Sense of Place Writing is for all Kinds of Writers:

• Soulful creatives to published authors

• Non-fiction writers, essayists, poets, storytellers, and memoirists

• Naturalists, historians, educators, park rangers, and other professionals

• Creatives, soul seekers, and anyone longing for a meaningful writing practice

Each Class Offers a Place of Inspiration Where You’ll:

• Find stories, imagery, and ideas gleaned from place-based memories and moments.

• Uncover the details to bring your stories to life.

• Develop a writing practice rooted in curiosity, reflection, and connection.

Writing is a Journey Towards Who You Are.

Along the way, you’ll find ideas tools and symbols to share what you know, think and feel with others.

Find the Path that is Right For You.

Choose from the classes below. These can be enrolled in individually or you can bundle them.
Or opt for private mentoring and we can work together on your schedule.

Choose Your Path.

If you long to write in a way that feels natural, effortless, and deeply personal—where place, memory, and story merge into something transformative— where your connection to nature, history, culture and place are your springboard, Sense of Place Writing offers you a path forward.

Wherever you are on your path, there’s a place for you here, designed to meet you where you are and help you explore different ways to bring your stories to life.

• The Creative Essentials Path—For those seeking fresh inspiration, confidence, and foundational tools.
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• The Writer’s Path Journey—For those ready to refine their voice, deepen their craft, and shape their stories into something lasting.
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• Writer’s Roadmap Mentoring — For those seeking focused personal support to take their writing or project to the next level.
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• Seasonal Retreats—For those seeking renewal, immersion, and time to reconnect with creativity in a supportive, inspiring setting. Learn More>>>

My classes are about more than writing. They’re about connecting you more deeply with yourself, your craft, and the world around you. No matter where you are on your writing journey, these classes will meet you where you are.

Why Sense of Place Writing?

In a world that moves too fast, where time for reflection and integration is often lost in the noise, these classes invite you to slow down. At a time when many feel rootless or disconnected, these classes offer a way to ground yourself in belonging. In a culture that prioritizes efficiency over meaning, they restore a sense of soulfulness and story—where connection, presence, and feeling with the places that are meaningful to you, lead you into the heart of your craft.

This is about more than finding and telling stories. It’s about seeing the world in a way that leads you home to yourself—grounding you in where you are, who you are, and the stories only you can tell.

How it works:

Most writing classes focus on craft, technique, and structure. My approach is different. I guide you to the place where your stories reside—to that deep well of memory where sensory details and emotions naturally shape your writing. When you tap into this, your words become vivid, detailed, and uniquely yours.

When you write from your place-centered memories, your words resonate—not just on the page, but inside yourself and with others. Most writers love to hear people say “I felt like I was there with you.” Sense of place writing will help you quickly get there. You’ll experience the essence of effective writing and gain skills to hone your craft.

Your place memories are rich with sensory details and meaning. When you write about places from your past or present, you uncover your connection to these places, and through that, you learn more about who you are.

Place Memories are Portals Memories tied to a specific place are portals. Step through them, and you uncover a deep well of creativity—rich with meaning, detail, and emotion. Often, this well is hidden beneath the rush of daily life. But once you access it, you open the door to stories you may have forgotten or never realized you carried.

Sense of Place Writing Holds the Golden Key Places hold memories. Memories hold stories. The key to powerful writing is not just telling stories. It’s uncovering the meaning your stories hold. That’s the gold that takes you from telling a story, to being a meaningful storyteller. By grounding yourself in the sensory details of places that have moved you, you open the door to their deeper meanings. And by exploring your memories and finding meaning, you find yourself on the path to your most authentic, creative self.

“If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are.” —Wendell Berry

Hello, I’m Erica Wheeler, your story guide.

I have spent decades helping people uncover and shape their stories—as a writing mentor, storyteller, and teacher. My background in songwriting, place-based writing, and the art of interpretation has given me expertise in the creative process and a unique ability to draw out the soul of your story.

My approach blends personal reflection, narrative craft, and the power of place, helping you find your voice and bring your stories to life.

I’ve helped writers unlock stories, complete projects, and find their creative path—whether in essays, books, articles, or personal reflections. I’ve worked with writers, creatives, seekers, and those who never considered themselves ‘writers’—all of whom left my classes not only writing more but seeing themselves and their stories in a new light. My approach is intuitive and centers around a process I have honed and can guide you through while being deeply attuned to the twists and turns of your writing journey.

Whether you're just beginning or refining your craft, my programs offer a fresh, place-driven approach to storytelling.

Kind Words from Participants