Well-written books begin with in-depth knowledge

Live and on-demand video training for writers featuring law enforcement & forensic procedures, and the craft of storytelling.

All classes and seminars are designed and taught by leading experts!

Linda Landrigan

Linda Landrigan
Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni
Dr. Katherine Ramsland

Katherine Ramsland
karmen harris

Karmen Harris
heather graham

Heather Graham
charlaine harris

Charlaine Harris
carrie stuart parks

Carrie Stuart Parks
bruce coffin

Bruce Robert Coffin

See All Instructors

Current Live Classes

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Getting Into Your Story: An Editor’s Perspective

The editor of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine shares her observations of common problems she sees in the stories that get rejected and discusses one technique to address some of those problems.

Registration – FREE

Instructor: Linda Landrigan

When: Saturday July 13, 2024 at 1 p.m. EST

On-Demand Classes

Purchase today and watch any time in the next 60 days!

As an alternative to our live classes, we'll soon be offering "On Demand" seminars that can be purchased and watched at your convenience and on your own schedule.

Check back soon for more info, or join our mailing list to be kept in the loop.

Previous Live Classes

Check out what you missed!

Developmental Editing from an Agent’s Point of View, & Query Letters and Agent Submission Tips
What a developmental edit covers and how it helps authors polish their manuscripts.

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The Craft of Television Writing
A look at the steps of writing a television episode.

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Digital Publishing Academy
Bookouture Editor Susannah Hamilton will talk about all things digital publishing, including what works well in digital, a look at the different stages of editing, and a brief foray into crime and thriller genre nuances for the digital market.

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Fiction Forensics: Self-Editing
Lee Lofland and Gareth Jones from AutoCrit lead you through a helpful guide to self-editing your books.

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Creating Plots for Page Turners
This unique session is a rare opportunity to learn from one of today’s top authors! Learn how to keep your readers hooked from the beginning to the end of your story.

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Behavioral Clues at Crime Scenes

Crime scenes always tell a story, which shows up most clearly in behavioral clues.

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Forensic Psychiatry, Murder, LAPD Lipstick, & Memorable Characters
In this illuminating session, acclaimed forensic and perinatal psychiatrist, Susan Hatters Friedman, M.D., describes common misunderstandings about her field of forensic psychiatry when it appears in crime fiction.

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Search Dogs, Search Warrants, a Search for Words, and Lies
This course will describe the general legal standards for the use of force by police such as warrants, including anticipatory, knock, and No Knock, warrants and pursuits.

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Criminal Investigations: Writing Believable Make-Believe
Three of the country’s top investigators and forensics experts present sessions on cybercrimes and  3D crime-scene mapping; learn what happens when a sexual assault victim seeks care in a hospital setting.

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Mystery and Murder: Transforming Reality into Fantastic Fiction
Journey into the minds of three top forensic experts and a #1 bestselling author.

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Testimonials

Lee Goldberg

“Writers’ Police Academy has been invaluable to me as an author. I probably wouldn’t have conceived of my novels LOST HILLS and BONE CANYON if not for attending WPA and befriending the experts I met there. It has enriched my understanding. You not only learn about experienced law enforcement, but you learn about writing from international bestselling authors, too. WPA is the best conference for crime writers, period.”

Lee Goldberg

#1 New York Times bestselling author

Tim Tigner

“For crime writers serious about their careers, there’s no better investment of time or money than attending the Writers’ Police Academy.”

Tim Tigner

International Bestselling Author

Charlaine Harris

“The WPA is fascinating, informative, and absolutely stimulating to writers. Top-of-the-line instructors with genuine expertise in their fields not only take you through presentations full of interesting stuff, they willingly answer your questions. It’s great.”

Charlaine Harris

International bestselling author of the "Sookie Stackhouse" novels, the basis for the television series "True Blood."