With an MFA in writing from VCFA, an MA in teaching, and experience teaching at various levels, Eric can comfortably address a wide variety of writing topics and skill levels. He has taught college-level writing and editing, done readings in elementary classrooms, and led craft classes at AWP, StoryMakers, Eastern PA SCBWI, New England Young Writers' Conference at Breadloaf, Vermont Conference on Christianity and the Arts, Northern Pen Young Writers' Conference, Gove Hill Writing Retreat, and elsewhere.
Use the Contact page to speak to him about leading a writing class or workshop.
Recent writing classes/workshops include
The Foundation of Emotion: Tension, Desire, Stakes, and Emotional High Points
The Foundation of Structure: Scene and Summary
The Foundation of Opposition & Growth: Antagonists
Writing Between the Lines: How unspoken elements of dialogue reveal character, emotion, voice, and tension
Writing Between the Scenes: How transitional material develops tension and pulls your story forward
Writing Beneath the Skin: Deepening the Emotion in your Story
Crafting Short Creative Nonfiction
A Matter of Style: Expanding our Writing Palette (CNF focus)
Glimmers in the Dark: Intersecting Faith and Story
Don’t Say What You Feel: A Better Approach to Writing Emotion
Between the Scenes: Using Transitional Material to Develop Tension and Pull Your Story Forward
Writing Between the Lines: Adding Depth to Dialog
Making Light: Humor’s Serious Place in Addressing Pain and Injustice in Children’s/YA Lit
Memory, Imagination & Vulnerability: Connecting Our Stories and Readers’ Hearts
The Disciplines of the Artistic Life
Interview with Katherine Paterson on Faith & Fiction
Not by Bread Alone, But Not Without It Either: Tapping into the Emotional Power of Food In Our Writing
The Emotional Power of Place: How Geography is More than Setting
Crafting Humor: Writing Funny (even if you're not)
Metaphor, Meaning, and Emotional Depth
Revising Your Writing: The Big Picture