photo by Lauren Wicks

Write and share: After every writing exercise, the attendees could share their thoughts, feelings or opinions on the exercise.

Honing their skills

By Lauren Wicks | Suffolk News-Herald

Originally published 10:16 p.m., September 16, 2009
Updated 10:19 p.m., September 16, 2009

There was a special group of students in North Suffolk library Wednesday morning.

More than 30 promising authors met in the library’s lobby to take part in Old Dominion University’s Writers In Community program.

Writers In Community brings graduate students enrolled in the school’s Masters of Fine Arts for Creative Writing to local communities to brainstorm ideas and help authors begin the writing process.

“It’s two-fold for us,” said Mary Westbrook, student director of writers in community. “We want to bring writing into the community and make it fun for future authors. And for us, it really gives us a chance to talk about writing and learn about ourselves and see our work in a new light. I learn a lot by hearing what people are talking about and talking through ideas ourselves.”

The program meets with groups all over Hampton Roads, and met in Suffolk for the first time Wednesday after library staff members met with members of the program.

“It’s been a big success,” said Kirk Morrison, head of reference services for the North Suffolk Library. “We want to continue to provide programs that will bring awareness that we are here, and these type of programs really help us get our name out there.”

Authors ranging from school-aged children to senior citizens attended the program Wednesday and participated in a wide range of activities, reading excerpts from authors John Steinbeck and Michael Pearson as well as creating their own writings based on remembering personal experiences.

One young writer talked about an experience she had at a summer camp.

Another talked about watching a jet fly as a young man.

After every writing exercise, the attendees could share their thoughts, feelings or opinions on the exercise.

“Today was really great to have all those voices in the room,” Westbrook said. “It was really great for us to listen through how these people tell stories.”

That is the most important part of the program, Westbrook said, because it encourages writers in all types of communities, from all type of backgrounds to put their pen to paper.

“Writers are writing today everywhere,” she said. “They’re not all from some big city. We’re not just in New York or Boston. We’re in communities just like these. Our main goal is go get out there and talk about our experience and start a conversation.”

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