Inspired by a meaningful community experience in Roseburg, Oregon, Ohio Living Lake Vista resident and Northeast Ohio native John Trotogott is launching a new writers’ group in Cortland. An Association of Writers at Ohio Living Lake Vista welcomes writers of all levels and mediums, age 55 and older. Open to the public, the group will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, 6 p.m., at the Ohio Living Lake Vista clubhouse, located at 303 N. Mecca Street in Cortland, Ohio.
“We are looking for people that have stories to tell,” expressed Trotogott. “Their writing does not have to be in print yet; we can help with that. Many people have written poems or short stories and do not know what to do next.”
Trotogott’s writing journey began during his service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
“I started two journals while I was over there,” he explained. “But working around the clock in a war zone, I quickly fell behind. Eventually, I stopped writing…and to my regret, I threw those journals away.”
Years later, in retirement, Trotogott found himself returning to the written word. “I began jotting down my stories and eventually contributed to a couple of military publications. Then my mind started reminiscing to my childhood, and I wrote about memories of baseball games, hunting, church, fishing trips and a huge elm tree that stood in the Copperweld Steel Company field across from my house. There were numerous trips to St. Joe’s ER because of that tree!”
Trotogott is also a published author; his book, Winston’s Journey — inspired by his cat’s quest to find him — is available on Amazon.
“We write simply to share our stories and experiences,” Trotogott explained. “Our goal is to build community and create a space for meaningful conversations and personal growth.”
For more information about the Association of Writers at Ohio Living Lake Vista, contact Denise Rubano at 330-638-2420 ext. 1000.