Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Veterans

Veterans’ Writing Group Marks 10 Years of Creativity, Support and Community

Monday, November 16, 2020, By News Staff
Share
College of Arts and Sciencesveteranswriting

In March 2010, writing professors Eileen Schell and Ivy Kleinbart founded a writing group inspired by Schell’s uncle’s service as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. The premise was simple: create opportunity for military veterans and those close to them to share true stories of life in and out of the military. This year the group, Syracuse Veterans’ Writing Group, is marking its 10th anniversary.

two people shaking hands and holding awards

Veterans Richard Rodriguez and Mark Mossman, both award winners with the Veterans Administration Creative Arts Award competition

“In the past ten years, our writing group has shown great promise and benefit for both those who have worn our nation’s uniform, as well as the civilian community,” says Schell. “Too often, the public’s only understanding of life in the military is what is depicted on television and in movies. Organizations like the Veterans’ Writing Group give veterans a voice and a medium to share their experiences in a way that brings understanding to the audience and peace to the author.”

The program is one of many to pop up around the country in the last decade. An average of 10-15 writers per year meet monthly in the Syracuse University Writing Center. During the meetings Schell and Kleinbart work with members on their drafts and help put their war stories into print. The group also takes part in public dialogues and discussions with other schools and organizations. The 2020 group’s discussion were moved online amidst the ongoing COVID-19 global health pandemic yet group conversation remains strong.

“It is rare that a group can so seamlessly bring together students and those from the broader community, but that is exactly what the Syracuse Veterans’ Writing Group has accomplished over the past decade,” says J. Michael Haynie, Syracuse University vice chancellor and founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “The impact the group has had on our student veterans and those veterans and military families in our community is profound. We are extremely proud of the group and all its efforts.”

Participating writers learn key techniques for drafting nonfiction stories, share their narratives, offer feedback and encouragement to fellow group members and ultimately prepare their work for publication.

“Through the years, writers have shared experiences from conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan,” says Schell. “The pieces discuss complex sets of experiences: joining the military, leaving the service, transitioning as a civilian, the impact of service on one’s self, family and friends. But one theme is consistent—all the writers work through their memories, some of them traumatic.”

person with a leash with a dog

Ginger Peterman, Army veteran, who served in Iraq, and her service dog Puma

“I joined the Syracuse Veterans’ Writing Group to share my experiences dealing with a lifetime of post-traumatic stress, hoping that younger vets might learn from my mistakes,” says Vietnam War veteran Peter McShane. “I didn’t expect to be profoundly affected by other members’ stories. The group offers a safe environment in which to share intimate memories. What I’ve learned is that there’s life after the military, life after struggling with anger, depression and remorse. I realized that I could give up my persona as a soldier and accept that under the tough veneer, under the painful memories, is an empathetic, vulnerable human being. The members of the writing group have given me the courage to embrace my humanness and love the real me.”

The group also sponsors a monthly open meditation session for veterans and their supporters that takes place just before the group convenes. Diane Grimes, a Syracuse University faculty member in communication and rhetorical studies and mindful communication expert, leverages her extensive experience in meditation and mindfulness to help members manage stress, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD, and also increase their concentration for writing.

The Syracuse Veterans’ Writing group is open to all veterans and those who support them whether or not they are part of the campus community. The group focuses exclusively on writing nonfiction accounts or “true stories” of life in and out of the military. Veterans of all ages, branches of the military, and conflicts are welcome; no prior writing experience is required.

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • Vice Chancellor Haynie Appointed to Veterans Advisory Committee on Education
    Monday, May 16, 2022, By Austin Philleo
  • Sociologist Shannon Monnat to Lead Maxwell’s Center for Policy Research
    Monday, May 16, 2022, By Jessica Youngman
  • Student Speaker Ghael Fobes Mora Shared Highlights of the Class of 2022
    Monday, May 16, 2022, By News Staff
  • Maxwell Prepared Mike Tirico ’88 for His ‘Most Challenging Assignment’
    Monday, May 16, 2022, By Jessica Youngman
  • Message From Chancellor Kent Syverud
    Monday, May 16, 2022, By News Staff

More In Veterans

Vice Chancellor Haynie Appointed to Veterans Advisory Committee on Education

Earlier this month, J. Michael Haynie, Ph.D., vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, was appointed by United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough to serve on…

Senior Q&A: Tony Ruscitto ’22 Puts a New Mission on His Horizon

Q: How was your experience getting to Syracuse University? A: I’m a Syracuse native, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013, out of high school. After five years of military service, I saw a crossroads. At 23 I realized…

OVMA Announces 2022 Awards Celebrating Student Veterans’ Achievements

The Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) have presented two awards to student veterans in honor of their significant and notable achievements. The awards were distributed at SVO’s social held at the Inn…

Senior Profile: Katie Piston ’22 Solves Biomedical Engineering Challenges

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Katie Piston didn’t imagine herself looking to settle down in Central New York. After earning an undergraduate degree from Purdue University in biomedical engineering, Piston landed a job with Indiana-based medical technology company Zimmer…

Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Announces Spring 2022 Military-Connected Scholarship Recipients

The Office of Veterans and Military Affairs (OVMA) is pleased to announce the following awardees of military-connected student spring 2022 scholarships. These awards provide meaningful financial assistance to military-connected students as part of the University’s commitment to being the best…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2022 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.