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Image for event: Writing Difficult Truths in Fiction Workshop

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Writing Difficult Truths in Fiction Workshop

2024-03-16 13:00:00 2024-03-16 15:00:00 America/New_York Writing Difficult Truths in Fiction Workshop Join us for a powerful workshop where women can navigate how to write their experiences and truths into stories James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room

Saturday, March 16
1:00pm - 3:00pm

James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library

Beth Patridge Meeting Room

Join us for a powerful workshop where women can navigate how to write their experiences and truths into stories

In this workshop, local writers TJ Butler (Dating Silky Maxwell, ELJ Editions 2023) and Rebecca Morrison will join local educator Suzette Romero to discuss the ways readers, writers, and those interested in writing can tackle difficult subjects. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and book signing.

Attendees will learn about the following:

-Reasons to write about difficult topics-What we choose to tell and what we leave out
-How to write about others, and when not to
-Finding your voice by experimenting with different genres (poetry, fiction, personal essays, and journaling)
-Taking care of ourselves as we delve into difficult subject matters

👈 REGISTER TO SAVE A SEAT! 

Author Bios:

TJ Butler is an Alexandria-based writer, photographer, and small business owner. She writes fiction and essays that are not all fun and games. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Huffington Post, Insider, and various literary journals. BUST Magazine calls her new-release short story collection, Dating Silky Maxwell, "gritty, realistic, often unnerving, and far from glamorous." Connect with her at TJButlerAuthor.com.

Rebecca Morrison is a lawyer and writer. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Today Show, Newsweek, NBC News, HuffPost, Salon, Insider and The Independent. Her HuffPost essay on being an immigrant reached the #1 trending story on AppleNews and was taught in composition classes at Marymount University. She's completing a middle grade novel based on her childhood as an Iranian immigrant trying to fit into her family, school and new homeland in America. You can find her work and subscribe to her newsletter on www.rebeccakmorrison.com.

Suzette Romero is a writer and educator originally from Brooklyn, NY.  This is her first facilitation event with the Alexandria Library system. When she's not working on her first novel, a speculative fiction piece about a neurosurgeon, you can find her coaching and next generation with their writing skills.  You can connect with her on Instagram at @BKtotheVA or email BKtotheVAWriter@gmail.com.

James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library

kpayne@alexlibraryva.org
Phone: 703.746.1705
Fax: 703.746.1785
Branch manager
Kayla Selsky

Hours
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We're closed Monday October 12 due to Indigenous People's Day
Mon, Oct 12 Closed
(Indigenous People's Day)
Tue, Oct 13 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Oct 14 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Oct 15 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Oct 16 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Oct 17 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Oct 18 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Parking: There is a small lot with 9 spaces.  On street parking is available.

Public Transit:

  • Metrorail: Yellow and Blue lines at Braddock Road (1.3 miles) and King Street Stations (1.5 miles)
  • Metrobus: A11, A12
  • DASH Bus: 33

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact jgregorio@alexlibraryva.org or call 703.746.1701 or TTY 703.746.1790.

Upcoming Events

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Sat, Oct 17, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
All are welcome to join us at Duncan Library for this year's annual Fall Fest! There will be miniature pumpkin painting, plant purchases, and did we mention pie?

Sun, Oct 18, 1:15pm - 1:45pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Story Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-24 months. Tickets required De 0 a 24 meses. Sala de reuniones de Duncan Library. Se requieren boletos.

Mon, Oct 19, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Oct 19, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Oct 19, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Join us for a free and open to the public meeting where the Friends of Duncan Library Board will share updates about the staff, library programming, book sales, and more!

Tue, Oct 20, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Teen Area
Join DM John in a dino DnD adventure! Ages 13-18. Registration required.

Rescheduled
Wed, Oct 21, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
New date Thursday, October 15, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Draw, paint, learn, and create your way through Hispanic Heritage Month (Ages 6-12) Dibuje, pinte, aprenda, y cree durante el Mes de Hispanos (Edades 6-12)

Wed, Oct 21, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Want to practice your English and learn more vocabulary? Join us every Wednesday evening for FREE beginner to intermediate classes!

