I am an experienced creative writing teacher who loves working with kids of all ages!
- I have a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and 30 years teaching experience on the college level. I am the Director of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida.
- I taught creative writing to middle school and high school kids at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
- Because my wife is a public school media specialist and a former classroom instructor, I have made many appearances at elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Hillsborough County, Florida, to read to students and to discuss writing and creativity.
Presentations & Workshops
Here are just a few of the programs I can offer—in-person or virtual. Any presentation can be tailored to your classroom needs.
- How to Save the World (by writing and reading)
- Storytelling strategies from inspiration to final draft (characters, details, dialogue, plot, story structure, story forms)
- The publishing journey and careers in publishing
- How to become a writer
- How I wrote and published Wonders of Shadow Key (and some of my other books)
- Mythical monsters + make your own monster
- Story prompts and creative writing workshop
Fees
If these standard fees don’t fit your budget, contact me anyway—I love to visit schools and will work with teachers and media specialists to create affordable events.
In person presentations
- First 30-45 minute presentation: $300 (recommended group size under 150 students)
- Each additional presentation (same day, same school): $150
- Travel fee if location is more than 25 miles from my home: 65.5 cents/mile
- I ask that schools provide families with information about ordering my books. I can also bring books with me for purchase.
Virtual visits
- $150 for a 30-minute presentation
- I ask that schools provide families with information about ordering my books.
Testimonials
From Teachers
- Thank you for inspiring us!
- I enjoyed your visit so much. You have a terrific presence.
- It was an honor to have you with us. You definitely transmit your enthusiasm and passion for writing to the kids. They didn’t stop talking about your visit.
- Your visit served to encourage and motivate students to continue to read more.
- Thank you again for your time and enthusiasm. You made a difference in the life of my kids.
From Middle School Students
- It was such a great pleasure to listen to you talk about your books.
- From now on I will use you as one of the inspirations to my dreams and as an inspiration to my writing.
- I really appreciated you coming and sharing your illustrious books. I will try to use your writing style more often in my narratives in the future.
- I was awed. Each one of your stories was spooky but funny, and a great quick story but loaded with details and vivid verbs.
- I look forward to using new skills for my writing and your books are a real inspiration.
- I learned how to be creative and use a lot of description in my stories.
- It seems to me that you might be a great author.
From Elementary School Students:
- Thank you for coming. You are awesome.
- I almost got nightmares but I know that’s not real because ghosts aren’t real.
- Thank you for teaching me about books. Write more books. P.S. I’m getting your book.
- I like your jokes. You are funny. Mrs. Fleming told us all about how you are a handsome man.
- You are really funny! You’re cool with books. They are AMAZING!! I give your stories 20 thumbs up! Everyone likes stories. Stories are great!
- I liked your funny jokes. You write way good books!
- Thank you for making a story with us and I mean it.
- You are so cool!
- It was really, really cool and really fabulous. I loved it.
- You are the best person in the world.
- Thank you for sharing your books with our class. I really appreciate it. Your books are awesome. You are a great author. It was brilliant. I am very, very, very thankful that you visited our class.
- I’m astonished by your writing and I really want to read your amazing books!
- Dear Mr. Fleming, I love the books that you write. I love them.
- It was scary, but it was the best book I ever read.
- You have cool books.
- I like how you use your imagination and you are a great writer and storyteller.
- I’m thanking you because if we didn’t have books to read, we wouldn’t have anything to entertain us.
- I wish I could have seen you. (absent student)