After successfully completing his schooling he moved on to Göttingen University where he studied German literature and linguistics, history and philosophy, graduating in 1972.
He taught briefly at Karlsruhe University before settling to the life of a freelance writer.
[citation needed] Dittberner has produced a number of volumes of poetry along with numerous novels and short stories.
His colloquial poetry style marked him as part of the "New Subjectivity" movement in the 1970s.
Both his poetry and his prose works deal with issues of daily life, frequently reflecting the interpersonal problems and relationship issues affecting members of the "'68 generation" Between 1974 and 2000 Dittberner was a member of the Verband deutscher Schriftsteller (VS/ German Writers' Union).