Thu, Oct 22, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5. Tickets required. Edades 0-5, se requieren boletos.

Thu, Oct 22, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5. Tickets required. Edades 0-5, se requieren boletos.

Sat, Oct 24, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Most people think intuition arrives as a dramatic revelation. More often, it begins as a quiet whisper—a feeling, a nudge, or a sense that one path simply feels more like you.

Sun, Oct 25, 1:15pm - 2:15pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Calling all builders! (Ages 6-12)

Mon, Oct 26, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Oct 26, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Oct 26, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Do you love comics? Drawing? Graphic novels? Then join crazy comix club! (Ages 6-12)

Mon, Oct 26, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Join us for an all-levels yoga class that invites you to connect with your body, build stability over time, and deepen your practice in a supportive, welcoming environment—no prior experience needed
This event is full

Tue, Oct 27, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Teen Area
Join DM John in a dino DnD adventure! Ages 13-18. Registration required.

Wed, Oct 28, 4:00pm - 5:45pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Coffee, crafts, and conversation (Ages 13-18) Cafe, arte, y conversación (Edades 13-18)

Wed, Oct 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Join us for a spoooooooooky craft where you get to choose a crystal to weave into a beautiful and wearable piece, while learning all about different kinds of crystals and what they mean
This event is full

Wed, Oct 28, 6:30pm - 7:45pm
Want to practice your English and learn more vocabulary? Join us every Wednesday evening for FREE beginner to intermediate classes!

Thu, Oct 29, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
A storytime in English and Spanish (0-5 years). Tickets required. Un cuentacuentos en inglés y español (edades 0-5), se requieren entradas.

Thu, Oct 29, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
A storytime in English and Spanish (0-5 years). Tickets required. Un cuentacuentos en inglés y español (edades 0-5), se requieren entradas.

Sat, Oct 31, 10:30am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
All levels are welcome, to stretch, breathe and cultivate connections with body-heart-mind-spirit
This event is full

Sun, Nov 01, 1:15pm - 1:45pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Story Time! Fingerplay and songs for Ages 0-24 months. Tickets required De 0 a 24 meses. Sala de reuniones de Duncan Library. Se requieren boletos.

Sun, Nov 01, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Oddball Adventure series

Mon, Nov 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Nov 02, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl, and clap at Baby Time! (0-14 months) Tickets required. 0-14 meses, se requieren boletos.

Mon, Nov 02, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
An interactive story time for kids of all abilities, especially those with sensory needs. Registration required. (Ages 2-8)

Mon, Nov 02, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Join us for an all-levels yoga class that invites you to connect with your body, build stability over time, and deepen your practice in a supportive, welcoming environment—no prior experience needed
This event is full

Tue, Nov 03, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Build a space shuttle and lunar rover out of LEGOs! (Ages 8-12) Registration required ¡Construye un transbordador espacial de LEGO! (Edades 8-12) Hay que registrarse con anticipación
This event is full

Wed, Nov 04, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Coffee, crafts, and conversation (Ages 13-18) Cafe, arte, y conversación (Edades 13-18)

Wed, Nov 04, 6:00pm - 7:45pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
con Edu-Futuro y el Centro de Desarrollo de Fuerza Laboral de la Ciudad de Alexandria

Wed, Nov 04, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Join us the first Wednesday of the month for a relaxing session led by David Kosar with Yoga in Daily Life! We will learn methods, practices, and techniques to help guide you through yogic philosophy

Thu, Nov 05, 10:15am - 10:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5. Tickets required. Edades 0-5, se requieren boletos.

Thu, Nov 05, 11:15am - 11:45am
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5. Tickets required. Edades 0-5, se requieren boletos.

Thu, Nov 05, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Do you have afternoons available? Join us at the Library for some coffee, confections, and conversation about the titles chosen by fellow book club members! 📚 ☕

Fri, Nov 06, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Bring your best building brains! Ages 6-12 Edades 6-12