Eric Elfman is a popular visitor to middle schools. Whether addressing an auditorium full of kids, a classroom, or a small group of hopeful writers, Eric’s interactive presentations and workshops keep kids spellbound and engaged. His goal is to inspire students to read more and to encourage them to write; to show them that writers are real people, too; and to reinforce the message that everybody has a story in them.

He starts with how he became a writer, presenting some of his early efforts, which kids always enjoy: a clip from a horror movie spoof he wrote and co-directed in high school, Attack of the Killer Peanuts, or a clip from Captain Harlock, a Japanese anime that he wrote English language dialogue for (his first paid writing gig). He’ll also show a clip from an episode of the X-Files, then read the same passage from his novelization of the episode.

Eric’s interactive presentation on Nikola Tesla has been enjoyed by classrooms throughout the nation. He’ll discuss the many steps in the writing process, from research, through developing an idea, writing a first draft, and revising. The passages he’ll read from books he’s written, such as Almanac of the Gross, Disgusting & Totally Repulsive, or co-written with Neal Shusterman, such as Tesla’s Attic and I Am the Walrus, will keep students entertained, and also teach them something.

The remainder of time he devotes to answering students’ questions, whether about the writing process, his life as a writer, working with a co-writer, Tesla, getting published, etc. He is happy to talk about whatever the students are interested in.