The Story I Want to Tell is a compilation of forty stories, essays, and poems, half of them written by young writers who work with The Telling Room of Portland, Maine, and the other half by experienced writers who were inspired by the work of their younger counterparts. This one-of-a-kind collection includes work by Richard Blanco, Richard Russo, Elizabeth Gilbert, George Saunders, Dave Eggers, Ann Beattie, Campbell McGrath, Jonathan Lethem, Bill Roorbach, Betsy Sholl, Ari Meil, Lily King, Melissa Coleman, Jaed Coffin, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Lewis Robinson, Monica Wood, Susan Conley, Sara Corbett, and Mike Paterniti. By breaking down the barriers of age, experience, education, and knowledge, these authors celebrate the shared act of writing. Through the pairs of writing, a Q&A with the authors, and writing prompts, The Story I Want to Tell encourages writers—young and old—to explore their own writing and make their voices heard. For high school writing teachers, this book is an invaluable tool.