Joseph Wambaugh on Getting Published
May 1, 2008
Joseph Wambaugh, an ex-cop turned #1 New York Times bestselling writer, forged a new kind of literature with his early police procedurals. When asked about two novels that marked the beginning of his legendary career—THE NEW CENTURIONS and THE BLUE KNIGHT—he responded:
My early experiences as an aspiring (closet) writer were not very remarkable. I sent short stories about my police experiences to many mass periodicals, even to a few that were paying a few cents a word. My goal was to get something published somewhere. The short stories were written on a Royal portable typewriter and I can still remember how hard it was to correct the carbons. I know, I know, what are carbons?
After being turned down a few dozen times with standard rejection notes, I aimed high just for the hell of it and sent a short story to The Atlantic Monthly. I was stunned to receive an encouraging letter by a young editor who referred me to the venerable Editor Emeritus, Edward Weeks, who suggested that I try a novel. Mr. Weeks probably thought that he might hear from me in a year or so since I was a full-time LAPD detective with a young family. However, in about three months he found a 170,000 word manuscript on his desk, pounded out on my Royal portable in every spare moment that I had. It was to become an Atlantic-Little, Brown publication very soon.
As to the title, I came up with “The Centurions” because it is mentioned in dialogue by one of the book's minor but important characters, Officer Kilvinsky. Someone at The Atlantic added “New” to it. THE NEW CENTURIONS became a Book-Of-The-Month Club main selection and a New York Times best seller for more than thirty weeks, as well as a feature film starring the hottest movie star of the day, George C. Scott, who had just won the Oscar for PATTON.
The Los Angeles Chief of Police publicly threatened to fire me for “publishing without permission,” but the real reason was that the book did not portray the “Dragnet” and “Adam-12” squeaky clean image that LAPD cherished. Fearing that I might lose my job I swiftly wrote THE BLUE KNIGHT, thinking I needed a nest egg in case I truly did get fired. That too became a bestseller and the first American mini-series starring William Holden.
Both books lack the style and confidence that I developed after I left the LAPD and could work as a full-time writer with sufficient time to edit. However, there is a youthful energy and fire in them that reflects the turbulent era of the 1960s and 1970s when American police officers were forced to become establishment symbols, a thankless task for which they were not necessarily suited. As I recall, after THE BLUE KNIGHT I felt secure enough to buy an electric typewriter. I loved to watch the carriage magically fly with the touch of a button!
This article is reprinted courtesy of Hachette Book Group USA
About Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant, is the bestselling author of sixteen prior works of fiction and nonfiction, including THE CHOIRBOYS and THE ONION FIELD. In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in southern California. For more information about his latest book, visit
Hollywood Crows
Joseph Wambaugh Profile at OnceWritten.com
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