Our county attorney is a real right-wing douchebag...I think the death penalty is like a 12-gauge for Spike...makes him feel all manly. Better finish the book then.ETA: I apologize to every douche I may have insulted by comparing it to Andrew Thomas. That wasn't fair to feminine products.

I want to write an article about the often awful treatment I have received over the years at airports when I have asked for wheelchair assistance at airports, but I am not sure where to start. Any suggestions?

Usually a good place to start is an anecdote, sj. Think of an incident that was both dreadful and representative, and start by describing that. A structure I often use would go something like this:

• Anecdote

• Why this incident is representative of a larger problem

• Facts about the problem (X number of wheelchair users; X airports say they accomodate people needing wheelchairs)

• Call airport/airline PR persons to get quotes about their wheelchair polices. Ask them about some of the things that have happened to you.

• More anecdotes

And, Ginger nails it. Definitely a personal anecdote to start off: if I was writing about the misconceptions about being handicapped and not looking it too obviously, I'd begin with the Daly City cop who told me I "didn't look crippled enough" to merit that blue parking placard.

I am CRANKY:

The Publications Committee of MWA is delighted to invite you to submit stories for "Burden Of The Badge", Stories of Cops on the Job, the second of three MWA anthologies contracted by Little Brown. The first Anthology, "Relationships Can Be Murder", was edited by Harlan Coben and will be published in October. The second Anthology will be edited by Michael Connelly. The third will be edited by Linda Fairstein in 2007.

"The best detective stories are not about cops working on cases, but of cases working on cops." This phrase, coined by Joseph Wambaugh, is the theme chosen by Michael Connelly for this anthology. Ten new stories "heavy on character" by MWA members will be commissioned by the editor, and ten new stories will be selected by a MWA panel from a pool of open and blind submissions by MWA members. Members in any category of membership may submit stories -- you do not need to be previously published, but you must be a member in good standing (dues paid).

I don't write that kind of crime story, damn it. Might have to try.

My wife is trying to make me type till my hands fall off. Unless only members can play. We could do like that nauseating husband and wife that try to make you think there's a woman named Judith Michael cause she's Judith and he's Michael. And they write together...nauseating, que no? But we could rule the mystery writing world! Interesting Wambaugh story: The last time I read writer's digest, he was in it. Giving props to older writers and telling young people not to jump in too hard, because My First Lay is all they know. But he said to be careful what you do for life experience, because that's how he ended up in LAPD.Oh, sj, I probably have more advice and places to publish and all that than you ever could want,

Damn it, you need to be a member (see line about dues paid and in good standing). Mine are. I just don't know if I can write that kind of story.

I bet you could. Just make the haunted cop a little bit less...metaphorical than most of the other writers. Give him one personal demon and, one, like, actual demon.

Huh.

I could maybe do that....

Problem is, I don't really write cops. Detective, private, but officialdom, not so much.

I wonder if I could salt the mine, and have it be Patrick Ormand, dealing with something? My easily bored and very restless cop from the Kinkaid Chronicles?

I wonder if I could salt the mine, and have it be Patrick Ormand, dealing with something? My easily bored and very restless cop from the Kinkaid Chronicles?

YES PLEASE.

Umm. That is...

I was hoping you'd say that.

That would be a great idea, Deb. Cross pollinate the Kinkaid Chronicle anyplace you can!!!

Want Books!!!