#53 - What Being a Cop Taught Me About Writing Real Characters | John Dove

A retired New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant with over 21 years of service, he held leadership roles in units including Internal Affairs, K-9, and the Brooklyn Cold Case Homicide Squad as well as the Criminal Intelligence Unit where he worked on joint terrorism investigations with the FBI after the September 11 attacks. He later transitioned into television, starting as a technical advisor on CSI: NY before becoming a writer and rising to Co-Executive Producer. He has since written and produced for multiple series, including Hawaii Five-0, Chicago P.D., and L.A.'s Finest. He is currently working on the second season as a co-executive producer on the CBS hit series Boston Blue. A lifelong writer, he holds a bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Empire State College and has contributed opinion pieces to the New York Daily News and Daily Wire. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: •  Breaking into TV as a technical advisor on CSI: New York. • The connection between law enforcement and storytelling. • The reality of writers rooms, feedback, and finding your voice. • And how empathy, not structure, creates real characters. RESOURCES: • John's IMDB Page WANT MORE? ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube