Take Your Writing to the Next Level
Welcome to Sense of Place Writing!
Fall Farmhouse Writing Retreat
Through classes, retreats and mentoring I offer a unique time-tested framework that has guided writers of all levels—from beginners to published authors—to uncover their most authentic and compelling voice and find the stories they are meant to tell.
The Framework: A Unique, Proven Method
This is not a one-size-fits-all type of writing course. If you’ve struggled with traditional writing classes or frameworks that felt impersonal or uninspired, this is the creative journey you’ve been waiting for.
More of a soul journey than a formulaic literary approach, and more of a sense of place-making deep dive than using '‘place” as another writing technique. You’ll find your stories, hone your craft, and polish your work in a supportive community of writers who care about finding the details that bring their stories to life. You’ll also uncover the depth and meaning you’ve been wanting to add to your writings by uncovering the fertile territory that exists in the connections between your internal and external landscapes.
Transform your writing through the power of place.
Join us to:
Uncover the stories you’re meant to tell: Through place-based prompts and tools, you’ll reveal themes, ideas, and creative directions that resonate deeply with your voice.
Craft meaningful writings: By exploring the intersections of self, history, nature, and place, you’ll craft stories that are rich in meaning and universal in appeal.
Feel supported at every level: Whether you’re just starting or honing a manuscript, this approach will meet you where you are and help you grow.
Elevate your craft: Participants have come to enrich their lives and discover more about who they are and what they want to say, as well as hone their craft. Many have successfully written books, essays, and other creative projects, with many publishing their work or advancing their careers.
Who is this for?
There are classes and retreats here appropriate for writers of all levels, from the curious beginner to the seasoned pro. They have been designed to meet you wherever you are on your writing journey.
These are for:
Creatives, soul seekers, educators, naturalists, historians, park rangers and anyone else who wants to connect their ideas and experiences into writing.
All kinds of writers, from journalers seeking self-discovery and self-expression those wanting to hone their craft and write memoirs, essays, short stories, books, articles, songs, poems and more.
Anyone seeking a fresh, meaningful approach to uncover and express their unique ideas and voice.
Choose the Class That’s Right for You:
Find your Path:
Generative Writing
Uncover and develop your stories. Generate fresh writings.
Thrive in a vibrant community.
!2-Week Program. Sessions will be recorded. $250 per month for:
Weekly calls and co-work sessions, one private mentoring session with Erica, access to a library of prompts and tools and a proven framework to find your stories and develop your craft.
Hone your Craft:
Develop and Polish
Hone your ideas and develop your writing.
In-depth support and feedback
Support for content development and revision.
Focused peer and instructor support.
12-Week Program. Sessions will be recorded. $350 per month for:
Bi-weekly group writing and development sessions, weekly co-work sessions, monthly group read and feedback sessions, two private mentoring sessions with Erica.
Private Mentoring:
Revise and Complete
Map out your project action plan. Focus and finish a project. Create habits to live a creative life. Take stock of your current work, revise it, and complete it.
2 Month Program Includes:
Kickoff call
Bi-weekly sessions with Erica
Weekly accountability emails, action plan, and follow-ups.
Wrap-up call
$600 per month
Also available: The Accelerator VIP Day
6 hours of 1:1 to comb through your content and craft your action plan for completion.
6 hour 1:1 Day. $1,000
Sense of Place Writing Signature Program: A 3-Month
Journey to Find your Stories, Your Voice and Your Path
Month One
Month Two
Month Three
Why Work With Erica?
As a mentor and storyteller with decades of experience, I’ve guided writers of all levels—from budding creatives to published authors. My unique approach helps you uncover the writer you’re meant to be.
I’ve worked with diverse groups, including national park rangers, historians, scientists, wellness practitioners and soul seekers, to help them craft authentic, meaningful narratives. Let me help you find your voice and create writing that matters.
I combine my background in storytelling, songwriting conservation, and interpretation with my expertise in the creative process, and a deep commitment to nurturing the unique creativity in each participant.
You won’t just take a class—you’ll embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and transformation that will make an impact on your life and beyond.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re looking for a warm, supportive community, personalized or individual mentoring, and a proven, professional framework to take your writing to the next level, this is it!
Join a Class Today!
Let’s uncover the stories only you can tell.
Participant results have included:
Generating enough writing to apply for a master’s degree in creative nonfiction
Writing a series of personal essays
Drafting hundreds of pages for a historical fiction novel
Finishing an essay about beavers for a park website
Completing a children’s book about geology
Creating poems to pair with photographs
Mapping out memoir content
Finding a new path for reworking a newsletter.
Crafting stories to share a passion for nature through story and descriptive imagery.
Finding the threads of story that could weave together past and present experiences.
Developing a writing practice
Living with increased confidence, creativity and well-being
Kind words from participants:
“A great place to expand your skills.”
"I heartily recommend this class as a great place to find your voice and improve and expand your skills. It is appropriate for those with vague goals as well as those with works in progress. The practice of blending history, personal experience, theme, and descriptions really led to some good solid pieces. Through Erica's focused individual guidance, we were each treated like writers instead of students."
Beth Arrowsmith, Colorado, Educator, Photographer
“Helped me find my writing voice.”
"Working with Erica has moved my writing in directions that I never thought possible. It has helped me find my writing voice and helped my ideas coalesce into a set of connected essays. Erica has a sort of magic to her teaching, where she is more of a guide than a teacher who can pick up on what individuals need in the way of direction. It is a writing journey with others, and they are the best travel companions!"
Julia Clebsch, New Hampshire, Naturalist, Retired Park Ranger
"You've given me a whole new way of thinking about place.
"Living in a place where I really don’t feel connected, this process has really helped me come to terms with it, and how that’s okay. I can write about that."
Christina Campell, Iowa, University Professor and Knitting Blogger
“Never fails to make my imagination leap.”
“Erica weaves an experiential class of stories, writers, and inspiration together around Sense of Place that never fails to make my imagination leap. Her classes always deepen my connection with my current and past places which drives me to further explore my attachment to places that I would never have considered writing about before."
James McMenamin, Switzerland Heritage Photographer
“I truly felt at home.”
"Over the past year, this writing group has offered a sanctuary of inspiration. As an expert writing guide, Erica ensures that we all move forward on our unique writing journeys and don’t lose our way. It wasn’t until I found “Sense of Place” that I felt truly at home in a writing class. Erica is a mentor who inspires writers to experiment with their craft and to explore new territories. I haven’t had this much fun writing in a long time."
Sheila Harrigan, New York, Executive Director
“I have not written this much or as easily in my 30+ years in academia”
"I highly recommend Erica Wheeler and her writing classes! I have had a great deal of experience writing academic articles and chapters, which in turn meant I had little to no opportunities for descriptive or creative writing. I have not written this much or as easily in my 30+ years in academia. The classes are supportive and keep us actively writing, but also allow us to go at our own pace and take on as much or as little that meets our schedules."
Jeanne Stanley, Ph.D., Pennsylvania, Psychologist, Graduate School Consultant
“I learned to write much more expressively”
"I took Erica's class to get back to a regular writing schedule and pick up on a writing project I had sidelined a long time ago. Erica creates a warm and inviting space for participants to develop their writing without fear of judgment. It gave me permission to use my voice and lean into creating a scene through vivid details. I learned to write much more expressively because of it!
Shae McWilliams, Rhode Island, Sales and Development
“Opened my eyes.”
“l had never taken another writing class, so this was a new experience. I had never thought of myself as a poet, but Erica stating that the rhythm of one of my pieces sounded like poetry opened my eyes. I valued the opportunity to do writing in class and was always surprised when short pieces I wrote turned out to be good!”
Andy Smith, New Jersey, Minister, Photographer