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San Antonio Veterans’ Writing Workshop II

Over the weekend of October ninth, the WGA East Foundation held the second Veterans Writing Workshop in San Antonio. The event was once again filled with humor, humility and camaraderie. But most of all, as evinced by the New York Times article covering the workshop, it was filled with creative expression.

Over half of the twenty-two military veterans participated in our June workshop. Lead by our Austin mentors Vive Griffith, Ben Snyder and Jon Morthland, many of the returning members had been meeting in the interim and the advance in their work was tremendous. Seven new veterans joined the group, having heard about the workshop from friends and colleagues. Teresa Dear and her husband, James Dear, came at the suggestion of her father, Vince Giammalvo, who also returned.

During the first session, returning participants became reacquainted and new participants got a chance to discuss what kind of writing interested them. This covered a wide range, from poetry to screenplays, theatrical plays to novels, autobiographies to a book of Christian devotionals. Over the following two days, guided by their professional mentors, the groups worked on a variety of writing exercises to help nurture and hone their skills. Some read the works they’d been writing over the past few months.

Everyone bonded over the struggle to write truthfully. By the end of the weekend, all participants, mentors and veterans, came away with a feeling of progress.

As veteran Robert Negrete said on the final day, "It is a relief to be among other writers. I really feel like I fit in here."

Writing Mentors include: Craig Grant, Susanna Styron, David Tucker. Michael Weller, John Markus, Anne Flett-Giordano, Dave Hackel, Jenny Lumet, Matthew Eck, Ryan Kelly, Chris Brancato, Vive Griffith, Jon Morthland, Ben Snyder, Tom Fontana and Lulie Haddad.