete any entry without cause, reason, or explanation.
-No refunds. Proceeds go to the Writers’ Police Academy fund to benefit the GTCC criminal justice foundation.
Photo by Sunday Kaminski
Sunday Kaminski’s mysterious work has been featured in publications such as the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.
So there you have it. Now get busy and take us on a journey down that winding road in the photo. Will anyone make it back? Who knows. That’s up to you.
Good luck!
*Winner to receive the prestigious Golden Donut Award.
*Contest sponsored by the High Point N.C. Public Library
NOTICE - You've asked us to keep the early registration fee in place until after tax refunds and royalty checks arrive. We've done just that, because we want everyone to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind training for writers! We'll post the new deadline in a few days. Please take advantage of the low fee!
The academy kicks off at noon on Friday. Also, plan for a late night on Friday.
Saturday starts with a BANG! And when we say bang, we mean it. Be prepared for non-stop action and excitement!
The event ends on Sunday at noon following a fun debriefing session.
Wear comfortable clothing for the training! Banquet attire is entirely up to you, but attire that's appropriate for an evening with your peers, local officials, and the media is encouraged.
More News
- The sensational singing group The Oak Ridge Boys have generously donated a raffle basket containing several signed items. We gladly welcome them as a WPA sponsor. Thanks, Guys!
- Please reserve your hotel rooms now! Space is very, very limited due to other large events in the area. The hotel will not bill you until check in.
- TNT's gritty police drama Southland has joined us as a sponsor, and they've donated DVD's of the show's entire first season for our raffle baskets. One DVD has been signed by the cast!
- Criminal Minds has also provided a script signed by each of the actors!
- FATS training is full.
Schedule
*New - The schedule has been posted. However, additional workshops are in the planning stages and will be added as soon as details are complete.
Also, we will be contacting each registrant within the next few weeks regarding FATS assignments. In order to simulate real-life scenarios, training will be conducted in groups of two, or three.
If you prefer to pick your own partner(s) please contact Lee Lofland at lofland32@msn.com. Otherwise,the academy will assign partners.
We are in the process of contacting everyone regarding FATS assignment. We appreciate your patience.
- The High Point N.C. Public library has signed on as sponsor, and the library staff has joined our planning team.
- A portion of the proceeds are going to the GTCC foundation, earmarked for the criminal justice program.
* All registrations are final. Cancellations must be submitted by 6-16-10. Absolutely no refunds after this date. No exceptions. We're sorry if this is an inconvenience, but the event has been finalized and is planned based on the number of paying attendees.
Lee Lofland
Verna Dreisbach
ATF Special Agent Rick McMahan






