Get in touch
We are located in
Richmond, Virginia
Email
frontlinewritersrva@gmail.com
FAQs
Who can take the class?
All current and former members of Richmond area police and fire departments, and all current and former Richmond area emergency medical services technicians.
Who will read my stories?
The initial audience for your writing will be your classmates and your teacher. A growing Frontline Writers digital archive is housed at www.frontlinewriters.org, where stories can be read for free by the public. To read recent stories, click here.
I work in the county. Can I take the class?
Yes. Frontline Writers is open to all first responders in the Richmond area, including the surrounding counties.
How long is each session?
Frontline Writers is an eight-week workshop; each class is two-and-a-half hours long. Class size is capped at 16 participants. Please understand that for every participant who registers, there may be more on a waiting list. It’s very important that each participant commit to the full workshop and make every effort to attend each class. It’s also understood that absences are inevitable, especially with the shifting schedules of first responders. We only ask for your best effort.
I find describing my experiences as a first responder difficult. I’m not sure I can write about them.
No one in the First Responses class will ever suggest what you should write about. You choose the topics, even the genres, meaning you can write real stories, fiction, poems, any format you choose, about any subject you choose. You write what you want, when you want, and when you’re ready.
I’ve never written very much before. Will I be able to enjoy the class?
Absolutely. The eight-week session is taught as a workshop, with individual attention given to each participate. This means you can learn at your own pace, contribute work when you’re ready, and be part of a supportive and like-minded community of writers who know the world of public safety. The class is a safe space, as well as a forum for practicing and learning the art and craft of storytelling and writing.
I’m the spouse of a first responder. May I take the class?
Yes. We try to reserve a spot or two during each session for spouses. Your stories and service to the community are pivotal to a full understanding of what public safety means and what it takes.
I think I want to enroll in Frontline Writers but am not sure yet. Is there a way to receive updates and notices about upcoming sessions?
Yes! Use the email form above to indicate your interest, and we will send you session information ahead of each registration deadline.
Is the work in class graded?
No. You will not receive a grade for the work that you produce in the class. You will receive constructive criticism from the instructor on how to develop your writing.
Have more questions? Send us an email!
“Journaling or writing in a diary have never appealed to me. I have never considered myself a writer. I didn’t think I would enjoy writing stories until I wrote my first one. Writing for this class has given me a new way to express myself that I never imagined. There is an added bonus of sharing the class with other first responders. Although we come from different backgrounds and disciplines, we are able to bond and relate to each other over our shared experiences.”
“Admittedly, I had no idea what to expect when I volunteered for Frontline Writers. Taking the class has been creative and cathartic. I have been able to write about career memories and unknowingly sort them into tangible experiences. A life improving opportunity!”
“Stories are gifts that we give, that let the reader see a little more of us. This writing program allows those of us in public service to share our stories — gifts — with other first responders who can relate to the funny, the sad, the frustrating. With the digital archive, we can now share our stories with the public we serve. They are just as much a part of the story as the first responder. I don’t know anyone in fire, police, or EMS who wouldn’t benefit from this class, or who doesn’t have a pile of powerful stories to tell.”
