Testimony

“Memoir and Personal Essay: Beyond the Basics”
(10-wk online course) 

“Thank you for creating a welcoming place and space infused with mutual respect. I got to know, trust, learn with and from people I'd never met before. To foster that online in particular is a marvel. It is a reflection of the care, genuine interest and commitment you offer and model. I learned to welcome rather than fear both writing and reading peer critiques, thanks to the specific and respectful guidelines you provide.”  Rosalind Holtzman, Elkins Park, PA

“Thank you so much for another thoughtful, thorough, and sensitive critique of my work. I so appreciate the deep attention you pay to the sentences themselves and then to the overall ‘what’ of the piece. I have been truly grateful and delighted to receive your skilled and careful suggestions about content and direction.”  Sheila McEntee, Charleston, WV

“I can honestly say that this course has been life-changing for me.” Sue Middlewood, NSW, Australia

“Spiritual Writing”
(5-wk online course) 

“Your feedback is so helpful to me. It makes me focus on things I never realized were in the writing itself. You helped me realize I could write about my faith and hope in the future, including my 12-step program. I appreciate your deep emotional dive into my writing. Thank you so much for your empathy and understanding.” Liza Porter, Tucson, AZ

20-Day Writing Challenge

“You’ve kept me going. Each day, I looked forward to your words and encouragement. You’ve helped me change. What has happened is that an article is ready to send out. Clean and well-read and using your techniques. I can’t thank you enough.” Teri Helm, Elizabethtown, PA

10-Day Writing Sprint

“Iʻve found each of the exercises terrific for generating new material. Youʻve helped me pay attention. You rock as a teacher.”
Linda Petrucelli, Hawi, HI

Introduction to Journalism and Nonfiction

“You cared about the craft and providing us with the tools we need to become the writers we want to be.” Josh Patton

Intermediate Nonfiction

“I was torn on whether or not to continue to pursue a career in medicine or venture into a profession more geared towards writing, of which I was more passionate. By talking to Jonathan, and by completing a semester-long, personal narrative piece, I realized that I wanted to strive towards a career in writing.” Matthew Korenoski

Introduction to Fiction

"I went from writing things that I was embarrassed to upload to CourseWeb to being excited to hear what others thought of my writing." Chris Estes

Workshop in Composition

“Thank you for showing me that writing isn't what I thought it was when I first started this class. I always thought I was horrible in English and by learning exactly how to make a story work, I actually enjoy it now.” Student

Teaching
 

Read about all my latest mentoring offerings.


Curious about how I teach?
Check out “Shaping the Spiritual.”
Learn how one writing teacher transformed my life here.

Whether I’m teaching creative writing or composition, I invite you to consider words not just as silent inscription, but also as a vocal sallying forth, a public statement of self.

Good writing explores difference. My workshop in composition class welcomes military vets and basketball players, wealthy suburbanites and farm boys, immigrants and long-time yinzers. We focus on representations of place and power; through sound and video, students share native voices interrogating community, family, and equality. One of them, a nationally known athlete, spoke about the class in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Good writing takes risks. In my service learning composition class, students volunteer with organizations and neighborhoods outside their comfort zone and ponder care, class, and race. We fan out through Pittsburgh’s East Liberty district to inquire about gentrification; students interview locals about economic development before gathering over a group meal to present their findings.

When I can’t teach in person, I find other ways to break down boundaries. In “Memoir and Personal Essay: Beyond the Basics,” an online course I teach, I communicate with writers across continents, backgrounds, and ages. Each of my weekly written lectures focuses on an element of structure, from manuscript planning to braiding to research to chronology to publication.

I am also available for private consulting. Contact me for more information.