Will Fleming has been teaching writing at Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) for over a decade, but his journey to becoming an educator has been anything but conventional. Born and raised in Baltimore, Fleming initially pursued other careers before discovering his passion for writing and teaching. He moved to Eugene nearly 18 years ago for graduate school and has lived there since with his two children — a daughter, 18, and a son, 15.
Today, Fleming teaches a variety of writing courses at LBCC, from technical writing for trades like welding and auto repair to creative nonfiction and business communication. Outside the classroom, he’s a music enthusiast, avid reader, and writer who enjoys hiking and spending time with his children and dog.
Did you always want to be a writer?
No. Originally, I wanted to be a paramedic, which is why I started at community college. But I had a writing instructor who told me I was good at writing, and that pushed me to pursue it. I majored in journalism at first, then took a creative writing course and fell in love with it. I also liked political science and worked in labor relations for a few years before returning to creative writing. Then I decided I wanted to go to grad school and teach.
Where did you go to college?
I went to about five different colleges. I started at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, then Brooklyn College, and finally got my undergraduate degree from Vermont College. I earned my master’s in English at The City College of New York and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Oregon.
Why did you move to Oregon?
I moved to Oregon for grad school at the University of Oregon. It was supposed to be temporary, but that was 18 years ago. My daughter was born here, and I started looking for teaching jobs. I didn’t want to move back to New York, and I fell in love with Oregon’s natural beauty. It seemed like a great place to raise kids, and then I got a job at Lane Community College, so I stayed.
What do you love about teaching?
I love watching students make progress. Seeing their confidence grow as writers is so rewarding — especially when they come in thinking they’re not good at writing and leave feeling like they can do it. I also love writing and books, and I try to share that passion with my students.
What’s the hardest part about teaching?
Grading papers, honestly! The workload can be heavy. It’s also hard when I can’t help students as much as I’d like due to time constraints or when students face challenges I can’t fix for them. Keeping things interesting in required writing courses can also be tough, but I hope students leave my class seeing the value in writing.
Have you written any books?
I’ve written three, but none are published yet. Most of my writing is personal essays, memoir, and some fiction. I’ve published essays and short stories, and I’m working on a book.
What do you love about writing?
I love the discovery process. When I write, I don’t always know what a piece is really about at first. But as I keep writing, cutting, and revising, I’ll have this “aha” moment where everything clicks. It’s almost magical.
What hobbies do you have outside of school?
I enjoy doing stuff with my kids — traveling, going to concerts, playing music, camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, skateboarding, etc. I’m really into music. I’ve been to hundreds of concerts — probably five or six hundred by now. I collect vinyl records, read, write, and travel.
I also rebuild/restore vintage steel frame bicycles, and I convert old road bikes into single speeds and fixed-gears. I’m into cycling too, but I spend more time tinkering with them than actually riding them.
What was your favorite concert you attended?
I don’t have a specific one, but my favorite band to see live (and favorite band in general) is Radiohead — I’ve seen them 19 times since 2001. I suppose one of my favorite experiences was getting to see them at an old theatre house in New York called the Beacon Theatre back in 2003. It was a small venue for a band like Radiohead, and we managed to score tickets in the eighth row. At one point before the show started, I turned around and saw David Bowie and his girlfriend sitting three rows behind us. I felt pretty cool having better seats than David Bowie!
What do you do with all the bikes you rebuild?
I’ve sold probably five or six (They’re hard to part with when you’ve poured so much time and love – and money – into them). My favorite is a Schwinn World Voyageur that’s the same age as I am; that one lives on a wall in my house and only gets ridden occasionally. And then I have four others in my garage and two more that I’ve been working on for the last year or so. I ride each of them from time to time, but I suppose I like working on bikes a bit more than actually riding them.
What’s something interesting about you that most people wouldn’t know?
I was a heroin addict from ages 17 to 21. Getting clean was one of the hardest and most important things I’ve ever done. Community college played a huge role in my recovery — it gave me hope and a sense of purpose. That’s part of why I want to give back as a teacher.
How did you get into drugs?
I didn’t have a great home life — my dad was an alcoholic with undiagnosed PTSD. I started using substances as an escape, and one thing led to another.
What made you want to get clean?
I hit rock bottom. I was living in New York, sleeping in subway stations, and watching commuters go to work while I was stuck in this cycle of addiction. I realized I didn’t want to live like that anymore, and school became a way out.
Any advice for future writers?
Stick with it and trust your instincts. Feedback is helpful, but ultimately, you decide what’s good and what’s not. Find someone whose opinion you trust, but don’t let their take derail you. Writing takes practice, but those “aha” moments make it worth it.
Anything else you want students to know?
I’m always happy to help with writing — whether it’s creative pieces, cover letters, or résumés. And if students are struggling, I’m here to talk.
If you’d like to learn more about writing programs, or just talk to Will, you can email him at fleminw@linnbenton (dot) edu.