The War Horse Writing Seminars
Training the next generation of military writers
The War Horse Writing Seminar for Veterans and Military Families is a professional development program for veterans and military family members who are—or aspire to be—writers. We bring them together with world-class journalists, agents, and publishers for an all-expenses-paid, weeklong workshop focused on nonfiction, personal writing.
We provide veterans and military families opportunities to find and hone their stories. Our seminars foster healing and understanding, and celebrate new voices as we bridge the military–civilian divide.
The War Horse Writing Seminar for Black Veterans
More Stories, Richer Understanding
Despite centuries of service, Black veterans have often been overlooked in the nation’s historical record and narratives about military life. Their voices deserve to be heard to enrich our collective understanding of war, sacrifice, resilience, and community. The War Horse’s eighth writing seminar supported Black veterans as we continue to seek more stories exploring the human impact of military service.
Past Seminars
Read the results of our 2019, 2022, and 2023 cohort surveys.
Among the most significant professional development experiences I have ever had.
—Brig. Gen. Dan Woodward
2022 Writing Seminar for Military Spouses
By the Numbers
War Horse Fellows in the News
Guest Speakers and Mentors
Thank you to each of the generous guest speakers who volunteered their time to inspire and mentor our War Horse fellows. Explore the thoughtful journalists, authors, educators, agents, and publishers who help make our writing seminars possible.
Mark Batson
Music producer
Helen Benedict
Award-winning author and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Dr. Jill Biden
First lady of The United States
Georgia Bodnar
Noyan literary agent
Mark Bowden
Award-winning author and bestselling author of “Black Hawk Down”
Steve Coll
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author and dean of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Kevin Cullen
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author
Jim Dao
New York Times op-ed editor
David Dunlap
New York Times reporter since 1981 where he serves as the “keeper of Times history”
David Finkel
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and MacArthur genius
Josh Friedman
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and vice chair at The Carey Institute for Global Good
Matt Gallagher
Army veteran, author of “Youngblood” and “Kaboom”
Tracy Grant
Managing editor of The Washington Post
Tom Jennings
“Frontline” producer and NYU journalism professor
Heather Kelly
Coauthor of “The Knock at the Door: Three Gold Families Bonded by Grief and Purpose”
Phil Klay
Marine veteran and award-winning author of “Redeployment”
Stuart Krichevsky
Literary agent at SK Agency
Dan Lamothe
War correspondent for The Washington Post
Kurtis Lee
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and economics correspondent for The New York Times
Amy Looney-Heffernan
Coauthor of “The Knock at the Door: Three Gold Star Families Bonded by Grief and Purpose”
Kelly McHugh-Stewart
Gold Star daughter, writer, editor, & public speaker
Elana Newman
R.M. McFarlin professor of psychology at The University of Tulsa
Finbarr O’Reilly
Two-time World Press Photo winner
Dana Priest
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The Washington Post and New York Times bestselling author
Nina Rodriguez-Marty
Associate editor at Sentinel imprint of Penguin Books
David Rohde
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and news director at The New Yorker
Robert Rosenthal
Award-winning journalist and former executive director of The Center for Investigative Reporting
Jodi Salamino
Licensed clinical social worker with the Department of Defense
Bruce Shapiro
Executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
Dr. Rose Shelton
Certified clinical professional counselor with Thought Center LLC
Terron Sims, II
CEO and founder of Doug Pollard Strategies
Paula Span
New York Times journalist and professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Karen Stabiner
Author and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
Dr. Pamela Wall
Psychiatric nurse practitioner and adjunct professor at Duke University School of Nursing
Shoshana Walter
Staff reporter with The Marshall Project
Chandler Wickers
Literary agent at SK Agency
Scott Wilson
Senior national correspondent with The Washington Post
Wendy Wolf
Vice president and associate publisher of Viking
Lee Woodruff
New York Times Bestselling author of “In An Instant”
I’ve met the vets who have come to War Horse Writing Seminars, and it’s fair to say that their lives—some of which have been overturned and swallowed up by traumatic war-related injuries—are altered positively forever by the experience. More than giving them the skills to take on the serious business of writing, The War Horse is teaching them how to make sense of their world while seeing the world beyond them. And on top of it all their team is providing what’s become a renowned distribution portal that is considered not just important to the vets, but vital by renowned journalists and military officials.
—Tom Jennings
Frontline producer and NYU journalism professor
