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Methodist University Launches Veterans Writing Collective by ROXANA ROSS A new group meeting at Methodist University is encouraging members of the local "Too often, stories are lost because we don't give ourselves permission to military community to tell their stories through the written word, hopefully to give speak our truth," Greene said. "And traditionally, the military has trained men voice to unshared experiences while empowering and transforming the storytellers. and women to be stoic — which is often interpreted as a mandate to be silent. The Veterans Writing Collective is open to active-duty military, vetBut that's no longer the case. Throughout America, and here in our erans and family members. The group will have its first meeting on hometown, the voices of our warriors and their family members are Saturday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Trustees Building Room 340 on finding outlets to be heard." the Methodist campus. As Greene was fielding inquisitive phone calls, one of her students, The mission of the collective, which will meet monthly, is to encourPaul Stroebel, was researching literature about war. Stroebel, a senior age the art of writing and provide an environment where participants writing major and U.S. Army veteran, found writing to be empoweroffer honest, positive feedback on members' writing. The group is free ing and cathartic, and hopes other veterans will, too. He will facilitate and open to writers of all genres. At the first meeting and every third the group's meetings. meeting, the group will also host a credentialed writer for special pre"I hope to work with the members as we all learn to refine our sentations on technical aspects of writing. Regular times and dates will writing," Stroebel said. "We have a common experience in the U.S. be set after the first meeting. military, and that experience informs our lives and our writing. As we "The focus is on writing," said English and writing professor Robin learn to use that experience as a lens through which we see our work, Greene, who is advising the group. "Our group meetings will be conwe grow as writers." ducted as workshops, which means that writers will gather to share The new group already has attention and support from established their work, receive supportive feedback and learn about craft." local writers, like Appalachian State University Professor and North Greene said there is a need for such groups as the military continues Veterans are invited to join The Carolina's Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti, also an organizer. When he a lengthy stretch of overseas campaigns and deployment cycles. Also, Veteran's Writing Collective at took the post in September, Bathanti announced he wanted to work with family members and veterans with older experiences are now telling veterans to share their stories through poetry. He hopes these workshops Methodist University. their stories. will be duplicated across the state. An unlikely organizer — Greene is not a veteran — she was con"I'm interested in working with the Fayetteville group precisely because tacted by several organizations over the summer who wanted something like this in the of their location and because what they are doing dovetails so nicely into my mission Fayetteville community: a group for military-related writing where they could be free to as Poet Laureate," Bathanti said. "I'm hoping also to lead workshops for the group this tell stories that might otherwise shock or offend people without similar experiences. spring in Fayetteville." "Our goal is to honor veterans and encourage them to tap into their creativity as Greene said the group plans to post members' works on its website, they offer unique glimpses into their experiences," Greene said. "Even family memmethodist.edu/writingvets. In the future, the group may also hold pubbers have the opportunity to write creatively about their experiences. Frequently, in lic readings of their work on the cry for service stories, we neglect their stories." campus or at other locations. ROXANA ROSS, Contributing Writer, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Whether fictionalized accounts, poetry or personal stories, Greene believes writing For more information, helps process difficult memories and emotions, empowering and transforming the contact Greene at rgreene@ Methodist University. COMMENTS?Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. writer with critical distance to deal with the material. methodist.edu. Serving Fayetteville & Surrounding Areas for Over 25 years... has 2 announcements for 2013 NEW PHYSICIAN Duy Lam, O.D. 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