Virginia War Memorial Announces “The Mighty Pen” Project Author David L. Robbins to Teach Writing Class for Military Veterans and Others Wishing To Chronicle Their Own Experiences
The Virginia War Memorial is seeking Virginia military veterans who have stories to tell and want to learn how to write them.
In partnership with best-selling author and educator, David L. Robbins, the Memorial is creating The Mighty Pen Project, a ten-week seminar open to those who served in the military and civilians who are looking to write about war alongside those who experienced it.
Classes will focus on furthering the craft of writing about combat, the warrior’s life, and the lives of military families.
“We plan to include all genres of creative expression,” Robbins said. “We will cover personal memoir, fiction, poetry – whatever suits the needs and progress of the class members.”
The initial Mighty Pen Project seminar series will begin March 17 and end May 19. Classes will be held every Tuesday evening from 6:30-9:00 p.m. in the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. There is no tuition charge, but class size is limited. Participants will be selected from online applications.
Those wishing to participate must complete an application form available at www.vawarmemorial.org. Deadline to submit applications is February 27, 2015. Those selected will be notified by March 6.
“Educating our youth and fellow citizens and preserving history are two of the pillars of the mission of the Memorial and the Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation,” said the Memorial’s Education Director Candi Shelton. “We are pleased to offer this unique opportunity to veterans and others to take part in a writing workshop – especially one led by such a well-known writer and teacher as David Robbins.”
“Plans are to host a public event here when the seminar concludes to allow class members to read selections of their work. We are also planning to publish their work in print and online to make them available to the public,” Shelton added.
A Richmond native, David L. Robbins is the author of thirteen novels, several plays and film scripts and teaches creative writing at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Honors College. He is the founder of the James River Writers, a non-profit that benefits aspiring writers, and co-founder of the Podium Foundation, which works with educators and public school students to foster the teaching and practice of the writing craft.
For more information about The Mighty Pen Project, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org or contact Candi Shelton at 804.786.2062 or cshelton@vawarmemorial.org