tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post280880933497957845..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Some Tips for Mystery WritersDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11707566821785903442009-07-22T10:07:16.846-06:002009-07-22T10:07:16.846-06:00Helen, I laughed outloud at your response. Glad I ...Helen, I laughed outloud at your response. Glad I am not the only one who HATES the way women detectives are dressed on these shows. Come on, what does bursting boobs have to do with detecting?<br /><br />Your levity aside, however, this was a great post with some good info.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69741342380836445972009-07-21T20:20:50.155-06:002009-07-21T20:20:50.155-06:00Lots of great tips here. thanks for sharing. and...Lots of great tips here. thanks for sharing. and here are a few of my own thoughts from past experience.<br /><br />What bothers me even more than crime scene technicians doing investigations, interviewing and arresting suspects is when (as seen on NCIS) an officer keeps his loaded service weapon in a desk drawer. No cop ever lets his weapon out of his grasp. It's on his or her person, in the holster, or it's out to be used. When off duty, it's locked up. Guns are never kept where they can be messed with, stolen or lost. <br /><br />Another thing is that, as you noted, guns always have a round chambered. So having a character jack a round to warn people is the act of an idiot. <br /><br />Likewise, if you just shot someone and they are on the ground, the first thing a cop does is secure the weapon the perp has (kick it away and make it safe) then cuff the gun shot victim/arrestee and search for more weapons before administering first aid. (You don't want to get shot or injured by someone who may have a second weapon.)<br /><br />So many of the practical realities of law enforcement are overlooked by tv. I can forgive much, but ignorance of firearm safety really gripes me more than anything else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80894679096085101402009-07-21T11:15:20.763-06:002009-07-21T11:15:20.763-06:00The legal shows are even worse. Courtroom ranting...The legal shows are even worse. Courtroom rantings, bad evidence, badgering witnesses, ignoring judges orders, DA's doing on scene investigation (often as a crime is happening), complex civil cases being tried in a day, I can go on and on.<br /><br /><br />My wife hates watching t.v. with me because I cringe and complain about everything wrong in the shows. The main problem is most of the law is boring as all can be. Personal satisfaction is derived from the culmination of a lot of little things, not the Perry Mason "I did it" moment.A P Mullalyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00823933897041430765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84707356961582130152009-07-21T10:29:48.505-06:002009-07-21T10:29:48.505-06:00Thanks! Great info!Thanks! Great info!TexasRedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05552612565762386171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11123356174876014032009-07-21T08:26:47.110-06:002009-07-21T08:26:47.110-06:00Marilyn, welcome to The Blood-Red Pencil, and than...Marilyn, welcome to The Blood-Red Pencil, and thanks for an excellent report. The PSWA conference is obviously a good place for mystery writers to broaden their knowlege of procedures.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21206196815388732009-07-21T07:35:16.786-06:002009-07-21T07:35:16.786-06:00This is very useful information, Marilyn. Thanks ...This is very useful information, Marilyn. Thanks so much for sharing it.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44199697352578277812009-07-21T05:33:22.431-06:002009-07-21T05:33:22.431-06:00Wait a minute, wait a minute. CSI on TV fakes it? ...Wait a minute, wait a minute. CSI on TV fakes it? Turning on the lights in a room instead of using a flashlight is better? Real forensic labs don't have 2D graphic walls that you can scoot information across with a wave of the hand? The head of the CSI team doesn't lead all investigations and the police don't answer to him and wait for him to tell them what to do? And women don't have breasts made of steel, able to stop all bullets, which is why on TV they don't wear vests, bras, or shirts with top buttons?<br /><br />Thank you Marilyn for going to the conference, then sharing with writers. Talking with the professionals really does make a difference in your writing.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com