Workshop Set For Soldiers, Veterans To Share Their Stories

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Members of the Armed Forces have important stories to share, but not all of them feel comfortable writing about their lives. To help them, the Howard County Library System (HCLS) will host a seven-week workshop to help develop the writing and narrative skills that veterans and active duty personnel need to share their stories.

The workshop will be taught by Dario DiBattista, editor of the anthology Retire the Colors: Veterans & Civilians on Iraq & Afghanistan as part of The Veterans Writing Project (VWP), a veteran-run organization of professional writers who provide college level instruction.

DiBattista’s work has appeared in The Washingtonian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and many other publications. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2001 to 2007, later becoming a distinguished graduate of the Johns Hopkins University M.A. in writing program. He is currently working on a co-written screenplay about a Marine's return home from war.

DiBattista and other VWP instructors know that writing is therapeutic and that personal narratives have the power to heal. They approach creative writing from various angles that give veterans the skills they need to capture the stories of their military experience in an environment of mutual trust and respect.The seven-week series starts Sept. 3 and runs through Oct. 15.

Classes will be held each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at HCLS Miller Branch located at 9421 Frederick Rd. in Ellicott City. Registration is required at hclibrary.org or by calling 410-313-1950.