Writing project helps Nebraska veterans express themselves
KEARNEY — A decade ago, the Nebraska Writing Project, the Veterans Administration and Humanities Nebraska designed a writing program to help veterans and active duty military personnel express their thoughts and feelings in words.
Nebraska Warrior Writers organized weekly workshops in Lincoln and Omaha, led by poets and writers.
According to the Humanities Nebraska webpage, participants need only be interested in writing in any form. They do not need to have any previous writing experience to benefit from the workshops.
Facilitated by professional writing instructors, the workshops consist of six to eight biweekly sessions focused on developing strategies and skills. Model texts are read and discussed by the group to help participants identify how to create effective writing. Working with instructors allows writers to practice with immediate feedback.
The range of works include fiction, poetry and memoir. Writers develop a strong bond as they encourage each other. The workshop culminates in a voluntary public reading.
Participants develop skills that include generating ideas, tips for revising, editing and how to find a publisher.
Instructors include Arden Hill, Lucy Adkins, Ben Weakley, Lydia Kang, Damion Meyer, J.R. Dawson, Todd Robinson, Hannah Clark, Caitlin Cass, Matt Mason, Zedeka Poindexter and Ted Wheeler.
The project began in 2013 when physician Erika Hamilton and executive director of Humanities Nebraska Chris Sommerich traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, for the National Humanities Conference. They learned about writing workshops in Missouri and the annual anthologies produced by veteran writers.
In 2014, psychologists at the Veterans Hospital in Lincoln, along with Robert Brooke, director of the Nebraska Writing Project and a professor of English at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, organized the group.
In addition to helping veterans express themselves in words, the project produced a book in 2020, "From Warriors to Warrior Writers: Journey to Healing." The 272-page book includes works by a variety of veterans.
Some of the chapters include "Morning in the Sandhills" by Andy Gueck, "From Omaha to Da Nang — My Search for a Spiritual Home in Vietnam," "The Wallet," by Cynthia Douglas-Yberra and "Time of War," by Beverly Hoistad.
Writer Sharon Robino-West said of the group, "Warrior Writers has become an integral part of my writing process and my well-being."
Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason led the discussion at a session on Oct. 5 in Omaha.
"A session has writers who have been in the military service," he said in an interview from his home in Omaha. "They typically bring things to read. It can be poetry, fiction, nonfiction — and they spend a little time talking about the pieces they have brought. They give and receive feedback."
A guest speaker will come in to lead the group.
"That's what I've done," Mason said of his work with Nebraska Warrior Writers. "Sometimes I'll give a writing prompt. Those who want to share can do that. We talk about writing and then I'll answer questions."
Nebraska Warrior Writers functions like any other writing group.
"The participants are veterans, but otherwise, it's just a comfortable writing group," he said.
While most of the sessions are in person, veterans can visit HumanitiesNebraska.org for a Zoom link.
