Workshop Testimonals 

“My time in Eva's workshop gave me the space to explore, be brave, and take risks in my writing. Her encouragement took me from someone afraid to pick up a pen to winning awards for my short fiction. It was her gentle suggestions, her validations, and her support that took me from a reader to a writer. I’ve taken several classes with her, and each time learned something new.”

- Dr. élise thorburn

“As a workshop facilitator, Eva's warmth and wisdom go such a long way to create a nurturing learning environment  in which writers of all experience levels feel comfortable, supported, and free to experiment creatively. She is generous with her feedback and insights about craft, and I learned so much in her first workshop that I took it twice more. She is an attentive reader, picking up on subtleties and opening my mind to different possibilities for each story. Her feedback helped me see the strengths in my writing and most of the stories I developed in her workshop have ended up published in literary magazines across Canada. Even online, Eva is able to foster a sense of community and belonging among workshop participants. I owe so much of my growth as a writer to Eva’s thoughtful guidance!”

-Katherine Abbass

"Eva's approach to teaching writing is generous, informed and welcoming and I learned so much about the complex art of fiction under her guidance. I would recommend her workshop to anyone looking to hone or develop their skills in a fun, safe environment taught by one of Canada's most wonderful writers. “

-Sarah Burgoyne, author of Because the Sun, Mechanophilia Book 1, and Saint Twin, among others 

“Eva’s generative fiction workshop is so good, I had to sign up for a second round (and will likely do it again). Eva creates an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for participants to feel comfortable experimenting with their writing, being vulnerable, and sharing their work. She provides a perfect balance of instructional writing tips and guidance through exchanging constructive feedback with a foundation of care and respect. I’ve written and developed some of my favourite pieces in Eva’s workshops—I can’t speak highly enough of the work she’s doing to support writers and the community she is creating. “

-Nicole Haldoupis author of Tiny Ruins

“I loved the feeling of community that was created within our workshop group, and how I was able to use each week’s prompt to reanimate a piece of mine that had been languishing for too long. I whole-heartedly recommend any workshop under Eva’s thoughtful guidance. It’s a way to explore and nourish your own process in a safe inspiring space.”

-Berni Stapleton, playwright and director  

“Eva has a gift for creating a deeply supportive environment for writers at any stage in their process, a place where we are all tending to new work with intelligence, thoughtfulness and care. These workshops have given me the confidence and courage to trust my voice as a writer and have been fundamental to the development of my first short story collection. Plus it’s always a great group of people and a lot of fun too.”

-Kira Sheppard

"Crocker has organized a reliable, friendly, and generative workshop format that meets writers where they are, challenges them, and works through questions not just of what makes good writing, but how to have more fun with it. Crocker is extremely knowledgeable, adroitly offering germane comps and citing relevant theorists on questions of craft, and never overreaches or misreads with the generous provided feedback. It was a real, rare joy to take place in one of the workshops.”

-bonnyCD

"I did a creative writing workshop with Eva the summer after I retired. I was the oldest person in the group and the least experienced writer. Eva provided a safe and comfortable space for me to express myself. Her questions about my work were probing and insightful. She helped me think about story elements from different perspectives. Her feedback was constructive and delivered in a gentle and respectful manner. I was very encouraged by Eva’s workshop and have been writing ever since. I am looking forward to taking another one soon!”

-Ann Martin 

“I have participated in two of Eva Crocker’s fiction workshops and she is a friend to the writers’ story. She cares about your story and wants it to grow and be beautiful and loved. Eva leads her fiction workshops with focused intention that offers safe space for writing, sharing and learning. She is articulate, and through great questions and thoughtful feedback, guides the writer to find their own voice to grow and blossom their own fiction writing.”

-Melanie Ozon

“The writing workshop I took with Eva felt equal parts tender and bold, opening up a truly generative space for writing. She gave generous, attentive, and insightful feedback. It left me feeling more confident in my writing and inspired to keep going.”

-Sunny Doyle, translator 

“As a two-time student of Eva's, I highly recommend her workshops. They are a fantastic way to initiate a consistent creative writing practice, share one's work in a non-judgemental environment, and to be inspired by other participants. In addition to providing thoughtful feedback during the workshop sessions, Eva provides thorough written comments after each session. I have loved learning from Eva and other workshop-goers, and will most definitely be signing up for a third workshop!”

-Zoe Christmas 

"The workshop Eva has created encourages participants to be bold, to take big swings, and then dive into their writing through thoughtful, focused discussions. Opportunities for growth are plentiful as writers work from (optional) prompts that build off in-class discussions, ample time is afforded to critiquing each submission, and Eva follows up with generous feedback. The chance to connect with other writers from around the country was also invaluable, as they provided new insights and pathways to improving future drafts. Eva is truly a supportive mentor and an incredible teacher. I left with a renewed sense of focus and specific ideas towards developing my work. I encourage any writer with a mind to bring a fresh approach to their craft to take part."

-Joshua Goudie, author and journalist 

“Eva's workshop was a truly transformative experience, which has since become evident in all my writing. Her classes are small, intimate, and informal, while still structured in a way that provides us with key writing information we can apply. We're asked to read our pieces out loud - a great way to practice a key skill - before opening the floor to discussing each piece in an environment that's both critically helpful and positive. Each week's short writing assignment was an opportunity to write without overthinking, instead asking us to explore a writing theme to see what we come up with. By encouraging us to be playful and curious in our writing approach, Eva unlocked a pathway to writing that now lets me trust the process rather than overthinking it. I can honestly say this workshop changed the way I approach my writing in ways that are paying off.”

-Tina Wayland, copy editor

“I have participated in three sessions of Eva's four-week workshops and every time I come out feeling revived and productive! It's particularly helpful if you've been in a bit of a rut, or not writing as much as you'd like. Her comments are always insightful, and she is very adept at pointing out areas of improvement in a way that is positive and encouraging. I can almost guarantee you'll leave with a handful of new stories either complete, or in progress! 11/10!”

-  Heidi Wicks, author of Here and Melt