“I think everyone’s life experience contains the raw material for good stories,” says Julie Stern, who will be leading the group with continuing assistance from the library’s adult writer volunteers. A longtime Newtown resident, she grew up in a family of story tellers. Ms Stern plans to do a lot of brainstorming with the group and suggests they may write about things from injustice, a fight, and breaking the rules, to animals they have known. Ms Stern, a humanities teacher and local theater journalist, also writes and illustrates books for her grandchildren.

All sessions will allow time for writing and sharing short stories in progress as well as one-on-one communication between adults and young people.

The group will meet from 6 to 8 pm on five consecutive Monday evenings, March 20 through April 24, with no class on April 17. There is a limit of ten Newtown students in grades 6 and up. There is no fee. Participants are expected to attend all five sessions, and preference is given to Newtown residents. Sign up at the main floor desk or call 426-4533.

The winter session of the Creative Writing Group for Young Adults ended on February 27.