Police Work and Writers Have a Lot in Common

For the past twenty years, I’ve worked as a 911 dispatcher. In the beginning of my career, I worked the graveyard shift at a busy California Bay Area police department, and cut my teeth on everything from stabbings to suicidal callers.

My husband and I first met over a homicide. I dispatched him to the call, a drug deal gone bad—not your average boy meets girl story, but our weekend-warrior occupation brought us close. Over my career, I’ve taken thousands of emergency calls, and each one has molded and shaped my dark sense of humor and often cynical, quick-to-judge personality.

After all, I’ve been trained to make a judgment in a matter of seconds, type-coding a call that will determine the response of police/fire/ambulance. As an author, the road to publication twisted and shaped the writer I am as well. I can’t help but see clear parallels between a writer and police work.

It’s not always what it seems.

A detective is trained to look for what the untrained eye doesn’t see—things like blood patterns, fingerprints, and previous cell phone activity.

A writer’s path isn’t always an obvious three-step plan either. The craft must be studied, worked on, and almost never is how we dreamed it would turn out, with twists and turns  taking you places you never thought you’d be. My two-page personal essay became a nonfiction book for moms—who knew.

Friends matter.

Whether you’re the suspect or the victim of a crime, who you’ve associated with always comes into play. As a writer, who do you hang out with? Do you network with other writers/authors? Or, do you think your work is so good you’ll be miraculously discovered?  If you truly believe this way, you couldn’t be more wrong. Trust me when I say: it’s only a matter of time before you’re a victim of un-success. Writing can be very solitary. Having someone come alongside who understands the ups and downs can make all the difference.

Word of Mouth.

Home invasions are almost always drug-related, a targeted place where the suspect has planned to regain their lost monies or steal drugs from someone they know—occasionally it’s a friend of a friend who has bragged to the wrong person about their parents’ jewelry and non-belief in banks.

As a writer, your reputation begins as soon as you share, “I’m a writer.” People are listening and will be watching your every step. Once your words are published via blog, articles, or any other venue, your branding begins. Conferences, retreats, writer’s groups, and online relationships form your reputation. Use every connection as an opportunity to help other writers as well. No matter how well you write, your words will never rise above the reputation of your colleagues and readers.

Are you a victim?

There aren’t as many victims as you think. Tough to hear? It’s true.

The media loves to play on viewers emotions. As a writer, are you a victim? Do you suffer from it-should-be-me syndrome?

Do you believe every agent/publisher/editor just doesn’t understand your talent? Are you giving up the writer-ghost while complaining to everyone who will listen? Writer-victims aren’t as common as you’d like to think. If you’re work is really that good and you are actively putting it in front of the right people, it will eventually be recognized. End of story.

Writing and police work have a lot in common. After twenty years, my heart still races when I handle a hot call.

There’s nothing like calming a woman who’s hiding from an intruder downstairs, encouraging someone to live another day, soothing a child who’s called an ambulance for their sick grandma, or the sound of a baby being born.

The same can be said about writing. My heart still races when I submit an article, or speak before a crowd. There have been sleepless nights, anxious calls to writer-friends, and though my first published book is far from the New York Times best seller list—it’s been the ride of my life.

About Joanne Kraft 4 Articles
Joanne Kraft has a passion for encouraging women. A sought-after speaker, Kraft has been published in Today's Christian Woman, Thriving Familiy, In Touch, ParentLife, Kyria and P31 Woman Magazine. She's appeared on Focus on the Family, Family Life today, CBN News, The Harvest Show and more. A lifelong Californian, Joanne recently said "YES!" to a God-sized adventure and moved with her family to the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee where they've happily traded soy milk and arugula for sweat tea and biscuits.